Monday, January 21, 2008

Sex, Stupidity, and Rock and Roll

VH1 has a gift for exploiting down-and-out or has-been celebrities (as in The Surreal Life, Celebrity Fit Club, My Fair Brady, and recently, Celebrity Rehab).

With the introduction of last year's Rock of Love, the network began blowing through Bret Michaels' waning fame like a stiff Kleenex. He's since become a national joke. Too bad the poor bastard's not swift enough to figure it out.

Maybe I was dreaming when I heard Bret tell Chelsea Handler last week that he'd slept with all but "two girls" on last season's Rock of Love -- as if that was a good thing. Like the jerk you went to high school with who bragged that he knew "all the words to 'Stairway to Heaven' by Lynyrd Skynyrd," Bret isn't quite as cool as he thinks he is. People aren't laughing with you, Dude.

Now Bret's back for Rock of Love 2, and I have to wonder if producers aren't prodding at least one of the smarter "girls" on this season's show on how to get Bret's attention. You can almost hear them whispering, "He's insecure about his height, so make him feel big," and "He's insecure about his age, so make him feel like he's 20 again."

Reviewing the season premiere, which ran for the umpteenth time last night, I picked up a tragic comment from one of the "girls," who I will henceforth refer to as the Women of Low Self-Esteem, or LSEs. The poor wretch said she joined the show because, "My father wasn't around very much, and I just want to find someone to love me."

Oh!

I truly believe that a the quality of a woman's romantic relationships usually depends on the relationship she had with her father (the same goes for a boys and their mothers). But sliding up and down a pole for a skeeve like Bret Michaels is hardly the way to remedy the situation.

The way to remedy the situation is this: Love yourself like your father never loved you. Make it a daily practice. Treat yourself as the most loving man in the world would treat a beloved child. Speak to yourself kindly. Put on some clothes. Use your brain to make money.

Speaking of fathers, Bret reminds us frequently that he is the father of two females, ages seven and two. I guess he thinks it makes him even more of a turn-on, but you have to wonder what these little girls will think when they watch Superdad's tongue bobbling around a series of strange mouths in a single 60-minute episode.

I just hope their mother (or, since we're talking about Bret, their mothers), has replaced the sleazebag with a better man.

In last night's episode, our hero serenaded the ladies with a song he recorded 20 years ago. Then he eliminated a contestant whose self-esteem ranked too high for his liking. Unlike some of the others, she had better things to do than sit by the door in her skivvies, waiting to greet the old dog when he came home.

Photo credit: Nancy Mazzei, VH1

6 comments:

Susan said...

So you really have a thing for Bret, right?

Ha. :)

I can't believe some of these shows exist. Then again, I can't help but at least watch portions of them -- like a scientist conducting a fascinating psychological study of the contestants and the host/selector/celeb.

But you're right. I forgot that he has children -- let's hope they don't have access to TV anytime soon!

Terry said...

Ah! You got me, Susan.

My supposed dislike for Bret is just a cover for my undying passion for him and his rockin' hair and makeup.

Somebody teach me how to do my eyes like that! (Heh, heh.)

I'm with you: The fact that the show exists, and that people are willing to take part in it does make for fascinating television.

It's a freak show, but I watch it. What does that say about me?

Susan said...

It says we both want to learn some make-up tips...or maybe it was "what not to wear"?? We could nominate one of the contestants (or Bret) for a makeover. Boy, would Stacey and Clinton have a field day. Bring in Dr. Phil and/or Dr. Drew for a pyschological/counseling make-over and *that* would be a hit:)

Terry said...

Dr. Drew! I can't figure out whether he's the real deal or another clown like Dr. Phil. I'm not sure if Celebrity Rehab is doing a public service, or if it's just the most evil form of exploitation.

Anonymous said...

Please tell me you know that Stairway to Heaven is Led Zeppelin and not Lynard Skynard.

Terry said...

Um, yeah. That's why I called him the "jerk" you knew in high school.

By the way, it's spelled 'Lynyrd Skynyrd.'

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