You know how you're always rolling your eyes when someone mentions the TV "reality" show they're into? And then one night, you find that you're into the second 1/2 hour of "Amish In The City" and really enjoying it--but you know full well you will not cop to it in the light of day? Everyone says they don't, won't, absolutely refuse to watch the genre. But clearly someone's watching, and it probably IS you.

I'll admit it. My weakness is "America's Next Top Model," to which I'm totally, proudly addicted. I follow the show with dedication, and actually make sure that I don't have conflicting plans EVER. I develop opinions on each contestant's viability as a model. Even without years of fashion industry experience, I still think I do a better job than that tired old Janice Dickenson. ( "The Very First Super Model" as she is so fond of reminding us. ) But see, there I go, getting emotional about it.

I have a sort of Acceptable/No Dice division for the reality shows. (Yippee! The promo for "Model" just aired!)
Anyhow, it goes like this:

Big Brother - NO
Survivor - NO
The Amazing Race - NO
The Player - um, NO
The Apprentice - NO
Who Wants To Marry My Dad? - Hell NO. Too creepy a premise.
Pimp My Ride - YES
Punk'd - NO. Yaaaaaawn.
MTV Road Rules - NO
MTV Real World - double NO
MTV Cribs - YES
The Swan - NO
Extreme Makeover (the cosmetic surgery one) - NO
Extreme Makeover - Home Edition - YES!

I forget the names of the others.

So why are some OK to me, and other just STUPID and MOCKABLE? The common denominators in the ones I like seem to be:

a) There are projects and competitions that involve learning (for the audience AND the cast members.)
b) People undergo positive transformations, although some of their personal taste is questionable.
c) It's fun to see the clothes and/or home decor that abounds.

I open myself to ridicule by admitting this sort of viewing habit, yet I get very little teasing from my peers. Hence my theory that we all have our guilty pleasure reality show. Something secreted away, that we gobble up like a bulimic with a pint of Ben & Jerry's and a feather.

Still keeping the lid on that Amish thing till I've decided if it's good enough to endorse, though.