tru tv is like a wedgie that won’t come loose
At the end of last year, Court TV rebranded itself in what many at the time called “a terrible, terrible decision.” That which was once Court TV, a network that covered trials, is now Tru TV, a network that misplaced a letter. Tru TV’s trademarked slogan is “Not reality. Actuality.” Yes, a TV network whose website claims that its prime-time shows are all “based on exciting, real-life stories” has a slogan that begins “Not reality.” So there’s already a bit of a conundrum there, but who gives a shit, because I didn’t watch it when it was about court, and I’m certainly not going to tune in now that its shows are based on tru stories, whatever the hell that means.
But tonight I was watching The Daily Show, and during a commercial break I was scrolling through the program grid when something caught my eye: The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s Dumbest Criminals. Hey, I thought, that might be good for a laugh (must have been the beer talking). So I clicked over to Tru TV for the first time ever, and what I found was equal parts stupid and not awesome. Here is a video show with real footage of people breaking the law, intercut with commentary from “celebrities” a la VH1’s I love the [Decade]. The celebrities make fun of the criminals, see, sort of like VH1’s talking heads make fun of Hypercolor shirts, or whatever. Well, that’s the idea, ostensibly. In practice it seems more like the celebrities give an uninspired play-by-play of the videos, sort of like this gem here:
The result is a motley assortment of random jackasses snickering as they describe a video you’ve already watched. Compelling?
And, oh yes, Tonya Harding is one of the “celebrity” commentators, which moves the star factor from D-list to “seriously?” status rather quickly, no matter who your powerhouse celeb is (in case you’re wondering, this show’s powerhouse celeb is Danny Bonaduce).
But Tonya Harding? Really? As soon as you see her, you have to wonder if what you’re watching is an elaborate ruse designed to get her on camera talking about stuff. Because there is some comedy potential there, I think. But no, this is real. Or, at any rate, it’s Tru.
Isabelle wrote:
I’ll stick with Cops.
I’m thinking of Tanya Harding fan fiction now.
Posted on 17-Jul-08 at 5:56 am | Permalink
Sarah wrote:
As a fellow Oregonian, I can’t believe you misspelled “Tonya Harding.” Did you ever go to the Clackamas Town Center ice rink? For a while, there was a “Home of Tonya Harding” banner. Then they took it down.
Posted on 17-Jul-08 at 10:14 am | Permalink
Charley Daniels wrote:
Ah hell, I’m fixing that. Thanks!
Yeah, I used to see TONYA at Lloyd Center, teaching poor children how to ice skate. Then afterward she taught a seminar called “An Overview on Goon Hiring.” That was strange. And this was after the whole Nancy Kerrigan “why me?” debacle. What mother would hire Ms. Harding to teach her kids to ice skate after that?
Posted on 17-Jul-08 at 10:31 am | Permalink
Robert wrote:
That is the saddest collection of celebrity criminal has-beens I’ve seen.
But Tonya.. oh Tonya Harding. Still so hot. I’m thinking of writing another story about her… a wonderful tale of waterbeds and ice skates.
Posted on 18-Jul-08 at 9:15 am | Permalink