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One of the reasons I’m a lousy gambler, is that I don’t like to lose my money. I get no joy out of betting my paltry dough on long shots, most of which by definition will fail.

I feel confirmed in that by the fact that it seems to me that most of my “picks” to win various sporting or reality show games end up losing. I’m not sure whether I lose more often than others do, but it sure seems like it.

We started out way back by  watching Survivor, and then added Big Brother. We watched one season of the Bachelor, after which the Contrarian laid down the law on that one. . . and I can’t disagree. We picked up the Amazing Race and finally Dancing with the Stars and American Idol.

All have disappointed, with the exception of Amazing Race, which basically delivers. We now miss whole seasons of some, and tune out others along the way when they reach the point of utter absurdity. (Okay, some would say they are absurd from the git go.)

We assume that reality contestants apply to shows they have actually watched. So each new season, we expect people who are sharper and more savvy about how to play their particular game. Alas, the same old mistakes are continuing to be made. We get ticked at watching stupid stupid play, and we opt out. Only to try again.

We recently said goodbye to Survivor once again after the idiots from the “villains” decided it was best to follow Russell, the bandy-rooster who is the most sexist male pig of the century, instead of lovely Boston Rob Mariano. Enough already with Russell’s talk of women being “dummies” who he could lead around by the nose.

We’ve done the same to Big Brother, when the choices of winner came down to nobody we could stomach. We begin to wonder, just how much manipulation is going on behind the scenes for “drama’s” sake? Otherwise please explain why they never learn from past mistakes.

The key to winning many of these things is simple: form a secret alliance with one person very early on and try to stay flexible with everyone else. Keep your strongest players around when the competitions are still organized around sides. When it’s individual, take off the best players quickly. Don’t distinguish yourself as being too good or too bad. Don’t be a leader. Don’t win other “side” prizes.

Trouble is none of them bother much to follow such tried and true rules. And frankly, they begin to insult my intelligence. Like “Wife Swap” the point seems to find people who are basically stupid as rocks.

And while we are at it, what is with the idea that by winning or being in one of these shows, one is now a celebrity? Several of these folks are now making a living being “celebrities” and joining other shows. Boston Rob and his wife Amber have been in several Survivors now, they had a marriage show,  were on Amazing Race, and  had their own reality show based on their efforts to try poker as a career in Vegas. The most recent Bachelor was a two-timer, who has now landed on Dancing, and the previous Dancing had another Bachelorette reject.

And who can manage the idiot Kate from Kate + eight? She’s also on Dancing as a celebrity, and is proving to be the most incompetent dancer yet presented. This whole show fails on many levels. Good dancers are removed by a voting public that has other interests. Instead we keep Buzzy Aldrin because he’s ancient and a “hero.”

I guess we have seriously changed our concept of celebrity. We don’t watch the Housewives of Jersey or the Jersey kiddies, but these folks seem to be of interest for no reason that I can discern. They don’t “do” anything, but yabber. Another is the Kardasians with face lift Bruce Jenner who seems to share docs with Kenny Rogers. Oh and who can forget the forgettable “the Gotti’s? As I said, we managed to avoid these without a single look.

The idea of reality shows was interesting at first. Putting strangers together in close quarters and making it a competition of games and strategy seemed a fascinating look at the human social animal and how it works. Alas, it’s become the usual Hollywood parody of itself.

I think in some respects its just another case of  Hollywood gone lazy. Better to snatch up a soap star, turned Dancing contestant, and make them an  ABC “correspondent” on all things of pop cultural interest. ABC has done that twice now.

It just all goes to show how warped a sense we have of what’s important and to be upheld as the “best” of us. More to the point, it speaks to how far I’ve fallen when I can waste your time with such drivel, as if any of it mattered.

It’s just that after spending an hour or so perusing the “political scene,” I’ve come away bored to death of Michael Steele, Sarah Palin, the Catholic church, and a whole host of “topical” stories. I’m tired of the same arguments, I’m tired of the same “sides.” No doubt I’ll get juiced again soon and regale myself at least with witty sarcasm directed at the buffoons of society that actually impact the political environs.

Today, I’m reduced to mocking the “who cares” of self appointed importance–the reality “celebs.” Perhaps I need a new hobby. And before you say it first, “YOUR’RE FIRED–Blaggo!”

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