My television, my friend!

I’ve always had strange sleeping patterns. When I was in high school I could barely keep my eyes open in class as I had kept them open the entire night previous reading books and writing in my journals. A lot of my good friends had coined me Miss Sleeping Beauty because I had perfected the art of sleeping with my head cradled in my hand while looking like I was thinking. Things didn’t change much in college. I avoided early morning classes like the plague because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay awake. The few times I couldn’t wiggle my way out of 8 a.m. sessions the only thing that would keep me going were strawberry pop tarts and power naps at the Santugon tambayan (in between games of Trump!).

Then work came along and that was even more of a nightmare. I thought that since my first job at The Peninsula Manila left me no choice but to keep regular 9-6 hours I would finally rid myself of my unpredictable sleep patterns and join the rest of the world in dozing at night and staying awake during the day… no such luck! Even after a long and oftentimes hard day’s work, I would still stay up late into the night either reading, writing, or watching films with my ex-boyfriend. The following day would see me downing cup after cup of coffee trying to keep my eyes open during the morning briefings.

I used to think I might have some kind of sleep disorder but upon closer examination and self-reflection I’ve come to realize something that would explain my sleep-deprived lifestyle and my nocturnal habits. I’ve actually always known that I’m a night person. I’ve always been more awake and more alive in the evenings and sometimes the dead of night is when I get my best work done. But seriously, moon-to-sun preference aside, I think I can attribute my insomnia to one important factor I’ve noticed these last few weeks.

I’m an insomniac because of one appliance in my room – a little black box on the edge of my desk known as the television! It used to just be books that kept me up but these days with so many good shows on the tube I’ve become addicted to catching the latest episodes of my favorite programs and this often means that if I missed the first airing I’d have to stay up to catch the replays which usually begin at midnight. Indeed, all couch potatoes and TV lovers agree that the selection of programs these days is every boob-tube fanatic’s dream come true. There are TV offerings to satiate everyone’s home entertainment cravings. Here are some of the shows keeping me up at night:

God Bless Reality TV

Reality shows aren’t exactly something new. Heck, we can all remember MTV’s Real World which aired years ago. But the reality shows that have popped up now are really something else. Dare I use the word riveting? One thing’s for sure, I can’t stand missing an episode of my favorite real-life TV programs. I’ve watched Aaron choose Helene on The Bachelor, Evan and Zora hook up on Joe Millionaire, Erin give Chad $500,000 on For Love or Money, and actor-wannabes tough it out on Next Action Star. While those shows are great, my favorite reality TV shows still are The Amazing Race and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

I love these two shows and I always make time to watch them (or their replays). Admit it, who doesn’t enjoy watching Colin make an ass of himself on international television or Kim constantly joking Chip that he’s got to do all the roadblocks. Besides, since I love traveling so much the show not only keeps me interested with the human relations aspect (really, it’s no wonder Americans are viewed as such bad travelers) but I enjoy checking out all the great places they get to go and all the amazing things they do like sledging in New Zealand. I would so want to do that! These next two episodes in particular I’m really excited to see with the last four teams racing through Manila and Palawan.

Additionally, who can resist the Fab 5? To be sure, Carson, Kyan (sigh, one hot male less in the world!), Ted, Thom, and Jai have won over the world in their weekly transformation of straight drab men into straight fab men! Sometimes it takes a gay man to set a man straight. I absolutely adore Queer Eye. Not only are you constantly amazed by the wonderful makeovers they pull off (Thom is a miracle worker) but you can laugh your heart out at the delightful comments they make along the way. Who can forget when Thom pulled out a filthy air condition filter and exclaimed, "Well, the source of SARS has been found" or when Jai and Carson paraded around in figure skaters’ costumes and pretended to be Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding?! It’s fun, entertaining, and informative – even for women.

Late Nights At The Crime Lab

Another slew of television shows that keep me awake are the new intelligent breed of suspense programs that look into government offices, the CIA, and the Las Vegas Crime Lab. Just like many out there I’m a huge fan of 24, Alias and CSI.

These shows should come with a warning label – Caution: Can be Addictive. I just can’t get enough of sifting through the evidence with Gil Grissom and his team or of Sidney and Vaughn going on mission after mission for the CIA. Not to mention 24, the first season of which I stayed up an entire night watching! And, if these shows on primetime aren’t bad enough now all the pirated DVDs are coming out and one can’t help but pop in disc after disc just to see what happens.

Supernatural Entertainment

And lastly, the final collection of programs that I watch are the variety of TV programs that deal with all things supernatural. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer (on its final season), to Smallville, to Charmed it’s always interesting to watch things that are so far out and incredible that they make a great escape from everyday reality. Besides, it’s naturally appealing to people to look into a world they imagine might actually be real. Vampires, demons, spells and a young Superman don’t just spell ratings, they spell alternative realities where young girls are born to be the chosen one to combat evil and save the world and three well-dressed witches are secretly looking after everyone.

It’s been interesting watching a young Clark Kent grow up and come to terms with his powers. I admit to being on the edge of my seat in the second season to see if he finally got together with Lana Lang – even though we all know it can’t last (enter Lois Lane in the future).

And There’s No End In Sight

Indeed, that sly little devil called television is the culprit behind my countless sleepless nights. Besides the roster of shows I mentioned above there are still so many others I like whiling away my time with like The Simpsons, That ‘70s Show, The Fifth Wheel, Monk (which I’m hoping they’re going to bring back), Pride and UFC, Invader Zim (yes, I’m still a child at heart), Conan O’Brien, and much more that I’m either just forgetting or just plain too embarrassed to mention. One thing’s for sure, though I now know what’s to blame for my permanent eyebags, I’m still a bona fide couch potato and I can’t live without my television set!

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E-mail me at aquamarine_tranquility@yahoo.com.