Irish Television

Irish television is actually phenomenal. It's borderline my new favorite part of living here.

I just got a TV today (long story). I have spent the majority of my day parked in front of it grading papers. I have watched a show called "Fat Families" where a mean British host basically takes on a fat family and tells them how to eat right and exercise. There is also a segment where he ambushes people who are just out walking around and tells them that they are fat and how many calories are in whatever it is that they are eating. I then watched, "Take Me Out," where Irish women go on this game show-type thing and compete to be taken out on dates. They are inevitably blond and fake-looking and say things like, "I want a guy with a big.....(extended pause)....HANDS." You are supposed to laugh because you thought she was going to be saying something different! GEDDIT?!?!?!

They also show "Friends" which, if you have ever met me, you know how excited I am about that. But the best part about it is that Irish television must have less strict controls than American television, because they show some of the dirtier parts on television that they can only show on the DVD extended version in America. (yes, I can tell when something is from the DVD extended version. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've seen every episode at least 8 times.) The ads are also absolutely OUTSTANDING. I could probably land a job now in the advertising biz in Ireland with absolutely no experience in PR or marketing.

There is also apparently a show called "Father Ted." I haven't seen it yet, but people LOVE it. The most I can gather is it's about a lecherous and/or idiotic priest. Maybe you can only get this if you went to Notre Dame, but this bothers me for a very obvious reason. Father Ted = Father Ted Hesburgh, and Father Ted is probably the best person who has ever existed in the history of the world. I don't like lumping him in with some fictional weird creepy priest. That's just not okay.

Even with that, though, basically, this is perhaps the happiest I've been since moving to this country. I actually cannot wait to see what other things Irish television holds in store for me. I can't believe how long I've gone without a TV. To couch potatoing!