Today's cuppa: Barry's Classic Blend Irish tea and maybe some Mystic Monk coffee later on (as it's Sunday).
Sometimes, like the Spanish Inquisition, a reality show sneaks up when a TV critic least expects it.
(If you're going "Spanish-whaaah?," you're obviously suffering from "Monty Python" deficiency. It's a serious condition, but fortunately, very treatable. For a quick pick-me-up, click on the link above, for a more lasting cure, get some DVDs or BBC America. Hot Cuppa TV -- saving the world from low "Python" levels, one dead parrot at a time. Yeah, that's another one.)
A few weeks ago, during a moment of mental abstraction, I allowed myself to watch an episode of Animal Planet's reality-competition show "Groomer Has It," which pits dog groomers against each other in search of a cash prize and a new mobile grooming van.
Only four groomers were left at the point that I entered: experienced New Yorkers Jonathan and Jorge; and two Californians, veteran Kathleen, from Escondido, and rookie Artist, from inner-city Los Angeles.
After that, I just kept watching.
I first heard about this show quite a while ago when Animal Planet called about doing a set visit, but it didn't work out at the time (apparently there's going to be a second season in 2009, so I'll have another chance).
BTW, in the interests of full disclosure, while I love dogs, I don't currently have one, and the last one I had was a smooth dachshund that didn't really need professional grooming (yes, I've cleaned ears, clipped nails and done other gross dog stuff that I won't go into here, but you dog owners know what I'm talking about). So I have no personal experience with going to a professional dog groomer.
That being said, last night was the big finale...
(IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED IT YET, STOP READING NOW. I GOT SPOILED DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH BEFORE I SAW IT ON DVR, AND I WANT TO SPARE YOU FROM MY FATE. WE NOW RETURN TO THE POST, ALREADY IN PROGRESS.)
...and to my joy, the charming young Artist won. He's cheerful, enthusiastic, a quick study, not arrogant or annoying (sadly, runner-up Jonathan could use some work in this area), and a dedicated dad -- and no doubt having the money and a spanking new van will change his life. And yeah, I got misty. It happened.
I've been trying to figure out why I kept watching "Groomer" once I stumbled upon it. Here are my theories:
Obviously, I love dogs. I'm also obsessed with Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl." That's a given.
It may have been because the first episode I saw featured filthy, neglected shelter dogs, a challenge which really brought out the heart and character of each contestant.
It probably was because I'm just terminally curious and like to learn the ins-and-outs of unfamiliar professions (like crab fishing, ice-road trucking, logging, oil drilling, home remodeling, etc). After attending dog shows and watching them on TV, I knew something about the grooming requirements of different breeds (hand-stripping rough-coated terriers, for example), but there were lots of techniques and challenges to dog grooming that I heard about for the first time.
Lots of TV shows label themselves as "educational," but, for me, some of the most informative shows are ones that just set out to be entertaining, while slipping in a bit of learning as an organic part of the presentation (like, for example, "Antiques Roadshow" or "Top Gear").
Will I watch "Groomer Has It" next year? Very likely.
So, what show snuck up on you?
Charity Case Has It
Artist is an inadequate groomer. Period. Throughout the show Artist constantly used being poor and inexperienced as a shield during judging. Karen Halligan took the bait early on. Xavier quickly followed. Artist knew all he had to do was pick "difficult" dogs and at least try to groom them. The judges would then fall all over themselves that an inexperienced groomer attempted to groom a "difficult" dog. Artist was judged by a different and lower standard than the other contestants. Karen Halligan of all people should know that being well intentioned and capable are sometimes two different things. Many animals in shelters are there because their owners are incapable of taking care of them. It doesn't matter how much love the owner has for their pet that won't get the animal groomed, fed, or protected.
Jonathan, in the finale, was given TWO dogs that already had bad hair cuts. One dog had several areas of its body shaved to the skin. The day of the contest it was raining. The owners of each dog was handling them in a pavilion in the parking lot. I wonder where that dirt came from?
The American Dream of one earning their prosperity through hard work and SKILL was shattered. The winner of Groomer Has It won because he happened to have the "right" personal characteristics and background to satisfy the judges and public. He did not earn it through hard work and SKILL. Groomer Has It sent out a terrible message not only shattering the American Dream but also endorsing discrimination. If you can promote someone because of their personal characteristics and background you can also demote them for the same reasons.
That's one way of looking at it, though I have no idea what was in the judges' minds. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Have you also shared them with Animal Planet?
Not sure if any of your other readers have asked this...but what kind of theme are you using for your blog? I really like the style. Particularly the sidebar. Are these widgetized? I'm running a blog too however cannot ever seem to find my perfect theme. This one is really close ...however I would maybe tweak some things within the header/footer area to match my style. thx.
This is a standard blue theme, originally from Typepad and now on Movable Type. Zap2it set up the theme for me, so sadly I can't get more specific than that. But it is clean and simple -- and I like it that way. The sidebar is part of the template.