My cousin visited me a few weekends ago, and we spent the better (and more hot and humid) part of the day, watching TV and basking in the glory of air-conditioning. But when the mini-marathon of Bethenny Getting Married? ended, and we couldn’t handle True Life or The Fabulous Life of…, I turned to my DVR to see what else we could plow through. Enter: The Hills.
My cousin was busy on her Blackberry, so I thought it would go unnoticed that I hit the play button and didn’t just change the channel. But then she asked, “Is this on your DVR?”
Foiled! And, I might add, slightly embarrassed. But yes, I’ll admit it: Among society’s acceptable TV fare of Mad Men, Modern Family, and Parks and Recreation, I also DVR The Hills (that is, when it was still on), The City, and, when it’s on, Keeping Up With the Kardashians. I happen to have liked mulling over the inexplicably interesting relationship between Justin Bobby and Audrina on The Hills. I like to stare at Olivia Palermo’s fake smile on The City. And the Kardashians? Well, I’m not sure what the draw is, but I’m fascinated nonetheless.
I polled some other brave PopWatchers, who shared with me their potentially embarrassing DVR list:
Michael Slezak: “My husband DVRs reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation (it’s programmed to always save the four most recently aired episodes), and I’d say that is definitely our worst series recording. He’d probably say it’s my combination of The Bachelorette and Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami. And I hate to admit it, but he’s probably on the right side of this debate.”
Emily Exton: “Degrassi. Even with a new batch of characters (Drake’s moved on to bigger and better things) and recycled storylines (pregnancy scares, drug use, sexual abuse) I can’t get enough of this über-dramatic high school and their cute Canadian accents.”
Tanner Stranksy: “I DVR Days of Our Lives everyday. I don’t know if it’s so much embarrassing as it is just sad that I’m holding on to the show. I only tune in about once a month, but I sort of love that I’ve always got an episode of it handy if I totally need to zone out into the ridiculous world of Salem for an hour on a Saturday afternoon.”
Jennifer Armstrong: “I don’t really get embarrassed — I cover teen and tween TV, so I’m over it and always have a valid professional excuse. However, I can see how someone might be embarrassed for me given the volume of Nickelodeon programming I not only have on my DVR, but also very much look forward to. I defy you not to watch iCarly or Victorious, however, and not end up in a better mood because of them. They are just plain funny and sweet, without any exhausting pretense at hipness or edge.”
Annie Barrett: “I tape The Insider, even though it is SO STUPID. I tell my boyfriend it’s for work, which is technically true. I like to pair the fake fights with a nice glass of white zin on ice and maybe a two-pack of Ho Hos. Total trash.”
What are you guys embarrassed to admit is on your DVR? Share your secret below! And as you can see from my taste, I’m not one to judge!
Photo: MTV
Toddlers & Tiaras….it’s horrible and embarrassing, but I love watching the crazy moms. I just watched one where a 4 year-old had her eyebrows waxed…it’s a train wreck!!
My 3 year old daughter told me she wanted to “watch a baby dance.” I finally figured out that she wanted me to turn on Toddlers & Tiaras. Sadly, I had just deleted the last episode saved on my DVR. I am just fascinated by that bizarre world.
If you have OnDemand, check for it there! Or Little Miss Perfect (on We I think) might also work for her.
Big Brother is my guilty pleasure…..I know it’s sad
Yes! I like when a family seems normal, and the kid seems to genuinely enjoy what she’s doing. And doesn’t own a flapper. Those families give me hope for humanity amid all the crazies.
True Blood
You should be proud to watch True Blood!
I swear it’s not mine but my wife’s, but when friends are over it’s pretty embarassing we have The Secret Life of the American Teenager taking up space.
Hey, it’s not all bad. You can play some excellent drinking games with that show.
Please provide the rules for that game. Thanks.
Anytime Ben says “I’m in love with Amy” you take a drink. Anytime Ben whines, you take 2. Guaranteed to be hammered by first commercial!
Anytime Amy brushes the hair out of her eyes, you take a drink. I’m sure there’s a ton more!!
Every time someone says sex, drink. Every time you want to slap Grace in the face, drink. I haven’t watched in a while (I’ve moved on to The Bachelorette and the wonderful drinking games it provides) so there might be more now.
Thank you, ladies. I’m going to try this on the weekend, and if I have sobered up by Labour Day, it’s coming off my DVR.
LOL!!! Love it!!!
“The Millionaire Matchmaker”
The latest season ended MONTHS ago, but there’s an episode I saw on my own and kept on there because I couldn’t believe how unfathomably skeezy the two guys were (one brought his date to a hotel room for dinner, and the other brought a second woman on his date) and I HAD to show her. That episode is still on there, because it’s just incredible.
I remember that episode!! Ah, classic.
Any of the episodes with “Sex Toy Dave” are can’t miss! He is such a mess.
Toddlers & Tiaras. And I don’t think Law & Order: SVU is too bad by itself, but I’m embarrassed that sometimes I’ll have like 45 episodes of it because I don’t set a max. Oh, and Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch! I channel-surfed by the premiere last week and got sucked in.
iCarly and Zeke & Luther (head hanging shamefully)
Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Modern Family, Frontline
Uh…how are those embarrassing?
Yea not like True Blood
Why is that embarrassing?
Maybe that’s all he has, which would mean they are the most embarrassing things there.
I don’t like to admit to the people I work with or my parents for that matter that my favorite TV shows are about suburbanite serial killers, marijuana and crystal meth dealers. Now, all the peolpe I work with are close to my parents age. They might suprise me, but I’m not taking the chance either.
Love this blog! I had a similar moment when my sister visited me one weekend and found some old-school episodes of BH90210 from Soapnet on my DVR – not only have I seen each epi like 20 times, but I’m still kinda emotionally invested…
My brother brought up in his best man speech at my wedding that he was watching a college football game when the TiVo prompted him that it had to change the channel to record BH90210. And yes…that was my TiVo! At least some people at the wedding cheered! lol Thank God Dual Tuner DVRs have helped alleviate these situations a bit more
Yesterday I was trying to watch Revenge of the Bridesmaids live and had a panic attack because in the middle of it, the DVR changed to record Jeopardy and an Office rerun, and I couldn’t decide on the spot what to sacrifice! I ended up stopping the Office recording so I could watch the rest of the movie…. (totally worth it!)
Me too. It is still one of my embarrassing Sat morning pleasures
I left LOST at the top of my season pass manager. Can’t bear to delete it. Not yet.
Same response posted to Chris above.
My sisters visited us last weekend and told us we should delete the Lost finale (they didn’t watch the show) and my husband and I shouted in unison NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is not sad or embarrassing! i still have the LOST season pass, and what’s more, i have the entire season 6 on my dvr until the dvds come out…and even then i’ll probably keep them. actually i am missing two season 6 eps but only because i accidentally deleted them by hitting the “clear” button one too many times — which i’m still mad about!!
Me too. I won’t even delete What Kate Does.
The Christmas episode of “Spongebob Squarepants.” Have had it for 3 years.
Ha! My 4 year old loves that episode, we watch it all the time
So tell me more about this CHRISSSSTMASSS.
The Secret Life of an American Teenager.
Thank you, Jennifer Armstrong! As a nearly 25 year old woman, I often have to defend why, if I see iCarly is on when I’m flipping channels, I stop to watch it. It’s a cute show and does make me giggle and feel a little happier.
My “guilty pleasure” is definitely the Bachelor/Bachelorette. I had watched, like, the very first season and then never watched it again… until Jason Mesnick. Then I liked Jillian. Then I didn’t like Jake but my mom did, so I watched with her. Then we liked Ali. Now we like Chris, so here’s hoping she chooses Roberto!!!
i agree on the guilty pleasure. i totally dvr and look forward to the Bachelor/ette shows. but i have to say i really hope chris DOESN’T become the next bachelor, because i used to like both jason and jake and now i really don’t like either one after their seasons! i guess jason is alright, but after jake and vienna’s interview w/ chris harrison, i really think jake has anger issues and is a controlling skeezeball. so even though i think chris is 100 times a better guy than jake, i’d hate for the show to even have a chance to corrupt him!!
ITA! It’s one thing for the guy to seem great and sensitive while pining over a girl. But take the guy and put him in the middle of 25 women fighting over him, crawling all over him and the inevitable choosing of some women that aren’t great people but he thinks are pretty…and suddenly he doesn’t look nearly as appealing as he did the previous season. It’s the nature of the show.
Power to the nearly 25 year-olds who like iCarly. When I found out my Goddaughter didn’t like it, though, I was bummed!
Not a bachelor/bachelorette, though. But I watch Big Brother, so I can’t judge anyone. Lol. I don’t even pretend that’s quality t.v.
I think I win most embarrassing: I have Bridezillas, Say Yes to the Dress, Teen Mom, iCarly, Victorious, Kardashians AND Degrassi. Oh and for a short period of time, I had Real Chance of Love 2.
Yep, that beats me…but only by a little bit.
Yes Caryn, you win!
Strange Sex (TLC)
Wait…what? That exists?
OMG yes….my bf found it the other night on TLC and I was mortified watching it. So uncomfortable…almost as bad as Secret Lives of Women. Ick
Ok, I thought I was the only one who watched that! Didn’t bother DVRing it since TLC is usually pretty good about rerunning stuff.
Yeah, you can pretty much flip on TLC and be assured to catch a show about little people, the morbidly obese, or bizarre sexual problems anytime.
I just realized I also have episodes of Cathouse (HBO) on the DVR too…easily as embarassing.
My wife is way into that show all of a sudden and I can’t even be in the same room when it is on. Some of that stuff is more uncomfortable than farting in an elevator.
I think some of you miss the point of this article.
Please explain it to us.
The View. Oh God I hate it. I hate Elizabeth Hassleback (sp?) and the others can be so annoying, but…it’s fun to watch. I love making fun of what Whoppi wears, how out of touch with the times Barbara Walters is, etc.
My husband and I should be ashamed to have Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman on our DVR, but it’s just so entertainingly awful…
There is absolutely NO shame in taping Jack Frost 2. You should celebrate it! I once taped part one.
But there IS shame in recording The View…baaaaaaaaad…
I thought we weren’t supposed to judge (sobs of embarrassment).
Besides, the only reason I’m recording it today is because my beloved Christina Hendricks is supposed to be on.
Sure, sure…just because of Christina Hendricks. I bet you’ll have it recording tomorrow too!
Totally off topic, I really wish I would have thought to put together a Mad Men premiere party, 60′s themed decor, dress, and drinks. Would have been SO fun. Auugh!
My best friend Jen is throwing one, and I bought one of those awesome dresses that Joan would totally wear. Of course, it won’t look nearly as awesome on my sickly size 00 body, but still.
You two are lucky.
The closest I could ever get to an authentic “Mad Men”-themed party is dressing up as the guy who works in the elevator and brings people to and from the party.
I feel so bad for that guy. Especially when Pete tried to get ideas from him.