Pretty people on TV

Here’s a sentiment:

Television drives me crazy sometimes because everybody is so good-looking, and yet you walk through the aisles of the grocery stores, and nobody looks like that. Somebody told me that in London people don’t judge you as much by the way you look, and I think it is true because late night on PBS they play shows out of England and the actors aren’t good-looking, and I sit there wondering if anybody else is watching and asking the same question: Why aren’t the actors in London good-looking? And I already know the answer to that question, it is that America is one of the most immoral countries in the world and that our media has reduced humans to slabs of meat.

-Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz, p.225

And something along the same lines, this time from a song:

Movies, TV screens reflect just what you expected
There’s a world of shiny people somewhere else
Out there following their bliss
living easy, getting kissed
while you wonder what else you’re doing wrong

-The Weepies, Not Your Year

I have to say though I don’t agree much with this, the first statement especially. Sure the people on TV are beautiful. They actors are largely cool guys and the actresses are pretty girls. But seriously, these people aren’t particularly special. They have good make-up, are well lit and have $300 haircuts and $3000 outfits. That helps, to be sure. But there are plenty of people just as good looking in our little college town.

My wife and I are watching the latest season of Survivor. One of the contestants is this blonde bombshell named Sydney. People are always talking about how amazingly pretty she is. Really? She sure doesn’t smile very much.

George Clooney looks great in a suit. That’s why you always see him in a suit. Always.