Monday, December 1, 2008

Because I like to weigh in on the serious issues...

I had every intention of clearing out my Bloglines reader Sunday night (which is now over 1000 posts -- I'm a little behind, in case you haven't noticed.) But, turns out Sunday night was a huge T.V. night.

First, on The Girls Next Door, we had the arrival of "the twins." I had to check that out -- I mean after Hef's breakup with Holly, I had to see who's b00bs arms he would turn to for comfort.

Then, we had the season finale of the Pickup Artist 2. You remember, with supa-star woman magnet, Mystery. Let me ask you something. If you saw this guy approach you at a bar, would you stick around and fall for his lines?



I just find him creepy. And, honestly, if guys want tips on what women find attractive, I have two words for them: Edward Cullen.

While flipping through channels, I also noticed Britney Spears' tell-all documentary, For the Record was on too. All of these shows were on at the same time, and I was forced to make a decision. Which one to watch? In the end, I went with my girl Brit. Because I needed to know what in the world has been going through her head for the last couple of years.

I've been rooting for Britney from the beginning. When she finally kicked K-Fed to the curb, I found myself breathing a sigh of relief. Finally, girlfriend could get her life back on track.

Then, I watched in horror as a trainwreck unfolded before my very eyes.

Partying (sans panties) with Paris.
Shaving her head.
Her horrific VMA appearance.

With each new episode, I grew more and more depressed. So much talent. So young. Throwing her life away. At one point I was convinced her story wouldn't have a happy ending.

But, with a little familial, medical and court-appointed guidance, Brit seems to slowly be pulling her life back together. For this documentary, she sits down with good ol' Martin Bashir to answer the "tough" questions and take us through several days of her life.

A life that she describes as "old and boring." (She tells Rolling Stone Magazine that she turns in around 9:30 each night and never goes out.) Well, as another article pointed out, "old and boring" is a heck of a lot better than "young and insane."

Honestly, I felt bad for Britney. She turns 27 today, yet she looks 10 years older than that. Her youthful beauty and exuberance are gone. It didn't appear she had any true friends. All she has are her kids and her career. She lives her life under a microscope of camera lenses. And while some will, no doubt, criticize her for not offering up real explanations for her walk off the deep end, what I found most revealing was just how empty she looks. You can see the pain behind her eyes. And the part that really broke my heart was when she said it herself, "I'm so sad."

I hope Britney eventually comes to the realization that the key to happiness is going to require more than an early bedtime and lackluster social life. She won't find contentment in a "comeback," another shopping spree or increased record sales.

As they say, sometimes life has a way of putting us on our backs to force us to look up.

Hopefully, that realization will come in time. The sooner the better.

In the meantime, I hope she sticks with the 9:30 bedtime and the whole "old and boring" routine.

Because for the first time in years, she finally seems kind of normal.

What do you think of Britney? Love her? Hate her? Pity her? Let me know in the comments -- I'm curious. :)

11 comments:

Jen said...

I kind of pity her but I think she brings a lot of this on herself. Why can't she get some good people on her team (a real stylist, a good publicist, etc..)? She has to have the money for this. I think the problem is that she really doesn't have a lot of talent and she tries to make up for that by dressing and dancing sleazy. Did you see her on GMA. It was a pretty sad performance. A good publicist would have never agreed to something so ridiculous for a morning show. I wish her the best, but I do think she is far from a comeback.

mah-meeee said...

so glad you recapped the show. i didn't get to watch it when it came on. i've always wanted to see brit get her act together. i kept feeling like she just got too much too fast and just spinned out of control.

glad to see/hear/read that it looks like she's getting back on track.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm . . . I wish I had seen the special. I'm sort of intrigued by Britney, but I'm not sure why.

But more importantly, Hef and Holly broke up?!?!!? *gasp* WHAT?!?!?!

Kristen said...

Mmmmmm.... Edward Cullen...

I'm sorry, what was your question?

Amanda said...

Yeah Brit feel sorry for her. Missed the show glad you could give us the sad scoop.
Amanda

Jean said...

Britney is a mess,but she is surrounded by people whose career revolves around her so she's not going to get any comfort from them is she?

She needs someone to care for her, and get her to some sort of normality (which she has probably never had) so that she can take care of herself and her children.

A real shame.

Anonymous said...

What? Hef broke up with Holly?! It was filmed? What happened?

Michelle said...

I feel for her. She has what the world says is "it" and yet it's not. She has spent so much time being something and someone for everybody else that I don't think she knows who she is. Certainly her lifestyle has shown how damaging it is, the aging before her time, hospital visits and child issues, I hope to see her grow up and shape up. I'd suggest leaving the industry, does she need the money? no, does she need the attention? sadly I think yes. It'll be interesting to see what happens next, is the past indeed the best predictor of the future?

Vanessa said...

Oh, Britney, my heart truly hurts for her (as well as many other celebrities - I get too attached). She is so lost and we can see her searching but not getting it right time after time. I'm with Michelle, I think the best thing for her would be to completely leave the business and start a new life somewhere quiet - don't see that happening though.

Christina Lee said...

I do pity her-she has alot of growing to do. Also I am so pleasantly surprised by your shallow selection of program viewing- I am not the only one-yay! I will admit it out loud now- I LOVE girls next door and am dying to see how it all plays out this season. I am so glad Holly (my favorite)left Hef but I am not sure she's got her head screwed on straight yet (chris Angel?).

Momlissa said...

Wow, someone who watches Girls Next Door, Pickup Artist and Brit documentary? lol

As far as "Mystery," I would run in the other direction if that aviator goggle wearing gangly, creepy dude came within 5 feet of me. I do get quite a kick out of his show, though, and all the ridiculous acronyms for his methods. lol

Regarding Brit...I have in the past been so over her and all the drama, had little sympathy. I still think she has made some profoundly bad choices. That said, the documentary was very well done and very revealing. Not necessarily in what she elaborated on, but by what it showed of her life and how she has to live. She is stalked by paparazzi 24/7 and as you said, seems profoundly sad. I do feel for her and am pulling for her to do well. Fame really chewed her up and spit her out...