# What Bad TV Programs Are Your Secret Thang? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376 "2012-07-16T03:21:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/41 "2012-07-17T21:03:40Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I like watching _Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives_ too. I hate myself for it, because Holy Hell, Guy Fierri (sp?) is the most annoying guy on the planet, but I like shows that highlight good, local restaurants. A few times when I’ve traveled, I’ve gone to a place because it was on _Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives_, or _Man vs Food_, or something similar. > > It must be a weird love/hate thing for the owners of these places. Yeah, it’s great to get that publicity, but you have to spend the better part of the day filming with that insufferable douche, listening to forty takes of him saying something is “money,” sticking his hands in the food while you’re prepping, and cramming his gaping maw with a burger directly over the food prep area (I guess it’s a good thing they probably don’t actually serve food to customers when he films the kitchen segments, because can you say health code violation?) Not content with being a douche, apparently he is also a king-sized asshole to everyone around him, including restaurant staff and owners. I see where Adam Richman is doing a series on best sandwiches, rather than eating himself to an early death. He looks healthier, too. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/42 "2012-07-17T21:13:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Richman is doing a series on best sandwiches, rather than eating himself to an early death. He looks healthier, too. I stopped watching after they picked Big Ass sandwich over Bunk’s pork belly Cubano as the best in the PNW. What!? Oh well, at least Seattle didn’t win. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/43 "2012-07-17T22:33:52Z")
Do either **Lost Girl** or **Todd and the Book of Pure Evil** qualify as good? ---
**Author:** ![moonbreath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@moonbreath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonbreath)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/44 "2012-07-17T22:37:21Z")
pretty little liars, vampire diaries, anything about fat people getting skinny. my current secret obsession of choice: i used to be fat. 😢 ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/45 "2012-07-17T23:03:51Z")
I loves me some Teen Wolf with its shirtless guy pandering, embracing of cheese, and meta moments. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/46 "2012-07-18T00:45:55Z")
[Dance Academy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Academy) has thankfully taken the place of [The Secret Life of The American Teenager](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_life_of_the_american_teenager) in my teen drama fascination. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/47 "2012-07-18T00:54:59Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > Wipeout. This. I laugh my ass off at it, boyfriend thinks something is wrong with me. I also get a guilty pleasure out of Toddlers and Tiaras and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. **Lacunae Matata** , your story of your dad reminded me of all the times I caught my dad watching The Young and the Restless. He too would claim he was just channel surfing, but if you asked him he knew all the characters and exactly what was going on. Sure Dad, we believe you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/48 "2012-07-18T13:30:33Z")
> [@DataZak](#): > > You’re a Brony? Yeah… but I only watch the show, I don’t read fanfiction or draw fan pictures > [@kushiel](#): > > 16 and Pregnant. I think I watch it to make me feel better about my life. Plus I like thinking about the popular snobby chicks from high school suddenly stuck with babies and no money and no life. I’ve seen it a few times on Beavis and Butthead, it’s even better with Mike Judge’s commentry ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/49 "2012-07-19T11:41:47Z")
**Cheaters.** It’s my secret shame. I lock the cat in the other room so she doesn’t see me watching it. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/50 "2012-07-20T05:20:03Z")
> [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](#): > > **Cheaters.** It’s my secret shame. I lock the cat in the other room so she doesn’t see me watching it. Oh, dear lord, I actually watched a couple of episodes of that. Needed a shower afterwards. Even _Hardcore Pawn_ isn’t as vile. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/51 "2012-07-20T10:25:37Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I watch _America’s Next Top Model_. I have no idea why I watch it. It is _terrible_, and yet I like it. This show repels me and yet fascinates me. It’s like a trainwreck and I can’t look away. I don’t watch it regularly when a season is airing, but I watch it once in a while when they’re showing reruns. One particular time they had a marathon of an entire season and I watched six or seven hours straight (in my defense, I was home sick and had nothing else to do). However, I have vowed to never watch it again. Partly to preserve my sanity and my remaining intelligence (I swear, I lose IQ points for every episode watched), but mainly because they’re getting rid of the J(ay)'s and Nigel. Srsly, would anyone want to watch the show if they’re not on it? I sure has hell don’t watch it to see Tyra. ---
**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/52 "2012-07-21T04:45:46Z")
[ABC.com](http://ABC.com) has one that I’m having trouble staying away from - such total garbage, but so thrilling. The Glass House - I guess this is some kind of Big Brother rip off; bunch of annoying douchebags stuck together in a house. Cue shrieking drama and idiocy. Win!! ANTM - well, that’s not new but I can’t stop loving it. On the other hand, RuPaul’s Drag Race just shuts those whiny bitches down. Dance Moms is probably the grossest train wreck ever. Then again, I’ve never seen Toddlers and Tiaras. Hey, thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/53 "2012-07-21T08:39:57Z")
I’ve never watched The Bachelor or any of it’s spin-offs, altho I feel like I have since so many early morning news/fluff shows feel the need to “keep us up.” I’ve watched Dancing With the Stars a couple seasons and lived to regret it (for time lost doing something better like cleaning the grout in my bathroom.) But wait—I’m not impervious. I watched Big Brother the year they had the southern belle from Memphis and the black gay guy (Marcello?) and loved it so much I subscribed to the (only $19.95!) online 24/7 feed for the summer…it was like a co-ed slumber party. Loved loved loved it. I think I liked it because they weren’t trying to pretend to be normal. I don’t believe that people act naturally/logically while in front of cameras. (Even rugged people like in Swamp Thang (or whatever) or Ice Road Truckers (or whatever.) I do remember a couple-week compulsion for Loggers Whatevers. I’m afraid of heights but like tackling whatever needs to be done. Also I have one friend and one family member who do tree work so it was interesting to watch the logistics behind what they do. After the obligatory “tree fell on my daddy!” tho, I quit watching. Then there’s Kendra. Ex-Playboy model/Hugh Hefner lover. I think that for her the cameras _are_ natural. Don’t know. But I love her and her husband Hank and Little Hank. I’ve seen more love/true caring expressed on that show than I’ve seen anywhere else. Their superficialities are embraced but don’t dilute their real feelings (as seen on TV.) Can’t watch it anymore; it went from TLC to WE which we don’t get. But if I could I’d catch every episode. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/54 "2012-07-21T15:07:19Z")
I watch many of the shows mentioned without a drop of shame. The hoarder shows, both Oddities shows and I have nothing but pure love for I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant. But there are two shows that I am ashamed that I watch whenever I can-- any paternity Maury and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Now that I’m thinking about it, why am I ashamed of AFHV but not of Tosh.0? Tosh is one hundred times as evil as Bob Saget, Mark Fugelsang or Tom Bergeron-- he’s only 2 times as evil as Daisy Fuentes. My husband should be ashamed of watching Femme Fatale on Cinemax, but he’s not. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376/55 "2012-07-22T04:51:13Z")
> [@orderfire](#): > > Dance Moms is probably the grossest train wreck ever. Then again, I’ve never seen Toddlers and Tiaras. I think I saw a clip from one of those shows on “The Soup”…it featured a mother hissing various threats at her child for “misbehaving”, apparently unaware that the microphone was picking up every word. I used to really enjoy “Oddities”, until the skinny dark-haired guy was so rude to that girl when he took her on a date. I pretty much lost interest in the show after that, and I’ve completely avoided the west coast version. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bad-tv-programs-are-your-secret-thang/628376.md?page=2)