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Our Guilty Pleasure Shows and Why They’re So Guilty

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

We all have those shows that we need to watch at the end of a long day, but we wouldn’t in a million years admit to watching without at least blushing a little bit. So what is it about these shows that make us feel so ashamed? Well, here are a few answers to that very question including some of your most humiliating watches.

Show we love: “The Bachelor”

Why we feel guilty: Is there a show with more drama than the Bachelor series? Unlikely. Cut throat drama that only gets better season after season. Would we proudly own up to this obsession that goes quite well with wine and girlfriends? Of course not, but that doesn’t keep us from wondering who’s getting a rose and who’s gonna go crazy in the next episode.

Show we love: “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”

Why we feel guilty: This is the show that can truly destroy your brain cells one by one. But somehow we yearn to live vicariously through these talentless, rich as hell people. What’s Kim going to name her son? Is Kendall really dating Harry Styles? The only way to find out is by watching the next episode and then reading any of the popular tabloids.

Show we love: Disney Channel Shows

Why we feel guilty: Are these shows meant for kids? Yes. Is the old Disney a billion times better than new Disney? Of course it is. What do you think makes this guilty pleasure so guilty? If I were to tell someone that I was re-watching old episodes of “That’s So Raven,” they would probably be more than happy to join me. But if “That’s So Raven” became episodes of “Liv and Maddie”, I’d probably get a few side eyes. But who doesn’t love a nice feel good show to watch at the end of a long day, especially with a side of crazy shenanigans at least once an episode?

Show we love: Cartoons

Why we feel guilty: Telling your friends you’re hooked on “Pokémon” or “Winx Club” nowadays wouldn’t exactly count as impressive or intellectual. But gosh darn it, they makes you feel like a kid again! While there are a few acceptable cartoons, “Scooby Doo” for example, most are more embarrassing than vintage.

Show we love: “Say Yes to the Dress”

Why we feel guilty: Don’t ever let your boyfriend walk in on you binge watching and sobbing over wedding shows. You just might scare him a bit. But oh my goodness, that dress looks amazing on her and I know it’s a little over budget but she’s crying and she’s just so beautiful and she’s going to be so happy and suddenly you’re getting weepy on the couch with a bowl of ice cream.

Show we love: “Dance Moms”

Why we feel guilty: Drama amongst a bunch of 10 year olds and their insane mothers and watching them compete and perform to the point of exhaustion seems like it’s a violation of some sort of child labor law. When you watch it you just get caught up in the drama and these girls’ incredible amounts of talent.

 

While we may feel guilty about these shows, we sure do love them. So grab a glass of wine and a pint of ice cream and turn on your guilty pleasure show because you deserve it! Embrace the guilt and the pleasure, and thank God for trashy television.

Jessica is a Senior who majors in English and Philosophy with a concentration in Law at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also involved heavily in her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, RamTHON, the English Honor Society, and she's a Rowdy Ram. When she's not staying up until 3 am pounding Diet Cokes and writing essays last minute or stressing about "life after college", she can be found quoting FRIENDS and Shakespeare and laughing at her own jokes. If you're feeling super curious about her personality, just look at her Gemini horoscope or her Myers Briggs results (E/INFP btw). 
Keziah is a writer for Her Campus. She is majoring in Fashion Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising. HCXO!