I feel used. My wife warned me not to waste my time watching "Keeping up with the Kardashians" on the E! network, but like a car accident where you promise yourself you won't look, you take a peak and can't take your eyes away.
That's how this stupid reality show was for me. I normally watched late at night, when I should have been sleeping. I couldn't believe how spoiled and out of touch with reality these, well, reality characters were.
The mother, Kris Jenner, married to former Olympic star Bruce Jenner (he comes across very wimpy), is the matriarch to five daughters and a son — none of whom really has a job, unless being famous for being famous counts.
I was sucked into the show this past season, buying into the whole Kim Kardashian wedding to Kris Humphries. File this under wanting to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and pro wrestling being real — but I wanted this Hollywood marriage to work. Call me a hopeless romantic.
I do feel sorry for Humphries. Even though he clashed with her family and their pampered egos, he seemed to generally want love. Kim, though, just craved fame (and money).
Less than a month ago, millions of viewers tuned in for this made-for-TV wedding, as Kim Kardashian exchanged vows with pro basketball player Humphries.
It was touted as America's answer to Britain's royal wedding. In fact, I told my wife I liked this version better than the royals, because no taxpayer money helped pay for it.
But now I think the whole Kim and Kris wedding was a sham, solely created for TV ratings.
Kardashian, 31, and Humphries, 26, married Aug. 20 in a lavish ceremony in Montecito, Calif. (This was her second marriage.) It was taped for a TV special that aired on E! in October.
Their marriage lasted 72 days before Kim filed for divorce. A little less than three months —!\qhardly enough time to know if you need marriage counseling.
In a statement, Kim said, "I had hoped this marriage was forever, but sometimes things don't work out as planned. We remain friends and wish each other the best."
Ah, lame. "Sometimes things don't work out." This wasn't a trip to Disney World.
Her soon-to-be second ex-husband seemed caught off guard by the news. In a separate statement, he said he was devastated and "remains committed to this marriage and everything this covenant represents."
Seems like a guy willing to try counseling, or at least a couple's retreat.
While they may now be without love, they won't be without money.
The two-part, four-hour television event and subsequent sale of wedding photos earned them an estimated $18 million, or $250,000 per day from wedding to divorce filing.
They reportedly met with the pastor who married them to talk over the split, but a reconciliation is not expected, according to TMZ.com.
Festive programming: NBC is unwrapping a wide array of festive holiday programming including:
"The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now?" special, 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23; the broadcast premiere of Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears A Who!" at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, followed at 10 p.m. by the commemorative special "The 85th Anniversary of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade"; and "Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2011," 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30.
Staff writer Eric Stark discusses trends and tidbits in broadcast media each week in the Sunday News. Write to him at estark@lnpnews.com.
