So I wrote about my affection for depressing television shows and/or movies awhile back. And, needless to say I’m still drawn to downright dreary programing. I’m not alone in my obsession with the bleak so here is my newest list of the heartbreaking, tear jerking, sap that’s been on my screen lately.

Hoarders

Ah, A&E, you are my fave purveyor of depressing TV. You hooked me on Intervention, now you’ve doubled up with Hoaders. This show gets into the lives of those who “collect things” … they just don’t know when to stop.  We’ve met Paul, the sad old man who has been charged with criminal littering around his house. His junkyard of a front lawn includes a rusted out school bus, among other prized possessions. You’ve also introduced us to Kerrylea, who has managed to fill not one, but two houses with piles and piles of crap. The beauty of this show is when the “experts” come in to clean up and haul off the mountains of mess that these folks have managed to hoard. Kerrylea (and just about all of our beloved Hoarders) flip their lids when it comes to this point in the show. “How could you ask me to part with this receipt from McDonalds dated 1993? NO way am I going to toss out this refrigerator full of year-old yogurt!”

Added bonus: I always feel the urge to clean after watching this show.

The Way We Get By

The often overlooked master of the morose — PBS offered up this little documentary that (and I quote) “an intimate look at senior citizens as they confront the universal losses that come with aging and rediscover their reason for living.”

Not only does this doc include old people (one of the key elements of depressing TV), we also have soldiers, veterans, and cancer! This show follows around a group of greeters at a Maine airport. It’s their jobs to welcome home US troops who have returned from (or are headed off to) war in the MIddle East. Sheesh, I was barely into this gem before the tears started flowing.

Added bonus: It aired on Veteran’s Day

My Sister’s Keeper

A good child death movie is exactly what I should not have watched on a trans-Atlantic flight home from a nice, long European vacation. But, ya know when you have seven hours on a plane .. your mind gets a little loopy.

Abigail Breslin plays a kid who was genetically engineered by her parents who also have an older daughter (not genetically engineered) with leukemia. Abigail was “made” so she could donate bone marrow for her big sis. But, come to find out, she’s sick of being poked and prodded and tries to earn medical emancipation from her parents.

Cameron Diaz is the mom in the movie by the way. Really? are we getting old enough for There’s Something About Mary to start playing dramatic old women with dying kids? I guess so.

Anywho, this movie is super sad. Leukemia girl meets a boyfriend (also sick) and tries to live life to the fullest before (you know what’s going to happen here) she dies.

I was sobbing like a little baby during this in-flight pity party.

Added Bonus: Alec Baldwin plays an epileptic lawyer with a service dog.

It’s summer and summer means there really isn’t much on TV. But one little (ahem) BIG show has been drawing me to the couch every Tuesday night. More to Love – a plus-sized Bachelor-type dating show that pits 20 voluptuous single women against each other as they vie for the affection of Luke, the luscious 3oo+- pound bachelor.

The premise sounds good. Finally, a “reality” show about regular folk looking for love. No teensy-tinsy models or hunky chunks of man meat frolicking in hot tubs. Just frumpy, jiggly, curvy, soft people who deserve love just as much as the next guy or gal. AND finally a “reality” show that isn’t afraid to show fat people without trying to make them loose weight or undergo drastic makeovers to be deemed worthy of attention.

I’m not a size two. Never have been, never will be. I’m tall, curvy, and go to the double digits when shopping for sizes. So I was excited and down right curious to see how this show played out. Episode one (when Luke gets to meet all the women) was pretty interesting. It really was a way to size up the cast. “Helpful” weight and height descriptions were placed by each woman’s name as they were introduced. At first I was a little shocked to see that information displayed (how rude they don’t do this on The Bachelor!) But at second thought, I think it’s good for America to understand what 5′ 8:” 198 pounds or 5′ 2″ 230 pounds really looks like.

Despite the promising plot line, However, there are a few things that kinda fall short for me about the show. There seems to be a big focus on eating. Every outing, date, or excursion involves snacking and all out chowing down.

On this week’s episode Wacko Danielle (the same chunky chica who decided to jump in the pool evening gown and all in the first episode) refused to eat seafood while out on a date with Luke, but then went for it when the  dessert tray came out.

“Oooo desert,” Daniel said as she stuffed a frozen chocolate-covered banana in her mouth. Yikes, I’m sure that prop was carefully chosen.

A lot of the girls also are really open about never having a relationship before or even a date and they blame that on their size. Lots of tears are shed about “being too fat” to love. There are lots of people in this world (of all sizes) who have found love. I don’t think size has everything to do with how lucky in love you are. Although I do believe that a lifetime of ridicule can do a number on one’s self-esteem. That is likely the culprit here for many of the contestants. They don’t think they are worthy of love.

More to Love is only three episodes in. So I won’t be too quick to judge.  And in the end I think the show really does have a positive message in there. Be yourself and totally go for it, despite your size. And if just one woman walks away from this show feeling prettier, worthy and ready for love (even if its not Luke) then I think they will be OK.

A Run down on the girls:

I’m was a big (excuse the pun) fan of tattooed rockabilly chic, Bonnie. But she got the boot tonight. I think she said it best, “I would’ve scared the hell out of his mom.”

I’m not really sure why, but I think the super curvy Malissa (in the photo above) has a shot. And by the looks of it Luke is pretty much into here too. Although some of the girls seem a little upset that she hasn’t been fat all of her life. She gained all of her weight since high school.

I have a feeling that the sensative curly-headed Kristian likes loves Luke a whole lot more than Luke likes her. She’s already talking about how she’s falling for him and they’ve barely been alone together! I’m afraid she is setting herself up for massive heartbreak later on.

Everyone seems to be mad for Mad Men (including me) and the oh-so-cool clothes featured on the show. So in honor of the new season of Mad Men starting (Aug. 16, yippie!) I’ve put together some inspiring images and other fashion tid bits about 60s vintage Mad Men style.

Banana Republic was wise to hop aboard the Mad Men fashion band wagon. The shop has special selections inspired by the series including this pencil skirt and top inspired by everyone’s favorite curvy Mad woMan, Joan!

By the way, if you would like to find out how to make your own pencil necklace like Joan is often wearing (as she is above) check out fellow Austinite, and Naughty Secretary herself, Jennifer Perkin’s blog.

eBay also is a great place to find vintage 60’s dresses. Whether you are a Betty, Peggy, or Joan you can find the right curve-hugging frock (even in yummy plus sizes) to wear to that Mad Men premier party. During a recent search I even found a vintage bullet bra. I also found The Rainbow Has a Mustache’s photostream on Flickr. They have lots of cool ideas on how to rock the vintage in a modern way. OH, and they have an Etsy page. Bonus!

From the rainbow has a mustache

AMC has an awesome video tour of the Mad Men costume shop. The woman behind the vintage threads lets us know that the next season will be filled with even more dramatic shapes, colors and textures. Now, word has it that Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant may launch her own clothing line.

So I’m a TV junky. There is nothing like kickin back on the couch and soaking up some mind numbing boob toob action.  It may soften your brain like a soft banana, but what can I say, I like bananas. But sometimes 200-plus channels on digital cable just doesn’t cut it. That’s why I seek out the awesome wonderfulness of Hulu. The Website (which is a joint effort between NBC, News Corp and some big investors) offers some of my favorite TV shows, clips of programs like Saturday Night Live and even some movies. 

Since my Hulu discovery I’ve started watching It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development, and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Other awesome finds on the sight include Wall Street Warriors : a reality series on MOJO about those wacky Wall Streeters. You see, on Hulu you find the best of current programs along with classic TV gems and stuff you may have missed along the way. It’s all free and they only make you watch short 30 second ads, maybe once every 20 minutes or so. For a cheap skate like me, it’s worth it.

Happy Huluing.