I’ve decided to come out of the closet

Let’s get this out of the way. Now and then, I watch trash television. There. I feel better already.

I also watch the news, follow political commentary, read the paper, and listen to news radio. I may not be a Rhodes Scholar, but I consider my intelligence average, and on par with most people I know. The rest, well, I can usually fake it, which in my opinion makes me smart enough.

So why then, is it such an embarrassment for average folk like myself to admit that we know something about pop culture and reality television? That our TV pleasures have to be guilty ones?

The mere mention of a reality based show, or celebrity gossip and faces contort, eyes roll and judgement fills the room. Yet oddly, everyone seems to know who and what we’re talking about. If it’s so distasteful, why aren’t you more confused by the conversation?

What I’m saying is – y’all must be watching something other than the History Channel.

On many occasions, I’ve hidden my guilty pleasures, only to have someone reveal they’re a diehard ‘Bachelor’ fan, or, addicted to ‘Dancing with the Stars’. I may not know anything about rose ceremonies or mirror balls, but I do know a real, fun, casual person when I see one.

Yeah, that’s right all of you smarty pants. It’s not belittling to know the names of all the Kardashians, to watch Hollywood Mediums or think the ‘Love it or List it’ people are your friends. This is all perfectly normal, for perfectly normal people.

For years, I pretended to look baffled by chatter about the Real Housewives of New Jersey. I gave off an air of confusion at the mere mention of Theresa’s now famous table flip. And then, my TV crush Anderson Cooper revealed that he and I shared the same guilty pleasures. We both love the Housewives. I figured if it was good enough for Andy, it was good enough for me. He wasn’t the only one. Celebs, politicians, even America’s former First Lady admitted to enjoying the antics of the not so real women. Watching these gals is a great way to put your brain in neutral, have a laugh, and get a glimpse of what happens in the lives of people more ridiculous than yourself.

In a world where the news will either terrify you or break your heart, a little nonsense is always a welcome addition. And – as it happens- I like my nonsense courtesy of the dashing Andy Cohen and the lovely housewives of Bravo … Beverley Hills, O.C., New York and New Jersey.

While I may be the only one willing to put this in print, I’m definitely not the only one tuning in. After all, I catch most of you knowing far too much for casual observers.

If you’re willing to come out of the closet—let me know! Share YOUR guilty pleasure. In the meantime, I’m hooked on a new show out of the U.S. It’s about Donald Trump as President.  I think he’s about to be fired.