Sorry Jersey Shore, I just can't do it

With practically every television show on winter break (and the fact that the loss of the Food Network has left a void in my life), flipping threw the channels at an A.D.D. pace was a frequent activity over the holiday break.

With Hal armed with the remote, I never knew what we’d end up watching. The history of military bombers? It was possible. When dinosaurs roamed earth? Very likely. Something on the Discovery Channel? Usually.

Then he stumbled upon a different kind of show, Jersey Shore, and for some reason his trigger finger stopped its rapid fire of channel switching.

Jenn: Are you actually going to watch Jersey Shore? (I asked him with a tone of mild disgust)

Hal: Is that what this is?

Hal gave me the “don’t judge” look which I often give him when he catches me watching the Real Housewives or Bridezillas. I figured I’d let him find out for himself how intolerable this show had the potential to be.

Within the first few seconds of watching, I could see Hal staring with bewilderment at the over-tanned, over greased guy, flexing his muscles while trying to utter coherent sentences. Whether voluntary or not, Hal began shaking his head as if trying to shake the image of Jersey’s finest guido from his mind.

30 seconds later (if that), he changed the channel to Discovery and the intellectual comforts of MythBusters.

Hal: I don’t think I can watch that. I mean, I really don’t think I can do it.

Before the half hour was up, Hal switched back to Jersey Shore. This time, he could only watch for 10 seconds before quickly turning the channel.

Hal: Nope, can’t do it.

Having never seen an entire episode myself (actually, I think Hal’s 40-second viewing of Jersey Shore is about double what I’ve seen of it), I perhaps am not in a position to judge the show’s ‘merit’. However, these people seem especially vapid, which I imagine is the entertaining part. Similarly to the macaroons, I’m trying to understand the allure and seeming addiction to this show, but may just save my brain cells and pass on this one.