Real vs. Reality

Let's talk reality TV, because you know you’re obsessed with it!

We all love the drama. We breathe it, we sleep it, we dream it and some of us even live it—whether it's on TV or in our own reality. The way Courtney Love is hooked on drugs, we are hooked on reality TV.

But what you see is NOT always what you get. Take Teresa Giudice from "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" for example. Most of the comments that I hear about her are that she's crazy, she's a shopaholic, she's dumb, she flips tables and she's a typical Italian guidette. The best one I heard yet was “she does nothing”. That cracks me up, because I know first hand that couldn't be further from the truth.

The Teresa I know busts her butt to survive in a world where people see six months of life in a few one-hour episodes of reality TV. She works almost seven days a week, maintains a household of four children and cooks dinner almost every night.  

Does she flip tables?  Well, if a camera followed you around—wouldn’t they possibly catch you doing something you might normally would never do?   

So why do we all love reality TV, if it's not that real? It's the drama, the flashy lifestyle—and of course the fashion. It's our escape from our own reality.

I've met some of these hot-for-right-now reality TV stars. The ones you think you'll love, are the ones I know you'll hate. The ones smiling that whole hour, are really the ones bitching the other 23 hours —but we don't see that part. 

I say watch your reality TV, regardless.  Talk about it, gossip about it, but in reality just enjoy it. Because really, it's just TV. Editing. Little pieces put together for the most dramatic effect.  

On our way to Teresa's house one night after a book signing, I said to her, “God, Teresa, you work so much, you’re always running!”  

“Jules, I do what I have to, to put food on my table," she said. 

Now that's humble. Remember that the next time you see someone going crazy on TV. They’re just like you and me—except their life is being edited to entertain us.

With all the rumors going around that there might be a —who knows maybe the next one flipping tables or pulling off someone’s wig will be you or me. 

White Plains resident Julius Michael is the author of this column and the trusted stylist to many high-end Westchester clients. See his website at www.JuliusMichael.com or reach him atJulius@JuliusMichael.com or 914.648.9866