This weekend I watched TV.

I never watch TV.

During my years at school and college I’ve numerous times come across this monstrous electrical apparatus with its only purpose of alienating you and absorbing you into a swirl of unnecessary information that although sometimes could end up being good; educational (National Geographic yay) or even useful (gives you something to talk about?) – most of the time, is not.

To back up my opinion, according to the National Institute on Media and the Family a child that watches 3-5h of TV a day will be exposed to 40,000 commercials a year and more than 200,000 televised acts of violence by the time he/she reaches 18. Cigarettes are no longer advertised in certain countries. The same child, however, will watch an average of 2,000 ads on wine and beer per year.

I focused this research on children because they are the easiest to influence and before all, the future of our society. It gives you something to think about.

Coming back to my point, I was sitting on the couch, starting to feel my brains getting vacuumed by this reality show called The Valleys. This is a Welsh version of the American show Jersey Shore, which I found a very good description of online:

“The show features 8 guidos and guidettes. They have never been to the shore, and some of them have never even been to New Jersey. But to them, Seaside is Heaven on Earth. Watch as they get drunk, get laid, and trash Seaside Heights. While you’re at it, maybe you can learn a couple things about tanning, fist pumps and hair gel.”

The Valleys is exactly the same thing but with a different accent. When I got home I still couldn’t get over what I saw so I decided to check out their ‘best moments’ on YouTube. That’s how I came across Geordie Shore that is the North-East of England version of Jersey Shore (how many versions can be out there of the same thing?!), with more than 9 million followers on Twitter and a cast that quotes things of this sort:

“Got the looks, got the charm, it just works” or “I’d never kiss anyone without a six-pack”.

Anyhow, the TV was doing the job and I was very close to drawn into its charm by becoming a fan of trashy reality shows about nothing whatsoever when I came across an article in which I found out that few members of Geordie have just joined in with Skins condoms by launching their own range and promoting that even them, who are crazy and have loads of sex, like to play safe. To see their faces on a condom, click here!

Well done guys! (And come back to work, Gladys)