TLC's Real Simple is simply Real Complicated

Faith and I enjoyed a much needed break from 7th grade studying and homework yesterday afternoon, and planted ourselves squarely on the couch, as we got reacquainted with the DVR. I had read that the magazine "Real Simple" was premiering a new show on TLC, having to do with creative ideas on how to keep your life stress-free and organized. I once had a subscription to the magazine (expensive as it is), and enjoyed some of the unique ideas they share to eliminate clutter in the home, etc. I was excited in seeing what the show had to offer and how close it would resemble its paper counterpart.

Disappointment with the show hit me right off the bat. The opening segment shows a bunch of well groomed, not "real simple" people sitting on a couch reviewing who their new "victim", oops, I mean project is going to be. In the unfortunate likeness of "Extreme Home Makeover," the viewer is then thrusted into a mini van with these not so simple people as they continually discuss what is wrong with their "project's" life, and what they are going to do to fix it.

The subject of the show is a 40 year old married woman living in California. She has two kids under the age of 3 and she works full time. For some reason, she is stressed out. (OF COURSE SHE IS!!!!!) The RS team comes in to attack every area of her life....her mental state, her closet and what she wears, her kitchen and what she cooks, etc. They judge her for the ways in which she is handling the pressures of her life. They mock her stress level by making fun of her clothes. They laugh at the frozen food she serves her family at night. And above all else, they can't understand why she is not "opening up to them" about her life. So, they intend to forcefully make their way "in," by tricking her into playing Real Simple games that add even more stress to her complex world (i.e. making her plan a party with an hour's notice, and testing her ability to pick out a complete outfit from a rack of unfamiliar clothing in less than 3 minutes.) As Faith and I sat in utter amazement, we felt such pity for the woman. We wondered if she thought for a moment, "This is not what I signed up for. This is not making my life Real Simple."

I am going to keep "Real Simple" on the DVR schedule for a few more episodes. I want to cut the producers some slack and see if they can adjust the error of their ways. If the show continues to be a berating of those that are just "simply" asking for some "simplification" of their lives, I am done with it. It really wasn't what I was expecting it to be anyway.