A Post-Grad’s Journey Towards Domestication

Daytime TV plays a crucial role in molding the domestic-wannbe and consoling the domestic-hasbeen. There are tons of shows to choose from, but in order to benefit from the vast array of choices, the domestic-wannabe should choose wisely.

First, the talk show

The talk show places the viewer in a social conversation that she is otherwise not tuned into because she is sitting at home. This conversation can range from relationship woes to celebrity gossip to interviews with authors, actors, and performers. Some good options include Tyra,The View, Dr. Phil, Oprah, but your best bet is Ellen. She is in the forefront of daytime talk shows and hosts some of the best guests in the “biz.”

 Second, the cooking show

If you are going to domesticate yourself, watching at least one cooking show per day is crucial. While you may not end up liking the recipe, it will expand your knowledge of cooking ingredients, prep, and maybe spark an idea for something different. The food network is an excellent resource for you and you can tune into a specific program to cater to your tastebuds. For example, you like Italian? Then you can’t miss Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis. Or, perhaps American Southern cooking is more your speed? Try Paula’s Home Cooking. You can watch by time preference, as in 30 Minute Meals, or money preference, as in $40 a Day.

 No matter how you cook it, the food network’s got something up its sleeve for you.

Third, the reality show

The three best channels for a great daytime reality show are TLC, Discovery Health, and Style Network. If you watched both of these channels every day, you still wouldn’t see every birth and every wedding that TV has to offer.

Wedding

Don’t waste your time on any other wedding show besides Whose Wedding is it Anyway?  This is an hour-long program that follows wedding planners and their brides and grooms. It’s chock full of drama and absolutely fabulous.

Style

If you want to watch a style-makeover show and not shed a tear (you might cry if you watch 10 Years Younger!), try What Not to Wear. In this hour-long program, individuals are put on the chopping block by their families and coworkers because their wardrobes are either outdated or trashy. They have to throw everything away and purchase a *FREE* $5,000 wardrobe in two days…and get hair and makeup done by Nick Arrojo and Carmindy. Amazing.

Births

Bringing Home Baby is where it’s at when it comes to newborn. This program is just a half-hour long, but compacts the first 36 hours of baby’s life, as well as backtracking to 4 weeks before the delivery and a few weeks or months after. The in medias res format is classic and holds your interest the entire time. Gotta love a new baby!

Fourth, the soap opera

The soap opera viewer is passionate about the one that she watches, but this is quite comical because most are exactly the same. What is special about the soap opera is that it is has been on for decades unlike any other fictional show, and it can break all barriers of common sense, including ressurecting the dead (not in a creepy way!) and fastfowarding time (like if they need a child to become a teenager overnight). The characters stay although the actors playing them can change. It’s fascinating, really.

The three channels that air classic “soaps” are CBS, NBC, and ABC. I will promote non other than the show I was raised on and continue to watch to this day, Days of Our Lives. And if you don’t think you know it, I’m sure that you will as soon as you see the opening credit.

Fifth, Martha Stewart

There’s no way around it. Whether the Martha Stewart Show airs in the morning or afternoon where you are, you must watch Martha. She will help you cook better, craft better, be more creative, and plan better. She’s the guru of domestication.

God Bless Martha Stewart