Lonely? TV Can Help!

May 7, 2009 - 3:00 pm By CC Staff

lazy Whenever I’m feeling lonely I do one of two things:

1. I put on sweats, grab a blanket and settle in front of my couch for the day/night/month.
2. I eat a box of Oreos smothered in peanut butter.

Ok, I’ll be honest – I do both. And usually polish off the jar of pb with a spoon.

I used to think that those nights made me feel better because of the intense sugar rush all that quality programming (read: Food Network challenges) distracted me from my personal issues, but a new study is saying that watching TV actually cures loneliness.

According to a series of studies performed at the University at Buffalo and Miami University of Ohio, people feel personally connected to the characters they watch on TV, so much so that it is like they are actually a part of whatever is going on week after week. These “relationships” fulfill them (much like my Oreo/pb combo fulfills me) and their need for personal contact.

So, basically, my long stints in front of the TV take away my loneliness not because they are distracting me from it, but because I feel as if I am right there with Bobby Flay cooking up a 6 course meal with a crazy secret ingredient in 60 minutes. And we are totally BFF.

I can sorta see the truth in this – lord knows I talk about LC and Audrina like we are all living together and crushing on the Brodester – but it all seems so sad. Do people really think that they are part of Blair Waldorf’s latest scheme? Do they really stop questioning the fact that they have 9 cats and a crazy knitting hobby because they feel so close to Pam and Jim on The Office? Read More »

Tags: ace of cakes, bobby flay, cat lady, cats, effect of tv, food network, gossip girl, iron chef, lonely, psychology study, The Office, tv cures loneliness

5 Grey’s Plotlines That Didn’t Make It

January 29, 2009 - 3:00 pm By Rob - UPENN

We have all complained, at one time or another, on the quick spiralling freefall that is this season’s Grey’s Anatomy. Between the ghost sex and the impromptu training operations that would have no doubt been a felony in any other show, it all gives this writer pause. If these are the story lines that we saw, what are the plotlines that got turned down? Read More »

Tags: derek, dr. yang, ER, ghost sex, ghost whisperer, greys anatomy, Heidi Montag, iron chef, jennifer love hewitt, Katherine Heigl, lipo, mcdreamy, meredith, plot, plotlines, rejected greys plot, seattle grace, speidi, spencer pratt, surgury

Healthy Jambalaya: Delicious Summer Dish

July 18, 2008 - 12:30 pm By Kari- Florida State

It only makes sense that New Orleans invented the dish that is by far the most fun to say (pronounced jamba-LAY-a. At the top of your lungs. With Jazz hands.) And it just happens to be fun to make also! Whether you’re cooking solo on a weeknight, post happy hour with your girls, or during a one-on-one iron chef battle with your s.o. (guilty), this guilt free jambalaya is delish, healthy, and so so easy to make.

You’ll need:

Tags: al dente, brown rice, chicken tenders, dish, girls, green onions, guilt, iron chef, jambalaya, jazz, lungs, new orleans, pepper, post happy hour, roots, spice, stewed tomatoes, tops, turkey, veggies

Are You Crying?: Flavor of Love 3 Recap: Episode 3

March 2, 2008 - 2:30 pm By CC Staff

video.vh1.com


Last time – the girls tried to cure Flav’s “broken” heart.
During this episode, the ladies must split into two teams and their challenge is to create a restaurant, from décor, to name, to food that represents Flav. Grayvee had best make this freaking fried chicken that she went on about in Episode 1.
Each restaurant must have a manager. I don’t know which team is A or B, all I know is that Rayna’s managing one and Grayvee’s managing the other.
While everyone else preps, Rayna and Shy represent their team and Grayvee and Vanilla Ice take the reigns on theirs to go on a field trip and I can’t believe that each team gets $1000 to spend on crap ass decorations. On the way to the props shop, Vanilla Ice spends all of her time on the phone with her radio station, but you have to forgive her after the whole ‘I work in radio and I worked at Hooter’s and I always try to be the best at what I do.’ Sing it, Sister.

A plastic reindeer becomes the focal point of this shopping excursion. Shy wants to buy it but Rayna shuts her down because it’s not elegant and so Vanilla Ice and Grayvee buy it. I don’t even want to know how much that thing even cost. Read More »

Tags: cheesecake factory, flav, flavor of love 3, gumbo, hooters, iron chef, lingerie, mardi gras, merrill schindler, radio station, scott stewart, vh1, zagat