Romance is dead

Ok, so I'm delusional. I actually liked (note the past tense) the Bachelor. I thought it was fresh and invigorating. At least compared to other dating shows like Blind Date and the 5th Wheel, that ever-so-original spin on America's favourite pastime - dating on a bus. Wait, wait - hold back the bile, let me explain.
The Bachelor was an escape. Imagine a land of hottubs, champange and strawberries and an endless array of studs professing their love to you in little handwritten haiku poems. Fantasy world indeed. I watched the last Bachelorette religiously. My love for the show came to a screeching, burning rubber-kinda halt when Jen Schefft officially burst my bubble effectively destroying my monday night ritual.
I, by that time, had developed what you could call a slight - note slight - obsession with Jerry whats-his-name. When she dumped him, I was angry. Not angry because I genuinely cared, but angry cause I didn't get my way. I mean what is UP? She's looking for a SERIOUS boyfriend? But that's not part of the show. I never get mad when the couples who hook up on the show break up later on. That's fine. I don't care what you do after the show as long as I get my fairy-tale ending. Let me have my hour of romance. Please.
For one, real romance is never like that, but girls, being the silly creatures we are, like to delude ourselves into believing it is. Even me. I hate reality t.v. I don't even really watch t.v. Last I heard, Lindsay Lohan had a singing career. And second, it complemented my own steamy love-life. Right. Like who has time for boys anyway? But as a single girl, I was completely content supplementing my dose of romance with a dash of voyuerism.
That aside, I gave up watching the Bachelor after that last disappointment. But my nagging curiosity got me. I caved in. I was able to steal the t.v. for one hour tonight and had my pick between Miss USA or the Bachelor. Of course it was a gut-wrenching choice. Opting for the latter, I was even more sickened by the state of the sleaze on that show. Like omigod, is this your door? Yes. Like let's hang out. Not only are the girls extra dumb this season, the guy's a friggin monster. He speaks some weird broken English in a deep, droning monotone voice. Plus, he's Jerry O'Connell's brother. I guess that kind of celebrity status garners you your own show these days.
But nothelessless the show sucks. I probably would have been better off watching Miss USA. Then I could have worked up the old diatribe about women and objectification. Perhaps I've become even more cynical, although I really can't imagine that being possible. Or perhaps the show always sucked and I'm just starting to realize it. Either way, romance is dead in my books. At least it is on prime time t.v.