My weary body has finally gotten a day off from work. It's about 70 degrees outside and the day is beautiful. How have I decided to spend my day at home? Sleeping in, reading, and then finally, watching MTV's My Super Sweet 16 reality show (a marathon no less). As much as I deny, to certain personality types, that I don't indulge in such tripe, the fact of the matter is, I do. I am both intrigued and repulsed by popular culture's television offerings. One must admit that these shows are quite interesting to watch. It's like rubbernecking at a public altercation unfolding on the street, when you know you should simply keep walking and staring straight ahead. But alas, you can't. I succumbed to VH-1's Flavor of Love and the subsequent reunion show. Wednesday nights find me ignoring phone calls because I am wrapped up in America's Next Top Model. There is something especially intriguing, however, about the aforementioned My Super Sweet 16. A show that finds well-off, comely (and in some cases unattractive, zit faced) 15 -year- olds preparing for their lavish do's. How do they go about their party preparations? It's quite simple, they bark off orders to willing parents, who gladly give into their whims. One subject called her chagrined mum a bitch because mum attempted to refuse her a *gasp* Coffee Coolata (she got one following her tantrum) and as a mere "veterinarian" who didn't know what she was talking about, when mom offered up suggestions during a shopping spree for her party dress. Apparently nothing is too expensive for their spoiled princesses (and in a couple of cases, princes and one flaming queen). These kids are rude and crude. They scream at the party planners, they curse out their moms and dads who stand by idly... blinking furiously in response. They demand that daddy rent out space at the most happening venues and book celebs, young shirtless men with six-packs or go-go dancers to make appearances at their parties, they peruse racks of skanktacular but expensive outfits to wear to their shindig, and they rip pages upon pages out of The Mean Girls handbook... using the lure of their party to pick from the creme de la creme of their high school's social hierarchy, flagrantly and obnoxiously handing out fancy looking invitations... leaving the ugly and the unpopular to stare longingly by the wayside. They fashion together V.I.P. groups... usually consisting of about 8-10 girls and guys who get to do fun things like wiggle and shake feverishly on stage (booty dancing?) or go behind a curtain while the rest of the party goers peek from the common dance-floor, wondering what's going on. They use this opportunity to antagonize and torment their poor, unwitting BFF's... who in a matter of ten minutes... are relegated to commoner status. *sigh* This show is intense. One show subject, Jazmin narrates that she grew up poor in the foster care system, where she had to contend with roaches and rats teeming all over the floor. She takes the Super Sweet 16 film crew to the dilapidated home she and her older brother once shared, before she lucked up and got adopted by a rich family. One would think that Jazmin would be gracious and humbled by her experiences, right? WRONG. Channeling character Regina George, from the movie Mean Girls- who channeled Shannon Doherty from the movie Heathers... Jazmin shuns her former best friend, in favor of another pack of hyenas (who sites ex BFF's short, ugly, and fat with a big nose look for the reasons why she was excommunicated from the V.I.P. group) and earlier, voices over that ex-BFF can't afford such luxuries after a shopping trip to Las Vegas (I guess she forgot that she'd been living in squalor not too long before). Ex-BFF phones Jazmin in a fit of desperation, in hopes of having her V.I.P. status restored, but alas, is met with background chiding and chortling from the girls as they have their hair done up in ugly, cliched prom styles and makeup smeared over their faces. While Jazmin allows her to attend the party, she is adamant about her disinvitation to the V.I.P. list of girls, who get to shake their money makers on-stage (ohhhh joy, how exclusive) during the party. She proceeds to humiliate the distraught and mealy mouthed ex-BFF even futher, by ignoring her and taking pleasure in watching her grovel and begging to be let into the V.I.P. room. Jazmin's adoptive mother practically high-fives her daughter's obnoxious behaviour, driving her to the poor girl's house, prior to the party, to deliver the bad news that she is out... snickering with glee when the deed is done, as she peels out of the ex-BFF's driveway. We are also introduced to rapper Cee-lo's spoiled, D.I.T (diva in training), daughter Sierra (who follows behind her minions in a stretch limo while they hand deliver her edible invitations and the emphatic message NO GIFT? NO PARTY!). Sierra rolls down her limo's window long enough to exclaim to one of her close friends, that she looks a "hot mess" when ol' girl comes to the door to accept the invite. Then there was singer Gerald Levert's equally as spoiled daughter, who fancies herself a budding pop star, who'll rival Beyonce. These are some over the top bashes that'd rival any celebrity (or Mafia) wedding. When I was sixteen, I think I got some cake, ice cream, chips? and maybe a gift certificate somewhere... and I was eternally grateful for that. Still am. What has become of today's youth? Does having money or being a member of the nouveau riche give them free reign to berate their parents and shun those who can't afford such luxuries?? It's the parents fault for fostering this behaviour. They take these lil bitches to Vegas and places of the like to patronize Gucci, Christian Dior, and Prada to buy their party dresses. Ava's - (another spoiled subject, preparing for a lavish, Arabian Nights themed party)- mother plays one-ups by flying her all the way to Paris, France to buy a party dress, only to be met by high-end boutiques that're closed for the season. When her mother suggests another trendy boutique, Ava whines "no one knows who that iiiis!" Later on in the show, Ava has a crying fit (ugly face and all) at Dolce, when her parents refuse her a car (they renege on their initial decision, and buy it anyway). Early on in the show, Ava informs us that her parents are divorced. Perhaps giving in to Ava's nasally demands are their way of overcompensating for that fact. They feel guilty. They're being duped... big time, for Ava is seemingly using her parents' divorce to play both ends against the other. MTV should have a follow-up show, documenting how these lavish sweet sixteen parties put mummy and daddy in the poor house, forcing them to have to live off of pork & beans and diced up hot dogs, prepared on a hot plate. Instead, I was treated to a reunion show filmed in NYC, where one teen skeezer lamented to her dad that no one was asking for her autograph as they stomped down the street- enroute to the studio, and another complained that they get "hated on" for having money but people don't realize how difficult it is having to plan a huge party with cameras around, while they curse their dumb ass parents out and spend their hard earned money. I will continue to keep watching however, because it makes for riveting tv! The new season starts tonight!