I have a confession to make….I have a slight tendency to enjoy reading celebrity entertainment magazines. UsWeekly is my favorite, I think they tend to employ quality journalists who deliver stories of the highest accuracy.
But, I really can’t figure out why I would be attracted to read such periodicals. Currently I am reading Pillars of the Earth , the 900 page epic by Ken Follett, as well and combing through UsWeekly trying to figure out exactly how Christina Aguilera lost 40 lbs in 4 months.
Last week I was unloading my grocery cart and recyclable shopping bags (they are worth every penny of their $.99) when I noticed that this couple tied the not and I didn’t know anything about it….my heart skipped a beat.
And they also have a baby on the way….those are two big entertainment stories I’ve missed.
Then there is this new couple alert…..
Really??? I’ve given up trying to keep up with who either one of them are dating.
Sometimes these high class periodicals can even be repulsively fascinating. How then, at times, can I find those magazines more fascinating then reading my Bible?
Tell me, why do you think we care about the lives of celebrities? Why do we place so much of our time follow what they wear, where they eat, who they date?
Just so you know I’m not spending my children’s college education on these magazines. I’ll have you know I only purchase them when we travel, I do have boundaries. It has become habit in our family before a trip for my husband to ask me if I’ve purchased my “dirty” magazines yet.
You know I love UsWeekly just as much as you do. I think I read the articles as some sort of escape. I totally disconnect from the reality of my life. Secretly I am jealous of their tiny frames and endless vacations to the nicest beaches in the world. And then there is a side of me that gets a disgusting satisfaction of the fact that they are addicted to drugs and in rehab for the 50th time. For some sick reason that makes me feel good about myself. How messed up am I?!?!?
By: Laura on May 27, 2008
at 5:17 am
Laura, you’re not messed up, you’re human.
By: brandiandboys on May 27, 2008
at 5:20 am
Hay Paris Wilson,
It is real reality “tv” It is a an escape and a measuring stick to us and the other celebs.
Notice not many men get into all this but they use this part part of the brain to store sports stats.
BA
By: Brian Alexander on May 27, 2008
at 6:24 am
Wrong “Hay” let me try again
Hey Paris Wilson,
By: Brian Alexander on May 27, 2008
at 6:25 am
If you only get those magazines when you are going on a trip you are doing good. I am way to interested in all that gossip. Really, I don’t buy any magazines because what’s the point when I can go to websites. Let see it is so bad that I visit TMZ, People, Us magazine, and a few others a few times a day. My excuse is that I am cross referencing to find out what is really true or not. I am not sure as to why I care about the gossip, but I do know that I use it as a distraction from doing things I need to be doing. There are probably much better things I could do with my time. I think its an addiction.
By: unorganizedchaos on May 27, 2008
at 6:40 am
It is such a GMC (God made coincidence) that this was your post today, I found your husbands website a few weeks ago from Angie Smith’s website and then found yours, to make a very long story a little shorter, I work in a small office and what else is there to do when I am bored than to surf the web, celb gossip is my addiction, I look at the above mentioned websites a few times a day, don’t really know why other than the reasons listed above just like everyone else, however for the past few weeks every time I get on one I have this voice in the back of my head, (God, I know) saying why are you looking at this, why are you filling your head with this stuff when you know that there are plenty of Christian websites (you, your husband, Angie Smith, just to name a few) that you can be reading and learning more about me. I have been convicted of my “dirty” habit and made the decision at church this weekend that I was not going to look at them anymore, quit cold turkey, because like you I have no idea what draws me to them when I could be drawn to the word of God.
By: Lauren on May 27, 2008
at 6:52 am
I agree with the commenters that are saying it is an escape and getting satisfaction in seeing them fail. The latter is my favorite part of celebrity reading. On our trip this weekend someone had left a People magazine on the airplane. I of course looked through it and found some people I cannot wait to see fail and go to re-hab, The Jonas Brothers. I don’t understand why they are popular so logically I want them to fail and wreck their lives.
By: Giant Idiot on May 27, 2008
at 7:35 am
Because secretely you would like to be one of these people (Jessica Simpson or whomever) for just a brief moment in time. Being the celebrity that I am, I can’t stand signing all the autographs, but I deal with it. @GI, I am surprised you know of the Jonas Brothers. I got some of their songs on my ipod. Finally, you can come clean about only buying these “dirty” magazines on trips, I have seen your collection.
By: B.J. on May 27, 2008
at 8:28 am
@BJ – I have never heard a Jonas Brothers song and I only saw the pictures at the back of the People magazine. They look just look like complete tools and seeing them fail will bring a sense of weird satisfaction.
By: Giant Idiot on May 27, 2008
at 8:35 am
Jad and I have had many discussions about my reading celeb gossip web pages. Jad calls it porn for women. Unfortunately, I don’t disagree with his logic, but I still continue to read all about their lives. I had four that I would look at a couple of times a day, but now I am down to three once a day. Not much improvement, but I am working on it. I would like to get down to zero, but I enjoy escaping to their lives for a few minutes every day.
By: Melissa on May 27, 2008
at 8:35 am
I would leave some deep, insightful comment about our state of depravity, but I can’t because I have to go see what’s going on at TMZ.com.
By: juliepersinger on May 27, 2008
at 8:48 am
Yeah, my wife does the same thing. I kid her about her “tabloid trash” (but then sneak a peek myself when she’s not looking).
So do you really buy them only when you’re traveling? Or does a trip to gas up the car count as “travel”?
Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com
By: bradruggles on May 27, 2008
at 10:16 am
@GI – Jett is going to be so disappointed about your feelings toward the Jonas Brothers. They are one of his favorites. There might possibly be a Wilson Karaoke coming soon starring a Jonas Bro. song…maybe then your feelings will change!
By: brandiandboys on May 27, 2008
at 10:32 am
If a Wilson is singing and I cannot hear the Jonas Bros. then I will like that version. If it is only the Jonas Brothers I already have a preconceived notion so I will not like it.
I am sure Jett will be extremely disappointed about my musical taste but at least we both like the Titans. In 10 years when Jett is embarrassed about his Jonas Bros phase and has accepted The Who as the greatest band ever I will consider all of my work with Jett done.
By: Giant Idiot on May 27, 2008
at 10:46 am
Brandi,
I love the need we feel for disclaimers….as if we thought you were spending hundreds on your awesomley nicknamed “dirty magazines”. Whenever I blog about something like this, I feel like I have to give a disclaimer so “you all” don’t get the wrong idea about me.
I don’t know why we care…hmm…interesting.
Isn’t Kate Hudson beautiful?
By: danielle on May 27, 2008
at 1:58 pm
I’d like to believe that the reason I go online for the “scoop” on celebs is that I’m simply trying to stay current on some of the world’s news. Not THE world, you know, MY world.
I’ve always loved to be current on events and am now trying to use that excuse to the best of my ability. I also have used the excuse that much of my “knowledge” comes from foxnews.com which happens to have a pretty extensive “Entertainment” section. Any way you look at it, humans are going to be curious about other humans. Plus, the chaotic lives of celebs tend to make my crazy life look a little more sane. ;0)
By: Lori K on May 27, 2008
at 4:45 pm
I like this confessional…it smells like cotton candy.
By: cathi stegall on May 27, 2008
at 5:04 pm
I gave up those mags a long time ago…and it was one of the hardest things I’ve done. That’s sad, huh? But the answer to your question, I think……is that most celebs have something everyone wants. They either have beauty or money……and who doesn’t want either of those? Maybe if we read enough gossip and stare at enough pictures, we’ll morph into them, and then life will be good. Right?
By: Melissa Irwin on May 27, 2008
at 7:01 pm
Brandi,
We were flipping through channels earlier tonight and I saw a “ET” clip about Kate and Lance – it made me think of you! I had no idea, I thought she was married to someone else and pregnant. Obviously, I need to brush up on my USweekly.
By: danielle on May 27, 2008
at 7:27 pm
I have to admit that we used our “Coca-Cola” rewards points to subscribe to Entertainment Weekly … I honestly think that is just the world that we live in and how society lends itself towards living vicariously through the magazines. I agree with Melissa – it’s a hard habit to break.
(on a side note – I would be curious to know how you like Pillars of the Earth, Brandi? — I’m an avid reader, but I got about 150 pages in and returned it to the library…am I missing out?)
By: Jill on May 27, 2008
at 7:31 pm
I am sooo with you on this! Something about reading about the life style they get to lead! I have tried to come up with a better reason to buy them, Like a diet, a meal or something that will help me to be a healthier person… Problem is i read all the dirt first and then set it aside to get back to the good, and it takes me a long time! Hmmm, That doesnt really work out well does it?
By: Jessica on May 27, 2008
at 8:47 pm
dirty mags aren’t in our budget. and i don’t think ive ever said anything like that before in my life. hmmm.
BUT, i do like to watch me some E News!
By: tam on May 27, 2008
at 8:58 pm
Brandi–
I love what you’ve done to your hair.
kc
By: kc on May 28, 2008
at 9:57 am
Brandi,
Hi! Thanks for your comments on Brad’s blog. I love reading everyone’s blogs but I have never taken the time to set up a blog, facebook, my space for myself. Brad has been trying to get me going for quite a while but I haven’t taken the time to do it. I think now might be a good time to start. I would be interested in the groups you had mentioned.
This has been such a crazy journey. There are days that are great and I keep a great attitude and sometimes it is a bit overwhelming. Thank you for all your prayers and support!
I really enjoy reading your blog. My girls sometimes read with me. They were very concerned when they saw the pic of your little guy bleeding. He even made it into their bedtime prayers.
Thanks again!
Lisa
Lisa
By: Lisa on May 28, 2008
at 7:09 pm
Well, I’m a few days BEHIND!!! You know I LOVE all those trashy magazines….and I’mma tell you, The National Enquirer is the TRUTH!! They always report things right before People….and I trust People too. But I don’t believe all the alien stuff…. celebrities yes-aliens no. I don’t know why I love all the gossip about the celebs, but I do and I will continue to do until God decides it’s time to change me….ie: I get older!!! hahhaha
By: DEb on May 29, 2008
at 11:28 am
So okay…on this one, my husband totally hates that I like to read the trash as well. But I have to say that we totally DO NOT get these magazines here, so boo hoo for me. So that might be one of my fascinations, but the second is that it makes me feel normal. Because we are not in the “American” conversations and hear the news bla bla, when teams come over with their airplane mags…I totally steal them because hello! I need something else that “matters-not” to capture my mind for 5 seconds. Seriously. But if you really want to know the truth when I am at home in Bonner Springs, Kansas I like to read the trash there too. Busted.
By: Kristiapplesauce on May 30, 2008
at 10:49 am
so funny….Us weekly is my favorite too. A couple of years ago…they became my mindless way to relax. I am not the type person who would EVER be into these but, for some reason I now have a subscription—which was given to me by my sweet husband. I get them in on Monday’s so Monday nights are filled with mind-stimulating reading
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at 10:47 pm
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