Real Reality TV: Confessions of a Panda-holic

Our society as a collective has become more and more obsessed with reality television and the ability to be a voyeur into other peoples’ lives. This is evidenced by both the absurd amount of reality shows on television and the absurd amount of time we spend on Facebook and Twitter seeing what all of our friends and distant acquaintances are up to. For all the brilliant writing that exists in the award-winning dramas on HBO and the like, I’m willing to bet that America spends significantly more time glued to The Kardashians, Duck Dynasty and any Real Housewife incarnation available. As technology has advanced, we have been able to gain more information about things and people than ever before. If we interview someone for a job, we expect to be able to find their LinkedIn profile, Facebook page, and maybe even a Twitter feed. When we can’t find these things we get frustrated. Just like we get frustrated when we can’t figure out if a celebrity is pregnant or find more exact details about traumatic events on the news. We expect to be able to obtain all information immediately; instant gratification in a modern technological society.

I suffer from this affliction just like the rest of America. But recently I have found a new remedy to quench my obsessive tendencies and have taken it to a more natural level: The Panda Cam at the National Zoo. Not only is there a live feed on the Giant Panda Habitat at all times, but there is also an app that enables you to easily watch the feed from your phone. Bao Bao the panda cub is a much better reality star than a Kardashian could ever dream of. Her show isn’t scripted, she climbed up in that tree all by herself and is actually taking a nap — it isn’t staged! She has countless talents, including sleeping on her head and doing summersaults. And you can’t fake the mother-daughter chemistry seen between her and mom Mei Xiang.

While shows like The Bachelor and Real Housewives often give me anxiety, Bao Bao is a stress reliever. Watching a panda be a panda puts life in perspective and helps one to appreciate the little things in life. Like napping and snacking (though I haven’t yet developed a taste for bamboo). My frustration only builds when she nestles herself deep into a tree where the cameras can’t easily reach her. My window into Bao Bao’s world is the ultimate reality show. I have been watching her grow and change, 24/7, without manipulation. It is satisfying and rewarding and I can’t imagine a better waste of time.