Two TV shows

So for some reason, The Secret Millionaire was recorded on my DVR. Neither my roommate or myself has ever heard of it or set it to record. Anyway, watched a few episodes and I must say it is an amazing show. On one episode, one Florida millionaire sold his online marketing company for $500 million (um... what...?!) and was placed in Skid Row of LA to find charities he wants to donate to. I've always known Skid Row was infamous for the amount of homeless people, but the images on TV and the fact that it is right in downtown LA is really incredible. Anyway, the millionaire is walking aimlessly along - and someone not from the area pulls up with a van. He (we later find out his name is Amir) brings out clothes and hangs them up for the homeless people to have. Amir also hands out hygiene kits that he made in zip lock bags. What really touched me is that when he came back on another day, there was an older gentleman (probably a veteran) on a walker. They described on TV that his shoes were covered in excrement. Amir asks him what size shoes he wear, and goes through his collection to see if he has size 8 shoes. All of the sudden, Amir realizes he himself is a size 8, and immediately takes off his own shoes for this man. He offered his own shoes for this man - but that's not even the touching part of it. It was Amir's humility. He didn't offered his shoes condescendingly, or even in a patronizing way. Amir made it seem like it was his own luck that his shoes happened to be size 8 and he can offer this gentleman. Anyway - decided to google this guy later, and on his twitter he writes: "Secret Millionaire is a great show and I'm so fortunate to be on a small part of Secret Millionaire." Just the humility of a philanthropist is really refreshing.

Anyway, totally on the opposite end of spectrum - I was watching Gossip Girl yesterday. I got into it this season a few episodes ago, which is somewhat late for the GG fans out there. I enjoy watching it because it takes place in NY - so I get to see how NY has changed and the restaurants, stores, scenery etc. I also enjoy the fashion on the show. Most people don't realize this but what they are wearing is totally off the runways of the latest collection of fashion week. Just seeing NY and the fashion simply makes me happy. The convoluted plot and the drama is something I can't stand. Anyway, in last night's episode, The Kids Stay in the Picture, Serena has a cousin who is raised by a hippie mom who apparently rejects materialism and "shallowness". (Not to mention she herself is clothes top down in the latest fashion and her face is totally botoxed up). Anyway, there's this scene where she is convinced to stay in NY. The film her trying on a pair of Louboutin nude pumps. She's playing with Serena's Chanel moisturizers. The look on her face is just amazing. She looks like she's been completely brainwashed and that materialism is the way to life. The way the whole scene was filmed too like the Louboutins is the holy grail or something. I obviously love fashion and a pair of nice shoes, but this show definitely takes it to an extreme and definitely highlights the problem that American young girls / women have with materialism.

So that's the extent to my TV watching - besides Fox Soccer Channel - which according to my roommate is like softcore porn to me (totally true). And Knicks playoff games, which I probably don't have many games left to watch unfortunately.