Copycat television

Well, I guess we've all been copycats at some time or other.

I know in high school the girls did a lot of copycatting, me included. We wore two toned saddle oxfords or J.C.Penney loafers. I remember when all the girls wore delicate gold ankle bracelets. Everyone wanted to be just like all the other classmates.

We wore sweaters and long wool pleated skirts with our saddle oxfords and socks. And we tucked a shiny penny in a small fold on top our Penney loafers.

We were clones, so to speak. I'm sure it's the same way in our schools today.

When I went into a McDonald's restaurant the other night, I noticed four or five high school girls. They were all wearing cute little colorful tams on their heads. No doubt it's a new fad that the students have picked up and are imitating.

I also remember when boys wore those Mohawk haircuts and sometimes dyed them bright colors. It's nothing but a fad that vanished, only to be replaced by something else. Now many students are wearing droopy oversized pants that hang on the hips. But to the relief of onlookers that seems to be a fading fad. Hopefully that will go the way of the mini-skirts in the 60's.

But what I'm addressing here are copycats on television.

Remember Super Nanny, the tough British disciplinarian who comes into a home to help straighten out unruly children. Well, now there are numerous such shows, with numerous nannies and numerous undisciplined children.

I somehow resent that. I don't think you can successfully duplicate the original. That's like Elvis Presley. He can be impersonated, but never replaced.

Then there are the models shows. The first one I remember is the Tyra Banks show which names America's next top model through various stages of competition.. Now we see copycat shows, with copycat panels who do the selecting. Talent shows are the same. We see panel after panel that mock those panelists on Dancing with the Stars and The American Idol. Some of them attempt to make the same gestures and postures. Some need to be banned, I'm thinking.

Remember Judge Judy and her stern authoritative way of settling court cases? Well, now there must be a dozen such shows, all with judges trying to duplicate her tough but fair way of ruling on court cases.

Then there's The Bachelor. From that came The Bachelorette and numerous other like shows. There's now a copycat show of The Bachelorette.

Also there's the home makeovers that showcase the before and after transformation. There must be a dozen such shows being aired on television.

Don't misunderstand. I like competition shows. I like to watch dancing competitions and beauty pageants and ice skating. But I like the originals, not mockeries..

Until the economy turned sour, we saw several shows on flipping houses; that is, taking a bargain rundown house and converting it into something salable. Those shows ceased when the bottom fell out of the real estate market and flipping was not profitable.

Now the shows have turned to remodeling or staging a home to make it more salable. I saw recently that there's a same type show ready for airing in the new season. Another copycat.

In one re-modeling show, the re-furbisher cannot spend more than a $2,000 budget. I found that show interesting until I realized that the sponsor wasn't including any labor, only parts. Who was going to install that new hardwood flooring and an opening for a new patio door or the bathroom fixtures or kitchen tile and marble countertop? All that in addition to window treatment, some new furnishings and bedroom comforter.

All that couldn't possibly be included in the less than $2,000 tab. Could it? Last I heard, they don't give labor away.

There's now a new dog trainer show with a female trainer, fashioned after The Dog Whisperer television show.

I certainly hope no one tries to imitate the national dog show and the Best of Show dogs. But it wouldn't surprise me. Nothing's sacred anymore.

But as for me and my house, we'll stick with the originals.