Spoiled Rotten

I am so moved to outrage that I have no other choice but to express myself. Has anyone out there ever seen the MTV show "My Super Sweet 16?" This is all about pure excess. If you have ever wondered how the other half celebrate big life events, such as turning 16, then you need to tune in to this jem.

During each half-hour long episode we, the humble viewers, get to meet some snotty, self-centered, super-rich girl who is planning her sweet 16 party. They usually have all of the privileged girl essentials: cell phone, jewels, personal driver, maids, closets full of more shoes, clothes, and accessories than they could possibly ever wear, and over-indulgent, stupid parents.

We see how they plan the guestlist. We see how far $200,000 and more can go when planning the "party of the century." We get to see how their parents give in to their every whim and desire. "You want to make your entrance by helicopter? We'll make the call, honey." We watch how these barely 16 year-old girls shop for dressess that barely cover their ever-changing bodies. There is always a theme, everything from "Pretty in Pink" to "Togas" to "Beach Party." There is always whining, fretting over last minute hair problems, arguing about budgets, and cussing out parents. Nice.

The one I just saw featured a spoiled brat who had a crying tantrum because her mom picked out the "wrong" centerpieces. When her mom explained that it saved them over $3,000, she barked back, "Then you better give me that $3,000!" Are you serious? What makes this child think that she can talk to her mother like that? Why does she have that $3,000 coming to her anyway? Better yet, why was the dad just standing there, listening, and saying nothing. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

Another one I had seen was about sisters in LaJolla who whined about not being able to use the Hard Rock on the night they first wanted. Then first of all asking Daddy to get Beyonce to sing at their party, only having to settle for Guns n Roses after many failed phone calls.

Did I mention that each show wraps up with the birthday girl receiving her actual "gift" from mom and dad, usually a luxury car of some sort. On tonight's episode, she actually got a car AND a diamond-encrusted Rolex. What will they do for Christmas? What about her wedding? How do you top yourself when you've already reached the top?

Spending these insane amounts of money on a coming of age party is all about greed. A program like this only showcases just how ugly our country has become. Look around...aren't there better things these families could be doing with their fortunes instead of creating mini-Paris Hilton proto-types? What will these girls be like when they are adults? Eww; that's a scary thought!

But then I suppose it's viewers like me, who keep coming back for more, that keep a show like this on the air. Why is it so addicting? I'm angry the whole time I'm watching it. It doesn't make sense. Perhaps it is a little bit like watching real-life disaster stories or emergency room shows or car accidents. We can't help but look. And in some small way, we end up feeling thankful or even better about our own lives. At least that's what I'll tell myself when I tune in to the next episode of My Super Sweet 16.