Hoohoohoo…
Hear that?
The sobs, wails and groans are a result of watching less than five minutes of TLC’s train wreck of a reality TV series, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”
And by train wreck, I mean hit show, ratings Goliath, and sad reflection of society’s taste in entertainment.
Millions of viewers tune in each week to mock the parenting skills–or lack thereof–displayed on the show which stars 7-year-old Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson and her eclectic family:
*June “Mama” Shannon, the 32-year-old mother of Honey Boo Boo and her three sisters. She’s also the GRANDMOTHER of baby Kaitlyn. Did I mention she’s 32… and a GRANDMA?
*Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson. He is Alana’s father, but is not married to June, though “Sugar Bear” and “Mama” have been together for 8 years. Got that?
*Anna “Chickadee” Shannon. She is Honey Boo Boo’s 17-year-old sister and mother to 2-month-old daughter Kaitlyn Elizabeth Shannon.
*Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon, Honey Boo Boo’s 15-year-old sister.
*Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon, Honey Boo Boo’s 12-year-old sister.
Five minutes was all I could take of the show before turning off my television and wondering how it is that the world justifies rewarding a mother accused of “doping” her child with a near toxic dose of caffeinated “Go-Go Juice” (a mixture of Mountain Dew and Red Bull).
Of course, poor parenting is relative. At least according to redneck “Mama,” who defended her habit of feeding her daughter road kill and having her down super sugary beverages, saying: “There are far worse things. I could be giving her alcohol.”
Perspective, people. It’s all how you spin it.
And speaking of spinning, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” is actually a spin-off of TLC’s other controversial reality series, “Toddlers and Tiaras.”
After the episode of “Toddlers,” which featured Honey Boo Boo downing her Go-Go Juice aired, the American Academy of Pediatrics came out with a statement saying: “Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents. In general, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided.”
The group of health experts also noted that kids who consume too much caffeine are at risk for neurological and cardiovascular problems.
Which explains a lot in Honey Boo Boo’s world.
Just sayin’.
Apparently, the experts’ warnings fell on deaf ears in the Boo Boo household because last month photos surfaced of 12-year-old “Pumpkin” feeding her then one-month-old baby niece Mountain Dew. According to reports, Pumpkin and Honey Boo Boo took turns dipping a pacifier into a can of the highly caffeinated soda, before allowing newborn Kaitlyn to suckle on it.