Yes

by Jared Garrett

Created on: January 16, 2008

Anybody who saw Eddie Murphy's movie "Coming to America" will know right away that Victoria Beckham's new show of the same appelation will be just as clever, funny and enjoyable as its namesake. Indeed, Victoria Beckham has shown that she has equal acting and comedy chops as Eddie Murphy, particularly when it comes to timely, radical haircuts.

Okay, all kidding aside, Posh Spice's new show "Coming to America" will not be a waste of time for various reasons. But before getting into these issues, we really ought to define what 'worth watching' in our title really means. Hence, this article's use of the phrase 'waste of time.'

When we say that something is worth watching, we are alluding to the idea that the program in question has something to offer its audience. We are also stating that it will be enjoyable, engaging and well-wrought. Using these four concepts as a rubric for measuring the 'worth watching-ness' of Mrs. Beckham's new show, we can quickly see that it will score well.

First, there is the question of whether Victoria Beckham's "Coming to America" will have something to offer its audience. This program will have plenty to offer! Not only will American audiences be able to get a peek inside the massive home that Mrs. Beckham and her tiny-voiced hubby now own in Los Angeles, it is very possible audiences will get a look inside their starkly empty fridge.

What is more, there is no doubt that the Beckhams will display the culture shock they are suffering from their move to a country across the pond from their homeland. Certainly these two hometown folks will have much to get used to in a country of excess, celebrity adulation, and oversized everything. You see, they had never been here, so their culture shock will be a real issue. Thus, Posh's new show has plenty to offer: a look at these unique celebrities' lives, an understanding and sympathy with expatriates relocating to America, and finally, a hoped-for sense of guilt.

Indeed, audiences watching this program will benefit greatly from it if they can find it in themselves to wonder why on earth they would spend their valuable time in front of the telly and watching a toothpick wearing thousand dollar jeans. So there is no doubt that "Coming to America" is worth watching based on what it has to offer.

Secondly, we must consider whether "Coming to America" will be enjoyable. Who doesn't enjoy watching the exciting lives of celebrities? Who wouldn't enjoy laughing at the ridiculousness of the excess that they take for granted? Will the show be enjoyable? Of course, in a painful, pitying way. Americans will enjoy seeing the Beckhams behave like royalty in a country that spurns monarchy but has created myriad of its own kings and queens, not to mention all of the other nobility that Hollywood turns out.

The third element of our rubric is the issue of how engaging the show will be. Friends, we won't be able to tear our eyes away. This is a society that feasts on cruelly excessive attention given to starlets as they implode painfully and destroy their lives and those of their families. We can't get enough. Thus, "Coming to America" will engage its audience with the fact that we can't stand our president's line of "More of the same" but we have no problem with allowing our media to continue with "more of the same." Give us more Anna Nicole Smith's death and her poor child. Ladle the Beckhams' lives into our living rooms. Film a pitiful southern girl as she finally cracks under the stress of celebrity and goes messily insane.

Our final measure is whether Mrs. Beckham's "Coming to America" will be well-wrought. This means we wonder if it will be done well. Whether production values will hit a high standard. Folks, it's LA, they're filthy rich, people love them and production companies are cognizant of that fact. Thus, it will be well done. This article proposes that the per-episode budget of "Coming to America" will be in the $5 million range.

All of this points to the singular, liberating fact that "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America" will be a hit and well worth watching. It will be the apotheosis of reality TV in that it will reflect the reality of viewers' existence better than the other reality TV shows like Survivor, the Amazing Race and American Idol. Seriously now, who ever gets stranded on an island with a bunch of other selfish people? And who really ever races other teams around the world, or has their hair styles carry them through a talent show? Nobody, of course. But we can all say that we moved from England to LA, bought a massive mansion, and have enough money to buy a reality TV show and airtime.

Who's bringing the lite, fat free popcorn?

Learn more about this author, Jared Garrett.
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