My Stupid Sweet 16

MTV's My Super Sweet 16: a teenager's version of Lifestyles of the Rich and (not-so-)Famous.

I happened to come across this program on MTV one weekend afternoon (remember when MTV used to stand for Music Television?). I normally do not watch MTV, especially since it's no longer a music network. But, out of sheer boredom and being stuck in the house on a rainy day, I decided to give this show a try.

My first thought, prior to seeing the episode, was it was a lavish Sweet Sixteen birthday party for deserving kids who would otherwise not get a Sweet Sixteen.

W R O N G -- I got an F.

My Super Sweet 16 was (and still is) everything it shouldn't have been -- spoiled 16-year-olds who think the sun rises and sets on them. But, at times, like a train crash, I found myself watching it occasionally. I couldn't turn away -- and I wanted to throw a pillow at the TV set every time.

Amidst the gifts of such things like $50,000.00 BMWs, and CDs being given out as invitations (featuring the pretty bad singing of one particular 16-year-old-to-be), there's the rented nightclub or ballroom. All right, if you can afford a large shindig, go for it -- but to raise your kids to be selfish, conceited brats is a drain on society.

This show revolves around the lives of children from privileged families -- very upper-class, indeed. The brattier the better. Usually the focus of each show is some high school "princess" who is out to get everything and anything. And if she doesn't get what she wants -- heaven help her -- she'll "never talk to [her father] again".

My own Sweet Sixteen would've never made it on MTV -- because like the rest of middle-class America, I'm not some kind of annoying, spoiled, useless "princess" who thrives on cash and attention. If that makes me a "jelos H8R", then so be it. I do actual productive things with my life, so that makes me happier than simply wasting my parents' money.

At least I bought my own BMW without help from anybody else.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I hope MTV documents these same kids when they are older -- because nothing will hurt more than a good reality check knocking them down. (Ah, maybe there are happy endings after all. Good luck, you spoiled-rich kiddies, you're going to need it.)