Take it as you will: I'm addicted to the 'Jersey Shore'

I'm slightly ashamed of myself. I made a mistake last week that may damage my yet-untarnished reputation.

And I'll probably get grief here in the office for it, but hey, at least I'm admitting my newest guilty pleasure.

Here it goes:

Hi. My name is Laura, and I'm addicted to the 'Jersey Shore.'
Oh God, I can't believe I just said that. I couldn't help it. I was bored.

It's the end of the summer, nothing was on. I flipped and flipped through the channels and then I stopped...on MTV.

I haven't watched MTV in years. I don't know what compelled me to stop. Maybe it was the fist-pumping music. Maybe it was my own pale complexion and an envy of the deep tans that were on the screen in front of me. Or maybe it was "The Situation's" abs. Who knows?

But it happened, and now I'm a fan. Shame me, if you will.
First there's the nicknamed folks: Nicole "Snooki"; Mike "The Situation"; Sammi "Sweetheart"; Jenni "JWoww." And we can't forget Vinny, Ronnie, Angelina and Pauly.

Whether people like it or not, the cast of the 'Jersey Shore' is everywhere. They're on every talk show around.And why not - people are drawn to their personalities and want more, so why shouldn't the cast take advantage of that?

"The Situation" sure is. He's taken advantage of numerous endorsement deals. And it's rumored that he'll be on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars."

But it's not just about the deals flowing in. Even the five-foot-nothing spitfire they call "Snooki" has had her comments about tanning salon taxes discussed on reputable news networks.

"I don't go tanning-tanning anymore because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tanning. I feel like he did that intentionally for us, like, McCain would never put a 10 percent tax on tanning...because he is pale and he would probably wanna be tanned."

Hey, her comments may have been ridiculous, but it got people talking, right?

So what is it about the show that works? Why the appeal to a bunch of self-proclaimed "guidos and guidettes" - they refer to themselves that way endlessly on the show - when only one, Sammi, is really from Jersey?

Unlike the fading "Real World" series from MTV, where eight people of every type of stereotypical background get shoved into a house for a couple months and drama ensues, the 'Jersey Shore' a) keeps the same cast from season to season, b) changes locations (Season 1: Seaside Heights, N.J.; Season 2: Miami, Fla.) and c) the cast is genuinely there to just have fun. Okay, there might be slight drama...and granted, the entire cast is one big stereotype, but genuinely they are there to enjoy a summer together partying with good people.

Oh and of course, as the boys say, "G-T-L." That's every day - gym tanning, laundry. One must be fresh every night out, you know.

So if you're the slightest bit intrigued - and looking for something to fill the end-of-the-summer TV blues - check out the 'Jersey Shore' in its second season Thursdays at 10 p.m. on MTV.

Or for the haters out there who won't budge on giving the Jersey Shore kids a chance, you can keep hoping the show fades out quicker than a spray-on tan. But it may be awhile.

Dexter: A bloody good show

Dexter Morgan.

It's a name you may have heard floating around the TV sphere lately. The name belongs to a man whose life revolves around being a blood-splatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Dept., while at the same time secretly murdering people in his spare time. "Dexter," about to enter it's fifth season on Showtime on Sept. 26, originally had a slow start in gaining viewership. But in the last few years it's found a nice - some would say, cult-like - following.

Myself included. I only wish I had found out earlier than this year.

Based loosely on novels by Jeff Lindsay, "Dexter" takes murder to the next level. Not in terms of crass, 'SAW"- like torture scenes, but in the sense that the viewer gains likability towards the main character/murderer.

When the series first premiered, that was the main issue; the viewer is compelled to empathize with a serial killer.

We secretly hope, deep down, that he doesn't get caught. And we root for him. What does that say about us as a society?

Or, on the other hand, maybe we just miss good, quality TV and intriguing characters not of the reality-show sense. Maybe out liking a serial killer character has nothing to do with our moral and societal issues outside of the tube.

You pick. Meanwhile, here's Dexter's side of the story:

As a kid, he had psychopathic urges. His adoptive father, Harry, a former Detective for the same police department that Dexter now works for, taught Dexter to channel his urges for the greater good. Hence, murder only people who deserved to be murdered, like killers who got away with a crime they shouldn't have. And so Dexter lives by "The Code of Harry," in which each victim must be proven guilty by him before they're murdered by his own hands.

All the while Harry appears as a ghost/conscience for Dexter to always abide by.

It's an interesting concept. And it's the beauty in that concept that makes the show what it is.

We, as the viewer, see him as doing good, killing off the bad guys. It's a superhero mentality without flaunting. No bright red rights and a mask. And despite underlying suspicion from some, Dexter gets away with murder easily, having been taught to be very meticulous and very careful.

Of course, it doesn't hurt being a blood-splatter tech for the same police department that checks out your own murder scenes either.

Bu the show isn't all about Dexter. Michael C. Hall is brilliant as Dexter. Heck, he's brilliant in everything in which he performs, including "Six Feet Under," and "Cabaret" on Broadway. Hall is probably the most versatile, underrated actor out there right now.

But it's the side players that also make for a great show. Jennifer Carpenter (Hall's real-life wife) plays Deb Morgan, Dexter's sister and detective following in the footsteps of her father at Miami Metro. She is his other half. Granted it's a loud, foul-mouth, hot-headed other half, but she's great at what she does, despite always feeling vulnerable and under appreciated. And no matter what, she's always there for Dexter.

Julie Benz, plays Rita, Dexter's girlfriend, who brings a calming nature to Dexter's life along with her two kids from a previous marriage, Astor and Cody. They also have a newborn baby Harrison to contend with. Rita and the three kids are what keep his life somewhat stable and allow him to be viewed as somewhat normal.

The fellow detectives and lieutenants at Miami Metro make up the rest of the killer (no pun intended) ensemble cast. Lauren Velez as Lt. Maria LaGuerta; David Zayas as Sgt. Angel Batista; Desmond Harrington as Detective Joey Quinn; and C.S. Lee as Vince Masuka - a fellow lab tech.

Overall it's a well-put-together cast and show that deserves everyone's attention.

*

On Tuesday, Season 4 was released on DVD, which is also motivation to start watching the series now. Season 4 was the best yet, starring the brilliant John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer. Lithgow gives a powerful performance that will get you thinking who your neighbors and friends really are

If you're on of the many who choose Netflix over subscribing to cable TV, Netflix is currently streaming Seasons 1 and 2 right now on the instant viewing feature.

So go, now. Get addicted.

KISS delivers pure, rock entertainment

You may call them old, outdated, sold-out. I call them rock gods.

This past weekend I had the pleasure to witness one of the greatest concerts I've ever seen. Granted, I'm only 23 years young, but I've seen a few name-brand concerts. (Blondie, check; The Beach Boys, check. Pat Benetar, check; Aerosmith, hopefully someday soon) along with 30 or so odd performances of the indie-alternative-screamo music my heart desires. But now, I can officially check off my list the one-and-only, KISS.

I bought the tickets on a whim - Live Nation was having a $10 ticket day (it pays to be on their e-mail list) and I figured everybody has to see KISS once in their lifetime, right?

Oh, I was so right.

Driving down to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Mass., I secretly hoped my night would turn into a variation of events resembling those in the movie "Detroit Rock City." Luckily my mom doesn't think KISS is the devil's music. I already had a ticket, so I probably wouldn't be fighting any 10-year-olds for one. And let's face it, I'm no Eddie Furlong - so I knew I was probably in for a mellow ride.

The show had two openers, not nearly resembling any music a super-fan of KISS would enjoy. The Envy and The Academy Is... - both more closely tied to the indie-emo scene, than rock, so the arena was barely half full when we arrived.

Two hours later, the stadium was jam-packed to the brim. When the lights went down, the explosions went off and the spectacle began.

KISS started off the show with "Modern Day Delilah" off their newest CD Sonic Boom, followed by a classic "Cold Gin" after. Throughout the night, a mix of newer tracks - "I'm An Animal," and "Say Yeah" - were intertwined between hits such as the now infamous Dr. Pepper theme, "Calling Dr. Love," along with "Love Gun," and "I Love It Loud." The latter of which featured pop-culture icon/bassist Gene Simmons spewing blood and flying into the rafters to play. After an hour-and-a-half of bright lights, axe guitar, and Gene Simmons' infamous tongue, KISS played out the show to "Detroit Rock City."

But wait! Obviously they weren't going to leave without playing "Rock And Roll All Night," right? Right you are. Rather than come back for one encore performance, KISS played on for another 40 minutes with fan-faves "Beth," "Lick It Up," "Shout It Out Loud," "I Was Made For Lovin' You," " God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You," and of course, "Rock And Roll All Night."

During "I Was Made For Lovin' You," lead singer/rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley took to the air to play on a smaller stage towards the back of the arena. It spun around so he could face the crowd on every-which side. I know...very cool - very cool indeed.

The theme of the KISS tour this year is "Hottest Show on Earth," and it sure was. The energy and spectacle was half the show. It was pure entertainment to the fullest.

And let's not forget about the die-hard KISS troops. Look-alikes from head to toe, families in full-fledged makeup - babies and youngsters included - as well as fans who express their love through the art of tattoos, all are the nicest and most devoted group of people I've ever met.

It's like a giant family reunion. Whether it was your first KISS concert- as it was for me - or, as I was told by one fan who's been going to KISS shows since 1978: Each and every person is there to enjoy the show together, and live by the motto "Rock And Roll All Night."