14. The Antoine Dodson Interview/Bed Intruder Song

If Antoine Dodson's interview with a local news station marked a new dawn for the YouTube-sensation era, then the Bed Intruder Song that followed is evidence of how amazing/entertaining that era will be.

There are so many things to love between the song, the interview, and Antoine himself that I dont even know where to begin.


First, I'll give the backstory for those of you who aren't familiar.
 Antoine Dodson and his sister Kelly Dodson were victims of a home invasion, during which the perpetrator climbed into bed with Kelly and attempted to rape her. Antoine intervened and the man fled. Normally, this wouldn't be a funny situation in any way; and it wasn't, until Antoine gave this interview to a local newscast :





Obviously, Antoine is seriously funny. But the laughs and good tidings don't stop there. Some creative, musically talented people got their hands on this interview and turned it into an extremely catchy song. Thus, the Bed Intruder Song was born. Listen:




The Bed Intruder Song has become a sensation on iTunes and YouTube, turning Antoine Dodson into an overnight superstar.

This is a modern day fairytale. A terrible event takes place, which then turns into a hilarious interview/rant and a great song. Antoine has star power, and whoever mixed the song deserves a Grammy award. The red bandanna also added a positive effect to both videos.

What do I really enjoy about this? Well, now there is an attempted rapist with an entire song written to him. Millions of people are singing along, referring to him as "homeboy" and no one even knows his identity. It's creepy and wonderful and is the perfect ending to what began as a sad story.

All ends well, because Antoine and his family are making money off of the Bed Intruder Song and probably won't have to live in the projects anymore.
Things like this are why I love the internet.

8. Ochocinco:The Ultimate Catch

Chad Ochocinco, prized wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, has resorted to a dating reality show in order to find love. He's not the first; we all watched Flava Flav, Bret Michaels, and Ray J search for love on national television. But Chad Ochocinco? Really? He's a current star, not a has-been still clawing for their fifteen minutes of fame. Why does he need VH1 to find a girlfriend?

For sensibility purposes, Ultimate Catch fails miserably.

For entertainment purposes, Ultimate Catch delivers.

I can't pinpoint why I love this show so much. Maybe it's Chad's  southern drawl, abs of rock hard steel and creepy all-white wardrobe. Maybe it's the tournament-style bracket that he sets the girls up in, complete with its own "Whore" Final Four. Or maybe it's the show's entire premise, which began with eighty-five girls competing on a football field to get noticed.The show has classic VH1 written all over it. The girls bring less drama to the house than in past dating shows, but most of them are probably vying for a spot in Chad's wallet, not his heart.  

Ochocinco is already known for being a bit of an eccentric. After all, this is a guy that legally changed his last name to the number on his football jersey. He's wacky and unpredictable; a show-off on the field with the skills to back it up. Oddly enough, his cocky on-field persona doesn't come through on the show. He rarely speaks in third person and almost never flaunts his fame. He is upfront about his commitment issues and appears to be sincerely trying to pick a good girlfriend.

If Ochocinco can find real love on Ultimate Catch, his popularity will only grow. Kudos to him for marketing himself and showing his sensitive side.

2. Jersey Shore

Watching Jersey Shore is kind of like eating a deep-fried candy bar; you know it can't be good for you and you feel bad for enjoying it, but it is an absolutely perfect guilty pleasure.                               I'm no stranger to reality tv shows. I've witnessed the trashy ( Flavor of Love) and the utterly tasteless (Rock of Love). I laughed, I cheered, and most importantly I tuned in every week. I wouldn't say I loved any of those shows. I liked them, sure, but they didn't stick with me and really create a lasting impression.

Jersey Shore accomplished what few other reality tv shows could do for me. It drew me in and I became addicted. I loved tuning in to see Snooki get in fights with random bar whores, or to see J-Woww cheat on her boyfriend with Pauly-D. I loved seeing Vinny get stalked by that strange but beautiful Israeli girl. I loved seeing Ronnie and Mike "The Situation" duke it out over Sammi "Sweetheart". If addictive and intellectual shows like Mad Men are cocaine, Jersey Shore was like a 5 dollar hit of crack that I just kept going back to.

Yes, Jersey Shore is low-budget and tasteless. It stereotypes the Italian culture and typecasts New Jersey in an unfavorable way. But like so many cheap and trashy things, I am a (slightly ashamed) fan.

Season 2 of Jersey Shore premiered July 29th. I couldn't be happier.