The Zen of Honey Boo Boo

I dig Honey Boo Boo and I'm not afraid to say so. Yes, haters, there's a lot to respond negatively to. Much of it is nutritional. The rest is bathroom humor and filth (not sex filth, but actual dirt and mud). But here are a few of the highlights that got me past that.
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In this photo taken Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, seven-year-old beauty pageant regular and reality show star Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson poses for a portrait in her home in McIntyre, Ga. In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Alana said filming the "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" reality TV show was fun because she got to do things she doesn't always get to do, like going to a water park. Her mother said the family has enjoyed doing the show and believes the way it's edited portrays their unscripted life fairly and accurately. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
In this photo taken Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, seven-year-old beauty pageant regular and reality show star Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson poses for a portrait in her home in McIntyre, Ga. In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Alana said filming the "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" reality TV show was fun because she got to do things she doesn't always get to do, like going to a water park. Her mother said the family has enjoyed doing the show and believes the way it's edited portrays their unscripted life fairly and accurately. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

I'm not a big reality TV fan, although I do like watching Gordon Ramsey scream obscenities. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was way off my radar, but the buzz was impossible to ignore, so finally I checked it out.

From what I'd heard, I expected the redneck culture shock. After that, surprise! I'm on the Honey Boo Boo bandwagon! I dig Honey Boo Boo and I'm not afraid to say so. Yes, haters, there's a lot to respond negatively to. Much of it is nutritional. The rest is bathroom humor and filth (not sex filth, but actual dirt and mud). But here are a few of the highlights that got me past that:

1. Honey Boo Boo has pizzazz and she is like Shirley Temple:
I agree with Rosie O'Donnell, who said so, and would add that she's a cross between Shirley Temple, the Little Rascals and Betty Boop (ok, I'm that old).

Honey Boo Boo might be considered a comic genius if she wasn't only seven. An adult comedian behaving the same way would be described as "exploring" or "working new material." If Jim Carrey had a reality show, he'd be bouncing off the walls too.

2. Honey Boo Boo looks on the bright side:
Honey Boo Boo's new niece is fine, but, yes, she was born with an extra thumb. I would love to have seen a producer's face when they found out about that development. It was already redneck-enough that Honey Boo Boo's teenage sister was pregnant; this strange twist no one would think of. Honey Boo Boo mused, "I wish I had an extra thumb, then I could grab more cheese balls!"

3. Honey Boo Boo has a positive self-image:
First, while I admire this character trait, I think everyone should be as healthy as possible. But entering a chubby child into the competitive world of beauty pageants shows a certain confidence on Mama June's part (if not delusion) that pays off. Instead of being self-conscious about her shape, Honey Boo Boo was a blueberry in a swimsuit competition (cute!). She hasn't won a Grand Supreme title yet, but she has many trophies and has been awarded an audience favorite. This would never have happened if she sat out, feeling fat.

4. The Honey Boo Boos don't dwell on loss:
When Honey Boo Boo doesn't win a Grand Supreme Title, they move on. To cheer up, they adopted a teacup pig and named it Glitzy. That pig's piercing squeals might not cheer me up, but we all have different taste. Mama June says Honey Boo Boo's doing better and better and with time she will be "up there." I think most life coaches would agree: This is a winning attitude!

5. Honey Boo Boo makes talk shows fun and unpredictable:
Talk show hosts really have to wing it with Honey Boo Boo. She does not like sitting still with adults and answering questions, and she's not afraid to announce she's bored with a loud, fake snore. She submerged her entire hand in Jimmy Kimmel's water and splashed him with it the night she endorsed "Marack Obama" on his show. Watch hosts scramble for her attention while she looks at herself on the monitor, sings, dances and ignores their questions.

6. Honey Boo Boo is tolerant:
She supports gay rights and maintains, "Everybody's a little gay." I wonder how a 7-year-old comes up with that advanced notion. She's devoted to her gay uncle who coaches her pageant routines (I knew that pizzazz couldn't be all from Mama June). And Honey Boo Boo defended Glitzy from discrimination when her sister announced that the pig "is not going to be gay." Honey Boo Boo replied: "It can if it wants to. You can't tell that pig what to do!"

Honey Boo Boo, I'm in. As Mama June likes to say: work it, Smootchie!

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