Rachel’s Ray of Sunshine: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

Hello TVRagers, welcome to the first edition of my very own special feature “Rachel’s Ray of Sunshine”! Here on staff I am commonly known as not only a raging Canuck but I am often referred to as “adorable” and “too nice” and “polite”. I try and always look on the bright side of things in life and strive to find some good in anything. What started out as a little running joke, that I could find good in even the most terrible of things, has turned into this feature. Can I bring out the good in the world’s worst television shows? I think so. Here comes the sun (do-do-do-do).

Let’s start the first edition off with a bang! ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’: words that will send any self-respecting television viewer into a cold sweat and have them grasping for their remotes. The phenomenon behind the popularity of this show has yet to be explained to me, so I sat down to watch a few episodes to see if I could discover what the big deal was about. Besides the many criticisms, horrors and nightmares that this show can produce in a single episode, I am here to tell you that there is some good that comes out of this reality program.

First off, maybe I should explain a little bit about the ‘Honey Boo Boo’ family. The show centres on the life of seven year old child beauty pageant participant Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, mom June, dad Mike, and Honey Boo Boo's three older sisters. The family lives in McIntyre, Georgia. The show has received both heavy criticisms and generous accolades, and everyone seems to have their own opinion on it.

So what good could possibly come from a reality show about a family that uses phrases such as “you better redneckognize” and “a dolla makes me holla”? Well, I will tell you.

‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’ and its predecessor, ‘Toddlers and Tiara’s, offer a stark warning to parents who are considering entering their children into beauty pageants: don’t do it. These shows are the most effective form of birth control I have ever seen. If you are considering entering your child into a beauty pageant, make sure that you are both rich and slightly self-loathing. The average costs involved with entering a young girl in just a single pageant include shocking numbers such as $400 for a single entrance fee and $4000 for a single dress. So essentially, this show is saving you thousands of wasted dollars before you make the mistake of thinking that dressing your toddler up in costumes and making them dance on stage is a good idea.

On the same note, the ‘Honey Boo Boo’ family are an excellent example of how to live a frugal lifestyle. Mom June has been seen in several episodes coupon clipping, even going so far as to call herself “June the Coupon Queen”. The family reportedly makes between $20,000 and $50,000 per episode of their reality show, but they have barely touched a cent of the money. June has set up five separate trust funds for her four kids and one grandchild. The money goes directly from TLC into the accounts, and is not accessible until the individual reaches the age of 21. The ‘Honey Boo Boo’ family gets their money for living expenses through Mike’s job as a contractor and through frugal living. 

The ‘Honey Boo Boo’ family is not afraid to push the limits and set their own fashion trends. When mother June got married to her long-time love and Alana’s father, Mike the adoring couple strutted down the aisle in custom made wedding gear. You might have to look closely at the image to tell, but they are both there – they are just wearing camouflage. The couple’s matching outfits are a true testament to their self-proclaimed redneck lifestyles and tastes. Whatever you may think of their fashion choices, this couple is truly in love. June was once quoted by People Magazine saying "Never settle for a man who doesn't treat you right. If a guy doesn't love everything about you, move on! There are plenty of other fish in the sea."

The ‘Honey Boo Boo’ family does not have any issues with self-esteem. Despite near constant ridicule, the family (June and Honey Boo Boo particularly) are full of confidence about their looks, actions and lifestyles. They have larger than life personalities and have no problem expressing themselves. More women, and men, in this world need the same kind of confidence and self-worth that this family has in the face of such harsh criticisms.

Finally, some people could learn a thing or two from Honey Boo Boo herself. Yeah, that’s right; I said that some people could learn from a seven year old (kind of bratty and completely spoiled) redneck, child beauty pageant contestant. Honey Boo Boo may come from the south, but she has been instilled with some good morals and sticks up for her family. When her uncle, Lee Thompson (known on the show as “Poodle”) was introduced as a gay man, Honey Boo Boo shut down any haters that may have crawled out to vilify her uncle. US Magazine ‘Out’ praised the show after Honey Boo Boo endorsed her gay uncle by saying “Ain't nothin' wrong with bein' a little gay. Everybody's a little gay."

So there you have it. While I won’t be changing my weekly plans around TLC’s schedule to watch the show, there is some good to be found in the American guilty pleasure ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’. For those of you that are fans, or if you are feeling that ray of sunshine particularly strongly, you can check out season 2 of ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’ on July 17^th on TLC.

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