Since its inception, reality television has been nothing but a huge disappointment for me.Whether it be “American Idol,” “Real World” or “Survivor,” reality TV shows are mostly garbage featuring trashy contestants and unbelievable situations.For the most part,  I don’t watch any reality TV shows. They’re all rigged and were meant to destroy cable television.But Jan. 11, 2009, marked an important day in the history of my young life. I found a reality TV show that finally made sense.”Tool Academy” premiered on VH1 that day, and my life hasn’t been the same since.The show featured nine horrible boyfriends, or “tools,” competing for a $100,000 prize at a relationship boot camp.The tools thought they were participating in a competition for the title of Mr. Awesome. Unbeknownst to the tools, they were brought to the Tool Academy under false pretenses by their girlfriends with the hopes they will clean up their act to save their relationships.With such an amazing concept for a show, it was only fitting the producers find the nine biggest tools in America to compete for the prize.With nicknames such as Matsuflex, Celebrity and M.E.G.A., the show’s contestants were definitely worthy of the “tool” title.Each week, the tools participated in several competitions geared towards making their relationships better.Some tools failed the challenges miserably. One tool refused to help his girlfriend in the first challenge and thought it would be better to destroy a recliner instead.Although they seemed highly stupid at the time, each challenge taught important lessons to the tools about relationships such as fidelity, humility and trust.After watching the show religiously for the past few weeks, I’ve learned that not only have the tools been taught some lessons, but I too have learned some valuable lessons about life and people.1. Any idea can be turned into a TV show, especially reality TV.I thought after “Flavor of Love” and any show with Bret Michaels that VH1 would never be able to make a decent reality show. They stepped up big time with “Tool Academy.” I will be a faithful viewer for as long as the show lasts. And with the concepts for reality show getting simpler and simpler, anyone can create a reality show hit, and anyone can star in one. Even high school dropout “Tiny Tool” found fame and success with VH1’s help.2. Never take dating advice from relationship counselor Trina Dolenz.I wasn’t sure of Dolenz’s role on the show at first, but I’m sure she had one major contribution. Dolenz helped fuel a lot of intense feelings. She told Celebrity’s girlfriend Cameron to hate him while beating a punching bag and made Josh (Tiny Tool) scream as loud as his little lungs could when she pretended to be his father. Dolenz was solely on the show to start more drama. Not someone I want teaching me the lessons of romance and maturity.3. It must be OK to be a horrible boyfriend, because your girlfriend will always take you back.Of the nine contestants, only two tools had their girlfriends break up with them upon their elimination from the Academy. Even if you cheat on your girlfriend, lie to her and are generally a complete tool, it’s almost certain that upon your elimination your girlfriend will stay with you. I’m sure Cameron and Krista, the two wise women who dumped their tool boyfriends, are much better off now.4. Anyone with hair like Shawn should not be allowed on television.If you’re going to wear something that looks like a chicken on your head, you probably shouldn’t be on television. Shawn was cast as the ultimate tool, who could manipulate and piss his fellow contestants off enough to somehow get them kicked off. He kicked off his original girlfriend and brought Aida, his real girlfriend of six years. Shawn defied expectations by making it to the final three. I guess it just goes to show that no one knows what will happen on reality shows – except for the producers.5. The guy who kicked off the tools had the best job ever.”I’m sorry, you’re just a tool,” is probably my favorite line from television ever. I’m not sure who this guy was or how I can get his job, but he taught me that simplicity is an awesome thing.The show ended with a grand finale. Josh won and got married to girlfriend Ashley immediately following.The lessons I learned from watching “Tool Academy” will serve me well. I’m just ready for the next season to see what VH1 producers will come up with next.
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Contact Joshua Chenier at [email protected]