TV Review: TLC's My Crazy Obsession: Not Really All That Crazy

TLC used to be truer to its full name, "The Learning Channel." Lately they seem to have the monopoly on "look at the crazy people" programming. First, there was Hoarders and Intervention, and later on came My Strange Addiction, Extreme Couponing, and now, premiering Wednesday, March 7, is My Crazy Obsession.

Whereas Hoarders and Intervention documented people struggling and showing their attempts at healing, reconciling with family, and a learning component about the individual's struggle, My Crazy Obsession seems to aim more at the shock value, wanting the viewer to exclaim, "I can't believe people live this way!" I was lucky enough to preview the first episode.



First up is a couple that have a collection of over 5,000 Cabbage Patch kids. They live in a modest home attached to a massive warehouse to display their "kids," as they call them. Not only do they love collecting, but they love to give voices and personalities to each one, and will talk to each other as one of the dolls. Whereas TLC may see "ratings gold! These people are crazy!," I see a couple who have found a way to connect with each other and have a shared interest. I'm not going to fall into your trap, TLC! As the husband explains, "it's a unique fantasy world where we can walk out of real life and no harm is done." Amen. You collect those dolls all you want to. You know what would make a more horrifying show? Seeing if someone can spend a night in the warehouse with 10,000 pairs of doll eyes staring at them.