Confessions of a Liberal Puritan

I need another media addiction like I need several more non-functional holes in my head, but I can't help it: I'm hooked on PBS' showing of a British 'reality show' called "Regency House Party."

After all these years of NEVER, EVER soiling my virgin eyes with the watching of any so-called 'reality' programming, I've been lured in by a PBS-tote-bag-toting stranger from overseas who offered me the "candy" of literary and historical insight, to justify my stepping into his van of 'semi-unscripted drama and romance'.

Watching the second 90-minute episode last night (out of a total of 9 episodes, I understand), I couldn't believe how much I was actually starting to care about a couple of these mate-hunting faux Regency guests, when I'm only supposed to be watching this show for its painless presentation of historical research into the period. When a certain sea captain last night went so far out of his way to cheer up a certain impoverished gentlewoman after a day of horrible rows, I actually heard myself saying "Awwwwwww!". And I was even willing to overlook any ensuing codpiece jokes (men will be boys, after all).

I hope this doesn't mean that my brain is starting to soften and will soon be oozing out of my ears for lack of anything better to do with itself!

(Maybe it does, though. Suddenly I'm thinking of a scene from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", where one of the boys protests to the other that they're supposed to be working on their history report, and not trawling for babes. "But, dude," his friend points out reasonably, "these are historical babes!")

If you're a Jane Austen and/or Georgette Heyer fan from way back (as I am), this PBS series (currently airing new episodes for the first time at 8 PM Central on Wednesdays -- conveniently right after "Smallville" -- in my area) is awfully darn seductive: half Regency romance novel and half I-think-there's-going-to-be-a-horrible-traffic-wreck-soon-and-yet-I-can't-NOT-look interpersonal experiment.

And even if you're not a fan of the Regency genre per se, there's still a fascination in seeing how the mating game was played at one time among one very tiny segment of a society. I don't have time right now to root out my often-re-read copy of Lois McMaster Bujold's Shards of Honor, but I seem to recall Cordelia Naismith telling Aral Vorkosigan -- fairly early in their acquaintance -- that for the socially inept among us, it might not be such a bad idea to have a bit more structure and outside input into the formation of lasting relationships. This is a chance to see how much structure and input people (especially independent young women with university degrees) can take, before somebody snaps and starts putting the archery equipment to less playful use.