Friday, January 20, 2012

ALPHA ON TOP

I confessed…
Yesterday at coffee with some of my writer peeps…
I’ve been watching reality TV lately...
“Manly” reality TV to be exact…
Like Ax Men.
(catch that water moccasin, Swamp Man—shoot that pistol!)
I also confessed...
That on a snowy blustery Sunday last year…
I watched back-to-back episodes of Deadliest Catch.
(oh captain, my captain!)
I don’t know why I felt ashamed…
Confessing my viewing pleasure…
I mean—it’s not like I’ve been watching porn…
(Although there’s nothing wrong with watching naked men)
And it’s not like these manly men are much to look at…
(I swear I don’t picture any of these guys naked)
Because let’s face it…
I would never date any of these guys.
(or imagine them on top of me. OMG! Where is your mind going Leigh?)
“It’s because they’re alpha males,” Connie said.
“Yes, of course!” I giggled. “alpha males.”
(obviously there’s a category for these rough 'n' tumble dudes)
“Stats show,” Connie said,” that the biggest audience
 of Deadliest Catch are women forty and over.
(Phew! I’m not the only weirdo woman watching manly shows)
Well, the topic changed…
Before I could open up a discussion on alpha males…
But that didn’t stop me from wondering…
What exactly is it about these manly men in manly shows…
That make women like me watch?
(I do prefer the manly men with more teeth)
And then I wondered about alpha males in novels…
And are there guidelines alpha males have to follow?
(probably never to change a diaper or watch a chick flick)
So?
What’s your take or definition of an alpha male?
Do your novels include alpha males?
Do any of you watch these manly shows?
Which ones?
And if you’re a guy—are you an alpha?
(oh please, please, please tell me you are)

Always, Em-Musing

11 comments:

Talli Roland said...

I have to say I'm not generally attracted to big, grunty alpha males. Bluck. :)

Lydia Kang said...

I think you're right. I think it has to do with watching a romanticized version of the every day man. Also, it's like eavesdropping on another life very different from your own. How can that not be entertaining? :)

Jennifer Shirk said...

I love watching Alphas, too! But I can't write one to save my life. LOL They always come out too brutish.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I think I'm somewhere in between...

farawayeyes said...

No TV, but I got the beach. They are way better in person,especially when you live someplace where 'the rum is always gone'. Dive boat captains are the best. Hah!

Sue said...

I've watched Deadliest Catch several times! And I've watched Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. Now he's an alpha male thats pleasant to look at!! But I must confess, the other night I watched NY Ink. It was a back to back marathon. Well, I don't write so I wouldn't write about an Alpha male but I sure would photograph one!! Plus I'm married to one hehe.

Unknown said...

You felt guilty watching Deadliest Catch?! No way. Be proud, I love those guys. And Mike Rowe.....

Anonymous said...

At least you weren't watching Mob Wives. I, however, was watching just that show, and loving every minute of it.

Katie Gates said...

I've found, as I drift further into my Cougar 50s, that I find men in the 20s especially cute. Not alphas, though. And I'm not sure there's a single alpha male in either of my two novels. Hmm... I would not have thought of that, had I not read this post!

Melissa Sugar said...

There is no shame in watching the alpha dudes on reality t.v. I am a new follower. Nice to be here.

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

Hmmm... Suddenly I find that I CAN post a comment here. (Disregard the "Addendum" I left for you in the Comment section of my own blog.)

Alpha Males? No, I don't like them at all. They're stupid, sweaty, and you just can't take them anywhere civilized people gather.

Worst of all, they look horrible in "the little black dress". That's why I keep my focus on women.

Me? Like Alex Cavanaugh, I'm probably somewhere in between. For instance, I was on the high school football and wrestling team, and I can drink my weight in whiskey. But if your car breaks down, the only thing I can do to help is push it to the side of the road and then call a tow-truck driver.

I'll kill the snake for you, but if it's a big spider, you're on your own!

~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'