In the strange world of advanced Quantum Physics there is an axiom stating that the very act of observing alters the event. People seemed to have forgotten this principle with the recent rash of so called reality shows on television. This is especially true for the ones that have become the foundation of cable networks. There has been a mild controversy about how much of these series actually reflect any form of reality and what percentage are scripted. Devotees of this type of television with a sharp eye have noted costume differences within a scene give strong evidence of multiple takes. People who have appeared on these shoes have openly talked about the effect of editing in the way the situations are perceived. In any case this format has become exceptionally popular and helps drive many niche networks that have never presented new programming. One network that as heavily invested in this genre is ‘E!’. It started as the entertain news network providing celebrity news and gossip. A number of years ago they started to broadcast shows that superficially parodied other reality series but quickly moved into celebrity orient ‘behind the scenes’ type of shoes. Now people who received their 15 minutes of fame on such a series are afford an opportunity to extend that time with a spin off series of their own. If someone washes out of a competition series but were a fan favorite the chances are extremely good that ‘E!’ will given then their own show. One of the latest of these series to cross my path is ‘Kendra’. It is a spin-off of another ‘E!’ show; ‘The Girls Next Door’ about three girlfriends living with the creator of ‘Playboy’ Hefner. That series seemed to sufficient qualifications for her to warrant a series of her own. Some may see this as the epitome of the guilty pleasure while other may view it as a modern incarnation of the old Roman bread and circuses.

The series follows Kendra Wilkinson, the youngest of the three blond girlfriends of Hef whose time living at the Playboy mansion was the premise of ‘The Girls Next Door. A little while ago Hef had his regular changing of the guard replacing Kendra and the other two resident girls with a new set. Of the three Kendra was the break out hit and this series chronicles her adjustment to life outside the mansion. She moved in with Hef when she was about 19 so this is really her first time on her own; that is if you can consider having a film crew constantly following you around to be on your own. This may be one of the reasons it appeals to the youthful target demographic; kids who are probably moving out from the parental home. Kendra’ transition is in many ways more drastic a change. At the Playboy Mansion there was a 24-7 staff and first class accommodations everywhere. Of course the digs she winds up with are a long way from the apartments most of us started out with. I guess the Hef Girlfriend severance package is pretty lucrative.

As the new series begins Kendra is just moving into her new home. To help her settle in she invites a couple of her couple of her playmate friends, Amber and Brittany, to help. Kendra’s priorities are a little unusual. Before there is a stick of furniture or a morsel of food in the house a stripper pole is installed in the living room. When Kendra’s mother, Patti shows up to assist and is told the pole is for exercise. Of course it comes in handy during her house warming party. One note here; Kendra and her friends appeared well versed in the use of the pole. Modesty is not a major concern for Kendra or her friends; huge fake breasts pop out like a rowdy game of wack-a-mole is being played. In a later episode Kendra and her female friends take a girl’s weekend in Las Vegas sand go indoor sky diving, topless. Even with a fan generating sufficient airflow to lift her up in the air her breast never move. In this unrated, uncensored DVD nudity abounds as does un-bleeped profanity. Kendra is consistently dropping ‘F-Bombs’ and other scatological phrases. The episodes are sufficiently quirky and all revolves around the personality of Kendra. This is most likely another case of the skill of the editor making her seem to be a realization of every blonde joke going; attractive but not the sharpest knife in the draw. She does have a trademark laugh which is purposely very annoying a plays her role very well. On her previous series it was established that Kendra was the fun loving, sports oriented one of the three. As the season continues another relatable theme is played out as Kendra and she now husband football player Hank Baskett. She is not really going out on her only but is merging her life with Hank’s. There is a bit of a page from ‘the O Couple’; Hank is a neat freak while Kendra is admittedly a slob. His family is very conservative so the episode where he takes Kendra to visit with them is strange. At the end she presents is mom and dad with an autographed issue of Playboy. The series is a string of odd juxtapositions and culture classes ending season with their marriage. In the penultimate episode Kendra reveals to her mom that she is pregnant causing Patti to get upset. After her daughter became famous for removing her clothing and living with a man in his eighties the concept of traditional values is a ship that has sailed and is currently rounding Fiji. The series does succeed in what it set out to do by providing light hearted entertainment and a guilty pleasure for those so inclined.