Essential Estrogen

I have never watched reality television. While conversations around me swirled with gossip from Survivor or The Bachelor or American Idol, I'd be forced to sit silently. I had no idea what the tribes were named or who cried after what date or the name of the curly-headed guy everyone discussed a few weeks ago.

I don't think my lack of interest was because I thought I was somehow better than such programming. I tried watching almost every reality show out there and just didn't find them appealing. I don't like watching people humiliate themselves. I think placing a group of people in a position of intimacy with a single person of the opposite sex and then making them fight for attention is repulsive. I did have hopes the strategy quality of Survivor would hold my attention. Even when a friend was one of the contestants, I couldn't get overly excited.

While my experiences with those particular shows and scenarios haven't changed, I have found a reality show this season which has captivated me. Dancing With The Stars has been an addictive albeit guilty pleasure. The reason I'm still watching, however, has no connection to the reason I first tuned in.

I was out to lunch with a friend who asked if I was going to watch the show. Without much thought I told her I wouldn't be watching, that I wasn't much of a television watcher. To her credit, she began to tell me about the show and why she was going to watch. She told me about Heather Mills, a social activist, who was going to be the first person with an artificial limb to compete.

"She's got an artificial arm?" I asked.

"No, she has an artificial leg."

Call it morbidity or rubber-necking or curiosity, I had to watch. I wanted to see how well someone with an artificial leg could dance. As the first few weeks passed, however, I found myself not watching Mills (although she was an excellent competitor) but looking forward to seeing Laila Ali.

Ali is not only the daughter of boxing legend Muhammed Ali (Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee.), but an athletic champion in her own right. She is an undefeated world champion female boxer ... an incredibly beautiful woman... and an author. If you haven't taken time to read her autobiography Reach! you really should. It is worth every moment you spend with it.

In my mind's eye, there are very few strong, intelligent, comfortable-in-their-own-skin women on the television. (Hey, maybe that's why I don't watch much tv?) Ali isn't a glamor girl, but she is glamorous. She hasn't lived a life of privilege, but she carries herself with class, dignity and grace.

That is why I was so extremely pleased tonight when Ali was chosen to be one of three in the finals. Next week she and her partner (the very hot Maksim Chmerkovskiy) will compete for the very last time. The two other couples entering the finals will be Apolo Anton Ohno/Julianne Hough and Joey Fatone/Kym Johnson.

If Ali is able to battle forward and take the title (which I really hope she does) she will become the first female to do so since the first season when Sam McCall... errr... Kelly Monaco was handed the trophy. Season two winner was actor Drew Lachey and he was followed by NFL superstar Emmitt Smith in season three.

In any event, now you know my hidden pleasure... and you know when I won't be answering the phone next week. (Check your local listings.)