Defending My Guilty Pleasures

This isn't really shameful...it's a bit cheesy, sure, but it's got Joel McHale and it lets me be pop-culture-aware without actually having to watch "The Hills" or "The Real Housewives of Wherever".

I watched "American Idol" for one season. Blech. This is a bit better.

Went from pretty cool sci-fi to godawful lameness over three seasons. Not sure why people were so jazzed to have it resume production. Also: Someone needs to take a damn weapon with them to fight the killer dinos. Jeez.

I only watch to mock. Cocktail time with Aunt Drunky! Don't forget the choking hazard in every alcohol-rich drink...whoot!

ANTM for the older lady. Could be worse than it is, but not by much. Train-wreck TV.

Uh, I know it's not good. And I hate reality shows. But this one is a must watch for some reason.

Sometimes, it's not that bad.

More boring than scandalous, unfortunately.

Used to be much better.

A high school cheerleading drama, with nearly as many musical numbers as 'Glee.' LOVE IT! Naturally, it got cancelled.

Compelling, if not actually great TV.

They hooked me back when the show was much better; watching out of habit now.

I don't think there's really anything I could say to justify this.

Of all the shows, this is the most embarrassing.

Salem!

The movie was better.

It's funny! Even for adults. But I don't know why.

I watch, then I hate myself. But I still watch.

Now this is a really, really funny show. It's just about raunchy, puking, sex-crazed teenagers.

Not a jewel in the BBC crown.

I even liked it when Nathan Fillion wasn't on. Shame.

God help me, I still remember so many of the classic plotlines. The wig, Jo's baby, Alison, Billy and Amanda...even Seinfeld watched, so don't look at me that way.

This show never really went for the crazy the way the original did. No wonder I was the only one watching.

This show was more boring than MP (original flavor) but sometimes it entertained.

I stand behind this show. It was really sweet, and I know I crushed on more than one geek over the years.

Bouncing off big red balls. Yes, I'm 12.

A little too scatological to be really enjoyable, but they get some good jokes in.

It's all about the theme song.

Ditto.

I love their music, too. So there.

Keith Partridge was the cutest boy ever when I was in kindergarten.

Blame it on that bitch, Nellie Oleson.

A weird, awful stain on pop culture.

No, I am not a senior citizen.

I get most of the answers right, if that's any consolation.

I freaking LOVE this movie. If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

Much better than it ought to be.

Another movie du fromage which I just love.

"Anything happens to my daughter, I got a shovel and a gun. I don't thinkanyone will miss you." Classic line from a great movie.

I don't think I need to feel guilty about this one, actually.

On the list because it's a nighttime soap opera, though it really is very good at what it does.

This ABC sitcom is kind of cute, though the premise seems a bit rote. The characters are quirky and there are good lines in every episode.

Thank goodness Jennifer Morrison has kept her hair dyed blonde, or I'd never be able to tell her from the other dark-haired actresses on the show. The show's not that bad; I give them props for a unique premise that does not rely on lawyers, cops or doctors. The actors do chew the scenery a lot though, which isn't great considering all the green-screening in the production.

I have no problem confessing that I love The Vampire Diaries, so this show, which follows it, has the same tone as that drama, which is mainly why I watch it. It has improved over the first few episodes, too. Incidentally, I broke down and read the books that inspired both shows, and the Secret Circle series was vastly better than the TVD books.

As stated in the notes for this list, I work for a CW affiliate, and I got to see all the pilots for this year's new shows back in May. Of all of them, the one for Ringer was the only one that I was excited about. Now, I unabashedly love this twisty, twin-tastic mystery starring SMG. Anything that brings Ioan Gruffudd to my TV screen every week is GOLDEN!

It's cute, but forgettable fluff. The main draw to watching it is to see if they ever get main character Zoe together with the adorable Wade, played by Wilson Bethel. (Fingers crossed!)

It's only shameful because it's on MTV, and you have to watch a lot of Jersey Shore promos to enjoy this show. Which you can, because it's really good.