I have no idea why it's a big deal in other countries. I have an obligatory dinner with my mom every Sunday, and we (my sister, my mom and I) wind up watching it afterwards. So far as I'm concerned, it's like eating potatoe chips--nutrition, 0, but addictive. I guess it's mostly interesting for the fashion show. I agree that the characters are vapid and the zeitgeist, obscene. I suppose all the women talking about sex and having a different partner every other show is interesting to some.
Joanna