TLC to explore death with the same dignity it explores all other aspects of life on Best Funeral Ever

By Sean O'Neal | December 13, 2012 | 8:23pm

Aux Features TV

Having spent years celebrating the miracles of mass birth, the joys of raising a child to have unhealthy delusions of grandeur, and the magic of a wedding day controlled to a scarily obsessive degree, TLC is exploring another crucial part of the circle of life: death. The Learning Channel will continue its ongoing lessons in the harsh truths of reality with Best Funeral Ever, a one-off special premiering Dec. 26 that could develop into a series, provided TLC's audience does not concurrently develop a sense of shame.

As suggested by its title, Best Funeral Ever follows Dallas' Golden Gate Funeral Home and its attempts to give the dearly departed the most raucous, reality TV-worthy send-offs they can dream up, including options such as a "Christmas funeral" with accompanying reindeer and elves, a barbecue-themed party with "a BBQ sauce fountain where loved ones dip a ceremonious rib to say goodbye," or even simply providing a solemn place for grieving friends and relatives to honor the deceased in a quiet, dignified fashion. No, just kidding. That would be the worst funeral ever. I wouldn't be caught dead at that. Use my corpse as a prop at your barbecue, please.