Vannesa Cantu is a glutton for punishment … at least when it comes to characters on her favorite television shows.

Cantu, a freshman physical therapy major, said she uses the boob tube to escape from the problems of her own life.

“It’s nice to watch someone else in pain,” she said. “You wouldn’t want to go through what they are going through, but it’s entertaining watching them suffer through these problems.

Without further ado, here are Cantu’s top 10 favorite television shows.

10. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” – “A girl kicking ass is reason enough.”

9. “Gilmore Girls”- “I like that a single mom had to raise her daughter alone because she didn’t get along with her parents. Lorelai is a good role model. I think Luke and her need to be together. Breaking them up was a bad move.”

8. “Viva La Bam” – “Basically, I love the show because they are so stupid. I loved when they had a roller rink in the house.”

7. “Real World” – “I keep watching the reruns even though I’ve already seen them. It’s addicting. I think the whole Shavonda and Landon thing is really cool. I knew they would get together.”

6. “Extreme Makeover”- “It shows how people’s appearances can change really fast with technology. I don’t think the show is exploitative.”

5. “The Simpsons” – “I have been watching them since I was little, and I continue watching it today. The ideas for episodes have still remained. I like how they deal with social issues.”

4. “Will & Grace” – “I like seeing gay characters on television. It’s different.”

3. “Family Guy”- “The characters are just so blunt and honest. I really like the episode where Peter gets his own country.”

2. “The O.C.”- “It’s more my age group, so I can relate to them. The lesbian storyline gave it a real twist. I think the mom should have ended up with Tate Donovan’s character.”

1. “Friends” – “I like the whole atmosphere they have going on. It reminds me of my friends, and I LOVE Rachel.”