frogza

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who can't stand "reality tv".

First of all, who's reality is this? How can they get the dregs of society, the freakiest people or the insanely good looking all together and call that reality? Not to mention the whole idea behind each show is way to fabricated to keep any semblance to reality.

Most people I know that enjoy these shows typically don't leave their house except for work and grocery shopping. Maybe I just have too much of a life to be willing to live vicariously through these shows. What do the TFers think?

1slOwCD8

Reality tv.......... hmmm, it kind of bothers me how everyone all the time says "ya reality tv sucks, who watches that garbage." and yet it always gets a lot of viewers tuned in every week? I admit i watch reality tv. Obviosly a lot of people who do watch it are prolly just embarassed to admit it.

Willravel

I agree that the label of "reality tv" is clearly wrong. A closer name would be "we say it's unscripted tv", because they claim that these shows are unscripted.

I think the popularity of these shows speaks in volumes about the mind set of the average american. It scares me how many people decided that Joe Millionare was a great way to spend an evening. I actually watched a few episodes of survivor and fear factor to get an idea of what the big deal was. I don't know about everyone on earth, but teams of people competing in events like 'eating grubs' or 'trying to stay on a log floating in water' strikes me as boring and not exactly entertaining or mentally stimulating. I noticed that half the time spent on the show was devoted to the event, but the other half featured intervews with contestants where they shared their feelings about what was going on. They talked about the event, but more about the other contestants. That's when my ears started to bleed. Then I changed the channel and Law and Order was on. Which one? The one with the annoying 'ping ping' that featured the police and lawyers doing their jobs where someone dies a the beginning of every episode and then a police offficer makes a clever comment about it.

I think that a lot of TV in general has lost it's inteligence and originality. I watch Nip/Tuck and the Daily Show and I can smile and enjoy someone doing something clever and well written. I miss seeing shows like this in the mainstream, but then I remember that Law and Order has been around since I was watching Sesame Street, and reality tv has been around since before scripted telivision.
T.V. is not here to challenge you mentally as a rule. It's here to entertain you as you half pay attention. If you watch CNN because you think it's intelligent TV, you are just as well off as someone watching Are You Hot. I'm sorry.

mandal

I don't watch reality tv, but I've never hated it.... until now. I just hate how it has spread like a horrible virus eating away everyone's brain. I especially hate how it completely took over "The Learning Channel". Which used to have some good programs going for it. However, now all they show is trading spaces, baby story, makeover story, marriage story and all that stupid reality shit. that channel really needs to change its name because it does not deserve such a misleading title. The only shows worth watching nowadays are sit-coms for a good laugh and the history channel.

espi

About the only reality shows I like are Monster Garage, and Monster House. And, even those are starting to wear thin on me. (They're not of my list of shows Tivo gets for me while I give up on TV). Oh, I guess I'll catch the new season of American Idol when it rolls around, too.

I used to watch Fear Factor, it was a good way to make noise while I worked on dinner. But that lost it's appeal, too. I think the last episode I watched was a celebrity edition with Penn and Teller. How can Penn & Teller lose? That's just not right. (My cousin is going to be on FF next spring. She records her episode in November. So, I'll probably watch that one).

I will certainly never watch any reality shows that involve midgets looking for love, gold brickin' women looking for a husband (or gold bricking men looking for a wife, for that matter), or Paris Hilton.

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tropple

I remember when TLC had decent programming. When it turned touchy-feely it got fucked up fast. All of the discovery channels have gone down the tubes.

As for the reality shows, well, any observation changes reality. Especially when the observation is not secret. It's all a bunch of scripted bandstanding.

IMHO, Alan Funt's Candid Camera was the only true reality TV.

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mattevil

I watched I'm with Busey but that's more surreal than reality. I really do hope this trend dies but since it's so cheap it probably won't until some exec realizes they won't have any new shows for syndication if they keep putting on reality shows that only last a season.

Willravel

You have to remember, formulaic is the new black.

JumpinJesus

The only reality tv I watch is the channel on our digital cable that shows the security camera in the lobby of our building. If a deranged lunatic from the local psycho ward escapes and comes running into our building, I want to know about it before he hits the elevators.

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Bim

I always found it humorous what comedy central did. If you rember about a year or more ago. CC ran some 30sec spots inbetween shows, that were spoofing reality TV shows. The comerical would run, making you think they are advertising a new reality show, then right at the end put a big "NOT!". or "GET REAL!" somthing along those lines. Now what do they show on CC? Last comic standing...

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sinjien

Now that was funny in a not so funny way...but yeah, reality TV sucks; all of it.

radioguy

i can't stand it. i can say that i have never watched a full episode of a reality show. it just doesn't interest me in any way. the only reality programs on tv i like are sports and news.

:::OshnSoul:::

it's like aliens- taking over the world. That's why I barely watch TV anymore. When it first came to, it was interesting- Survivor, Big Brother, American Idol- those first seasons were interesting, then after became so boring and dramatic. I did get pulled into My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance, that was twisted and unique- only good one time around, though. Some shows just go too far nowadays, like Bachelor, Bachelorette, Marry my Dad, Marry my Daughter, that one about the family competing against each other......I don't even really enjoy The Apprentice. The only one I enjoy which I don't even watch much of is Punkd. I don't consider such shows as Monster House/Monster Garage reality shows because it's not a dramatic competition show. Reality TV could just end for all I care.

maleficent

I admit I somewhat like the Apprentice - -it's kinda like watching a car wreck

I watched about 10 minutes of the first season of Survivor and honestly can't figure out why it's got so many more season - the strategy was interesting -- forming alliances - -but now everyone does it - so it's just not interesting... haven't watched any other season.

Fear Factor is just... bizarre... why would anyone eat the things they do, or get covered in scorpions or roaches or something for a few dollars --dumb.

There's a new one coming out that looks mildly entertaining - My big fat obnoxious boss - from the producers of the fiance show - -this looks like it coul dbe a scream... they take a bunch of know it alls, and make them so really weird things to get a job that doesn't exist.

The WB's Superstar -- was funny (in a somewhat sadistic sort of way) for the first few episodes, then it just gave me a headache and I stopped watching...

I've never watched any of the bachelor/bachelorette shows, or the who wants to marry whomever - -so I can't speak for them -- the idea just sounds stupid, it's putting your personal life on display -- no one should be doing that -- it's called a private life for a reason -- (though Blind Date is a hoot)

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mandal

yah i think the marriage shows really took everything down to a lower level. I mean marrying for television. That's very sad. and people claim that gay marriage ruins the sanctiity of marriage. Screw that, bogus marriages and 50% divorce rate already took care of that.

mused76

The Real World is one show I can not stand or take one second of. The very concept of throwing "rich or well to do kids" in a house, GIVE them a job in the city, and then watch the drama unfold after producers specifically picked people who will kiss, fight, argue, hate each other. Yeah - this is real. Just ask the 16 year old lower income child, in a family of 6, if he can get a job so easily. Ask a 40 year, during these times, if it's so easy. Nope.

pinkie

It's all utter and complete shit.

ShaniFaye

The ONLY one I schedule around is Survivor, I didnt watch the first season but I had just started a new job when the 2nd one came out (Australia) and all the girls were talking about how hot Colby was so I tuned in....got hooked immediately)....I admit I watched both Joe Millionaires(was interviewed in USA today for the first one) and the one with the midget guy, cant remember what it was called. I watched a few fear factors but they made me sick.

the one they have been running where the two families switch moms was interesting the first few shows, I watch if Im not doing anything else and there is nothing else on. On the whole I'd rather watch BBC America or the History Channel

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Esoteric

It's getting ridiculous, they're making shows about everything now.

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sailor

Its mindless tripe. Course, most television is.

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cartmen34

I've never sat through one whole reality TV show. They never interested me in the slightest.
I don't like them because they are all staged, maybe not at the time of recording, but in the editing room. We only see what the producers want us to see. That makes it just another tv show full of actors IMO. Everytime I see another "new" reality show, all I can picture is a, well, an ass(donkey) with a carrot dangling in front of it. We as humans just need a few more carrots dangling in front of our faces to get our lazy asses up and moving. Most of those people are humiliated on national tv, but I don't feel sorry for them. If they are stupid enough to sign up for it, then they deserve what's coming to them.

All the TV execs have done is taken the concept of stupid pet tricks, applied it to humans, and then renamed it "reality".....'cause only letterman can make "stupid human tricks" fun to watch.

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crossova

its 'reality' tv because the contestants or participants are "normal" people. I think it'd be reality tv if the people didnt have a prize to work hard for. what reality is it when you are stranded on an island and getting off last you get a million dollars? What reality is it when you swap spouses and get 50gs for it...does that make your spouse a nonsexual whore?

To me the only 'reality' tv worth watch is:
Amazing Race
Apprentice
america's next top model (only b/c i like the thick black girl)

Derwood

Amazing Race is the apex of reality TV. Why? It's all about the competition, and very little about who likes who. Sure, that comes out sometimes, but it isn't focused on. Every episode is an hour of non-stop action. I watch Survivor, but damn if those people don't just lay around all day until the next challenge. Amazing Race edits out all the down time and just gives you the running, competing, etc.

Reality TV won't go away because it's so cheap. Sure, Survivor gives out $1 million an episode, but compare that to paying all 6 stars of Friends $1 million per episode X 22 episodes. The choice is clear.

And I don't believe any of it is scripted at the contestant level. The editors, however, can make just about any storyline they want out of raw footage.

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Charlatan

Love it or hate it Reality TV is here to stay.

I sell television programming around the world and can speak with authority when I say that Reality is a worldwide success. There are couple of very important reasons why reality is sucking up so much of the prime time schedule...

1) It is cheap to produce. It can be anywhere from 25% to 75% of the budget it costs to make a primetime drama
2) It rates incredibly well... people are watching.
3) Because of point one, foreign broadcasters are now able to fill their schedules with indigenous programming... viewers who are typically fed a diet of American (or other foreign) shows can now watch programming with people from their own countries and cultures...

The other interesting thing about reality television is that it isn't a genre per se. It isn't lifestyle, action, drama, etc. It can be all of these things and more. It can shift with the trend of the day.

The best example I have is this:
A producer was trying to get a documentary about Twins commisioned by a UK broadcaster. He couldn't get it made. However, when one of the commisioning editors suggested that it become a contest to find, "The Perfect Twin" it got a greenlit. In the end, the show was going to have all of the factual information that the original documentary planned to have... the only difference was that the delivery was more "commercially acceptable".

What many Americans don't know is that in some territories (i.e. the UK and Germany) shows like Big Brother are on the air daily, in primetime. That is a huge chunk of primetime programming. It costs next to nothing to produce and rates incredibly well.

It is for all of these reasons that reality is here to stay.

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spock

I think that the reason these show draw huge audiences is because of their 'reality' value. This being in the sense that the viewers can relate to the contestants in some way.I suppose thats the reason the contestants are introduced the way they are ie. middle age divorced stockbroker from... Although this may sound like an advert in the personals column of the newspaper,people will try to 'match' themselves to a particular contestant and then see or try to predict how they would have handled a certain task/situation, compared to the contestant. People find it difficult/impossible to relate to celebs so this offers the alternative.
Thats my take on the issue.

kevin100

Apprentice is the only reality show I can handle. It generally avoids the soap opera and sex topics that the others cover - no relationships, kissing, nudity, etc. I don't miss it.

mandal

eh.. I wouldn't say that. I believe that Trump does some of the things he does to get that "dang" factor rather than making good business choices. He and his producers are worried about ratings as much as every other show and i'm sure they try to spice it up a bit.

mandal

eh.. I wouldn't say that. I believe that Trump does some of the things he does to get that "dang" factor rather than making good business choices. He and his producers are worried about ratings as much as every other show and i'm sure they try to spice it up a bit.

Flyguy

FINALLY!!!! I'm not the only one who thinks so...

thriolith

Some of it's not too bad, but there's way too much of it now.

Amazing Race is IMHO the best reality show out there. There will always be places for teams to visit, every team is unique and will get into different situations with the other teams.

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Derwood

He sure does. In the ending credits of every show, it says very plainly (i'm paraphrasing) "Mr. Trump consults with producers of the show prior to every board room decision each episode."

Pretty much means that Mark Burnett has a strong say on who gets fired and who sticks around.

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