Reality TV Friend or Foe?
When I was growing up I used to watch television all the time. When I wasn’t outside playing with my friends I was parked in front of the TV watching anything. I used to pride myself on knowing what was on at all times. This was important back in the day because there was no cable station that helped you, so other than TV Guide or the newspaper, you were virtually on your own.
Life has changed. Now you can have literally hundreds of stations and pretty much watch whatever you want. As I was flipping around the other day I came across a number of reality shows that frankly I had never heard of. Yes I have heard of Survivor, American Idol, Last Comic standing, The Amazing Race and The Apprentice. There are so many other reality shows. Unfortunately I have never heard or watched many of them like: For Love or Money, Joe Schmo and The Rebel Billionaire.
It got me to sit and ponder: Am I a friend or foe of reality TV? First let me say I enjoy watching Survivor and in fact we have had a friendly office pool in the past. When I am watching Survivor I find myself thinking if I could do this or that or how I would handle a particular challenge that the contestants go through. And of course the obvious question is could I outwit, outsmart, out-play the other participants? Since I am not a good swimmer the chance of lasting past a week probably wouldn’t be that great!
I have never watched Amazing Race and frankly am VERY tired of The Apprentice. I do watch American Idol from time to time, but I am not hooked. If I am traveling or have something else to do I don’t mind missing any episodes.
A few weeks ago 3 out of the top 4 spots on the ratings were reality shows. American Idol had the top 2 and Dancing With The Stars occupied the 4th spot. Clearly a number of these shows are very successful!
- Do you like reality TV?
- What shows do you watch?
- What shows do you wish would be cancelled?
Have any of these shows changed your life in anyway? Do you look at things a little differently since you have been watching reality TV?
I really look forward to your comments.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 am
Ah, my favorite subject…TV!!
To me, The Amazing Race is the gold standard of reality TV. I typically hide from cameras, but that is the one reality show I would go on in a minute if I had the right partner. I also watch Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, and (my guilty pleasure) Big Brother.
I watched the first season of the Apprentice, but will never watch again because I find Donald Trump tedious. I loathe anything related to American Idol; I’ve watched MAYBE three episodes in the entire time it has been on the air and will do a happy dance if the ratings ever plummet to the point it is cancelled, because I get angry at how the other networks program around it by moving shows. If it didn’t negatively affect so many other things I watch on television, then I’d gladly just ignore it.
In my opinion, CBS has the best reality shows (with the exception of the current Pirate Master, which I wanted to like but instead find boring). NBC’s are mediocre (with the possible exceptions of The Biggest Loser, which can be inspiring, and Last Comic Standing). But there should be a law that prevents FOX from ever putting a reality show on the air; some of theirs are just vile.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:16 am
I too have a hard time with reality TV. I think there is no place for shows like “My Big Fat Greek Husband” or “Wedding Crashers” or “Cougars vs Kittens” or any of the other shows that merely mock our society. However, i do love reality shows that are true competition or truly have an impact on people’s lives or society.
Furthermore, i can’t stand watching judges ridicule people for mere ratings boosts, which is why i have a problem with Simon Cowell, and Gordon Ramsay. Why is America amused by that? Why is it OK to call someone a donkey? i think it’s disgusting. This is why i watch “Rock Star” instead of “American Idol” and “Top Chef” instead of “Hell’s Kitchen”. It is truly about the competition, and making people stronger so they can become great in their profession.
Another favorite, (and i can’t believe that Ashton Kucher is behind it) is “Beauty and the Geek” where they pair wicked smart men who lack social graces with beautiful women who get by on their looks instead of their brains. The men and women learn from each other, and for the most part it is a positive experience for all involved. Every time a couple is voted off they always say, “i really learned a lot, i wish i could stay longer, i will look at people differently from now on. i am so excited that i have to opportunity to be on this show”. THIS IS WHAT REALITY TV SHOULD BE ABOUT!
OK - i am jumping down from my soap box now…
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:31 am
Stephanie,
I must be really not up to date. Are there really shows like “Wedding Crashers” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”?
Still amazing the ratings are as high as they are for reality shows - what does that really say about regular drama’s and sitcoms.
Thanks again for your comments.
Merrill
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:09 am
Life is enough of a Reality for this girl. It seems I just don’t have much extra time to watch Reality TV so I have to settle for living it myself! I do watch CNN, the Health Channel, (there is something about mystery illness and forensics that keeps me entertained), the Weather Channel (since I commute each week), History and lately Headline news. Mostly CNN and Headline as it is my way of knowing what is going on in the world. WAIT…CNN, FOX and Headline are Reality TV anymore. Ok, I admit it, I watch reality TV.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:12 am
I steer away from most reality shows. As a singer, I watch Idol. As a cook, I love Top Chef, or Food TV’s newest star - but the others set my teeth on edge. As I think I mentioned in a prior post - I am a law addict - so give me a little murder to solve - and I’m happy! Besides which - after being an extra in a movie a while back - I was put on a bunch of casting lists - and determined that many of the reality shows are simply filled by actors - not REAL people so - even some I might have watched, I don’t.