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  • Film & TV Moderators: ghostfreak

tv: reality shows... have they gone too far?

Hollywood loves reality shows because they're dirt-cheap, which gives you a huge profit margin from advertising--especially if the show takes off. Ironically, the recent screenwriter's strike probably did more to boost reality television and put them out of a job, because reality shows have no paid writers, either.

I'm not saying that most reality television isn't shit...but it's firmly ensconced in the zeitgeist.
 
I understand that the production costs of reality shows involve little more than the film and editing crews. But what they produce has to be worth watching. Deadliest Catch was somewhat entertaining, but I found Axmen about as interesting as watching grass grow.
 
Reality shows make me deeply and truly sad. I don't understand how anyone could enjoy that junk. Reality TV is the antithesis of reality.
 
^agreed.

so they don't have writers, they have producers instead. people paid to milk the drama element like blood from a stone.

i really liked the cliffhanger season finale of "mail sorters: zip code life" where a letter appeared upside down. oh the humanity!


those shows are useful in that they are a good character indicator on people you meet. whether they watch it and why are really clear suggestion as to how much time one may want to invest in their friendship/association.
 
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To expand on my earlier post: reality TV is popular not just because of cost, but because it really taps in to the relationship between the media and the viewing public.

More than a few writers have recently commented on the growing exhibitionism of society (American society in particular)--not (just) sexually, but the way people search for validation by being acknowledged. It's a "Look at me!" world, and blogs, networking sites, webcams, and reality shows are filling it. Likewise, we like to watch; honestly, how many of us haven't searched through countless profiles of people we don't know on Site X, just to click on an interesting face or a quote. You read a blurb about them, and bam--that's everything you think you need to know about them. It's pressing the flesh without the germs.

Think of Twitter--a site that millions of people log on to, for messages equivalent (or identical) to "It's totally freezing rite now!1 LAWLZ", or "I just took a mad shit." This one columnist noted how, just for grins, she created a Twitter account to see what it was about. Before she'd made a *single* "tweet", she had 12 subscribers. This sounds like a tangent, but it isnt: a world with Twitter, LJ, and UBBs is one inseparable from the rise of reality television.

"But that's just my opinion; I may be wrong..."
 
seriously, i understand the appeal of blogs even less than "reality tv". at least with the shows you get some silly concept parameters to base viewing on.
 
I don't really like shows like that mentioned in the OP, but I enjoy reality tv in general when it's of the contest variety. I only follow a couple tv shows but they are always competitions of some sort, such as Survivor or The Amazing Race. I love Amazing Race the best because they travel lots of interesting places. I like Survivor because its DRAMA!

I never understand when people have a generalized hatred of reality tv. It's just mindless entertainment like the rest of TV. I find reality tv much more entertaining in general because it's usually more dramatic and funny. It's not art, no, just entertainment. :)

Reality shows make me deeply and truly sad. I don't understand how anyone could enjoy that junk.
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Why? I don't get it.
 
hahaha I have all of the pitchmen recorded but I haven't watched any of them yet. A lot the reality TV shows like deadliest catch just get old because it all seems the same after a while. I mean there is only so much footage you can watch of a bunch of guys pulling up crab cages. I have all of the axmen recorded as well but when I saw the episode with the father and son trying to pull that log out of the water I had to stop watching; it was just too ridiculous.

I do like the more sadistic "reality" shows though like The Joe Shmoe Show or My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance even though I believe they go too far.
 
I hated the reality shows that have people basically being tortured or doing really gross stuff (like Fear Factor). I felt that was too far. Well, I mean, it was too far for me, as that is not something I take any pleasure in watching. It seemed like the whole "eating gross stuff" trend in reality game shows has faded a bit, I'm happy to not have seen much of that lately.
 
Fear Factor was great...nothing makes you feel better about yourself than watching people humiliate themselves by eating blended rats (no kidding) for less money than Joe Rogan probably makes in a month.
 
There's nothing wrong with Reality TV as long as it's believable. For instance, people competing for a prize while the cameras are rolling is believable.

People saying things that make themselves look ridiculous and petty to millions of viewers isn't. Nor are people who have a histrionic fit every time something doesn't go their way.

This is why I tend to gravitate toward the reality shows that focus on competition, and leave the one's that focus on the relationships and personalities of the contestants. There is nothing more grating than watching an amateur actor/actress try to convince me of their sincerity. Just shutup and do something cool.
 
^ couldn't have said it better myself.

that said... i admittedly get into shitty reality tv where they try to win a relationship with people. :D it's so fucking pathetic... and believe me, i know that... but i get hooked more on the fact that it's HORRIBLE than anything else. mind you, i won't get sucked in enough to keep up on the seasons, but if i happen to be flipping channels and 'daisy of love' is on... i'll watch it occasionally. again, not because it's any good, but rather the opposite. i think i just have an addiction to watching people make complete fools of themselves. i'm a complete shut-in and really avoid leaving the house at most costs so i don't get my fill of douche bags in real life. every now and then, i need to see morons, douche bags, tools, etc. to make me feel better about myself. :)
 
Belisarius said:
Fear Factor was great...nothing makes you feel better about yourself than watching people humiliate themselves by eating blended rats (no kidding) for less money than Joe Rogan probably makes in a month.
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Really? It just made me sad. :(
It's pathetic how desperate for money people are.

I have no money to my name at the moment and I'd never degrade myself like that for cash. So gross.
 
^ so long as i don't have to completely sell out my morals... i'm THAT desperate. :D

oh and i should mention... i thought the reality craze would ware out it's welcome FAST. that was about 7 or 8 years ago (i lost track at this point). now it seems the machine will never run out of gas. it makes me think of the children's toys that come with MANY MANY accessories... all sold separately.
 
Pitchmens a good show. billy mays is a funny guy. ive laughed ever since ive seen him screaming at the cameras way back when oxy clean was new.

Hes just a big bitch and is always pissed on that Show...whats not to like?!

HAY BILLY MAYS HERE
 
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