Reality TV
This is kind of a gripe post. I was listening to the radio this morning when I was taking Novan to school and the DJ was talking about tickets they were going to give away to a "Lunch with the Jersey Shore." I guess that means you get to hang out with the cast or something. I found myself wondering who would actually want to win those tickets. You would have to pay me to go to something like that. You'd have to pay me a LOT.
I've never actually watched the Jersey Shore. I have seen the promos though and that was enough for me to know I would never ever waste a second of my life watching that show. But then I got to thinking that really most reality shows are like that. The people just act ridiculous. Watching reality TV often gives me that feeling in my gut that makes me want to just put duct tape on all their mouths and change the channel. It makes me feel ashamed to be of the same species as those people. I just HATE watching it. I don't think there's anything that emphasizes the awful mediocrity of most people.
Well while I was hearing the radio and their thoughts on the Jersey Shore, I actually said out loud, to no one in particular, "Who has time for that? Who actually wastes their time watching crap like that?" Beya heard me and said, "Mom, who are you talking to?" I replied, "I don't know." It's just one of those things that I just don't understand. I don't understand the appeal, AT ALL. I know not all reality TV is quite that bad but I have found, since the onset of reality TV, that I just do NOT enjoy it as much as it seems the general population does. Brad and I watch So You Think You Can Dance but we never watch most of the auditions and I don't really care about anything but watching the dancing. The dramatic pauses on the result shows annoys the crap out of me. Brad and I DVR it so we get to skip everything but the dancing which suits me. Brad also likes The Apprentice but whenever they get in the boardroom and those people start bickering we fast forward. I actually wouldn't watch it at all if Brad didn't like it. Furthermore, pretty much every person on that show is willing to make themselves look like idiots and bicker like 4 year olds and in my opinion, anyone who acts that way should NOT be crowned Donald Trump's apprentice. It annoys me that they pick these people simply for the drama factor rather than their credentials as a business people. But this permeates every reality show. They pick the people to up the drama and I think that's despicable.
So I would really like your thoughts on this. What draws you to reality TV? Is it just entertaining to see how ridiculous people act or do you, like me, skip to the parts you like (for me that usually totals about 15 minutes)? I know American Idol has been on for years and I have never watched a whole season. I've watched maybe 4 or 5 shows total and I've seen enough insults from Simon that I really don't see how a show, which is based simply on the vocal ability of people could have been this popular for this long. Help me out here, am I being unreasonable?
I've never actually watched the Jersey Shore. I have seen the promos though and that was enough for me to know I would never ever waste a second of my life watching that show. But then I got to thinking that really most reality shows are like that. The people just act ridiculous. Watching reality TV often gives me that feeling in my gut that makes me want to just put duct tape on all their mouths and change the channel. It makes me feel ashamed to be of the same species as those people. I just HATE watching it. I don't think there's anything that emphasizes the awful mediocrity of most people.
Well while I was hearing the radio and their thoughts on the Jersey Shore, I actually said out loud, to no one in particular, "Who has time for that? Who actually wastes their time watching crap like that?" Beya heard me and said, "Mom, who are you talking to?" I replied, "I don't know." It's just one of those things that I just don't understand. I don't understand the appeal, AT ALL. I know not all reality TV is quite that bad but I have found, since the onset of reality TV, that I just do NOT enjoy it as much as it seems the general population does. Brad and I watch So You Think You Can Dance but we never watch most of the auditions and I don't really care about anything but watching the dancing. The dramatic pauses on the result shows annoys the crap out of me. Brad and I DVR it so we get to skip everything but the dancing which suits me. Brad also likes The Apprentice but whenever they get in the boardroom and those people start bickering we fast forward. I actually wouldn't watch it at all if Brad didn't like it. Furthermore, pretty much every person on that show is willing to make themselves look like idiots and bicker like 4 year olds and in my opinion, anyone who acts that way should NOT be crowned Donald Trump's apprentice. It annoys me that they pick these people simply for the drama factor rather than their credentials as a business people. But this permeates every reality show. They pick the people to up the drama and I think that's despicable.
So I would really like your thoughts on this. What draws you to reality TV? Is it just entertaining to see how ridiculous people act or do you, like me, skip to the parts you like (for me that usually totals about 15 minutes)? I know American Idol has been on for years and I have never watched a whole season. I've watched maybe 4 or 5 shows total and I've seen enough insults from Simon that I really don't see how a show, which is based simply on the vocal ability of people could have been this popular for this long. Help me out here, am I being unreasonable?
I'm with you. I can't stand reality TV. I don't watch TV, though, because it didn't look good in our house once we decorated so we sold it. So I don't even know anything about half of the shows that are on. I watched a couple of seasons of American Idol. I thought it was entertaining, but things like Jersey Shore? I don't get it either.
ReplyDeleteWELL.SAID.SISTER! The more I think of reality shows the more I'm disgusted with humanity. I don't see it as "mediocrity of people" I see it as the lowest of humanity.
ReplyDeleteI have briefly watched early Apprentice, Project Runway and Top Chef. BRIEFLY. The only "reality" show I've watched more regularly has been "Next Food Network Star." That's because the show doesn't create situations in order to cause dissension between the ranks.
Why would anyone put themselves in the position to make complete fools/idots of themselves? IMO, people watch these shows in order to make excuses to act the same way.
Talk about the dumbing down of America. In what way do any of these shows teach higher values, standards? In what way do they add to the quality of our society? They don't, they merely bring us down.
Reminds me of "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" and that ended badly.
Aileen
and for clarification, I only watched two seasons of "Next Foodnetwork Star" Even though it wasn't as bad as the rest, still not worth the time.
ReplyDeleteYou have watched more Idol than I have :) I have watched several seasons of biggest loser, and the amazing race. I like the biggest loser because I get healthy tips. I like the amazing race because I think it is cool. though some teams really are unbelievable. I have never watched more than 5-10 minutes of survivor. I dont watch any others like big brother or the bachelor, I think they are a plain waste of time.
ReplyDeleteI actually like some reality TV shows. I like to watch American Idol but I do hate it when they draw out the results section, so I just fast forward through all of those parts. I don't get into Big Brother, Survivor, or any of those type of shows. I feel like they are fake, and that people act different just because they are being filmed. I have to admit though, I have been known to get in to some crappy shows in the past. What drew me into those shows were the relationships. (The Real World for example) I just like to see people get together...I know I know it sounds weird, but it's the truth. :)
ReplyDeleteEmily Gray is totally one of my favorite people...even if she watches bad TV. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite reality show is Extreme Makeover Home Edition...I can't wait until we're filthy rich and we can start building housing for low income families & do job training & improve the lives of a few hundred or thousand people. Now THAT is reality television.