Mon 30 Jun 2008
Reality Bites
Posted by Jason Morgan under Entertainment, Society
Popular opinion would say that the start of reality television began with MTV’s The Real World. This is not true. Reality television, a malignant tumor upon our airwaves, boasts roots that grow far deeper than MTV. Reality television is about giving an average person the ability to have fifteen minutes of fame on the old tube. Ever hear of game shows? While this brand of reality television is crude, the networks had to start somewhere. Game shows are to American Idol like the WW I propeller planes are to today’s F-22 fighter jet. Reality television continues to grow in leaps and bounds, giving rise to new programs taking advantage of the unsuspecting viewing audience in ever greater numbers. Like game shows, reality TV is cheap programming for TV networks. No actor salaries, minimal set and production costs, and better yet, you get to put poor fools in deplorably degrading situations for the entertainment of others. What’s the downside? For the networks: none. For everyone else: the continuous demise of intelligent AND entertaining programming. Every time a reality show graces my television for longer than five minutes I immediately lose 10 points from my IQ.
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June 30th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Very interesting point Jay. I never saw shows like The Price is Right or Family Feud in the same light as today’s reality TV.
While I agree that today’s reality shows consume IQ points, there are some that are not that bad. The shows that feature washed up actors from the 80’s and 90’s (Christopher Knight & Dustin Diamond) running through obsticle courses are really bad. But at least shows like American Idol or So you think you can Dance showcase raw talent from people who were nobody. At least the viewers get a performance from watching the show and not just drama. I am guilty of watching both Idol and Dance, but I will never stoop to the level of something like Wife Swap. It is neat to see a competition, that is open to anyone, produce a superstar worthy of recognition. The U.S. Open is the same way with golf.
Network TV has not been superior since Seinfeld. Ironically, the same can be said about the New York Yankees. Haha, thats the title of a blog post I have been meaning to write for some time now.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Reality Television is a pimple on the rectum of entertainment.
But I will enjoy my episodes of Deadliest Catch and The Ultimate Fighter as I snub my nose at the legions of I Love NY and Simple Life.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:14 am
LOL, you got a medicated pad for that?
July 1st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
But … but … I loved Family Feud and the $25,000 Pyramid!