(ISS. 3/GEN. 1)
�by David M. Barone
Lately I've been noticing that there are more "reality" shows cluttering up the television airwaves then ever. These shows forcing actors off of television, and "celebrities" onto it are everywhere! (Real Celebrities would only make films about reality TV shows.) But seriously, can we, as television viewers, really be enjoying the networks dumbing down their programming as to compete with each other? Not to mention cable "reality" TV shows. Every network has at least one "reality" show. It's important to note here that most networks also have at least one reality/ game show hybrid. The main difference being that in the earlier the "cast" parades around for us doing idiotic "real" things, on the later the "contestants" play each other for a cash prize. I don't know of anywhere in my "reality" where I can play against other people for money, other than Vegas of course.
I've put together a list of Network Television Reality Shows for those of you who haven't kept up with this sad state of TV (Note: This list excludes cable shows.)
ABC: I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Extreme Makeover, The Bachelor/ Bachelorette, The Mole/Celebrity Mole, Are You Hot?�
CBS: The Amazing Race, Survivor/Survivor All Stars, Big Brother�
NBC: For Better or Worse, Average Joe, The Restaurant, LOST, The Apprentice, Fear Factor, Dog Eat Dog�
FOX: Boot Camp, Murder in Small Town X, The Simple Life, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fianc�, The Littlest Groom, Temptation Island, Forever Eden, The Swan, American Idol, Cupid, Man vs. Animal, Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire�
UPN: Americas Next Top Model, The Surreal Life�
PBS: American High, Frontier House, and 1900 House�
Seeing this list evolve in front of my eyes I wondered: "what are the viewers thinking?" That's when I decided to find out for us all...and began a survey. I talked to as many people as I could asking: "What is, or was, the worst reality show?"
Here are the responses I received...
Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire�1
"This show was the beginning of a horrible trend in reality TV where the true meaning of marriage is debased. Marriage is not meant to be a business arrangement based solely on money and looks. It is also not a fairy tale where they live happily ever after. Nor is it something to embark on blindly or on some whim thinking you can just change your mind and pretend like it never happened if it doesn't turn out exactly how you imagined it. A successful lifetime relationship is a partnership based on love and mutual respect that requires attention and yes, even some work, to make it continually successful. People don't take commitment seriously anymore and shows like this make the problem worse."
- Kyra Wilson
Temptation Island �1
The Littlest Groom...3
"Pure exploitation at its worst! Why don't we try to marry off some Conjoined Twins next?"
� Jen Heard
Man vs. Animal...1
Average Joe 1 & 2�2
"If that's not a pity show then I don't know what is. How is he suppose to keep his pride after getting rejected on national TV and then... AND THEN he himself will have to chose amongst those who fell for him during the show or super hot models that really couldn't care less who he is? Shouldn't those women just call him up and ask for a date? Aw he's so cute, aw he's so successful, he's so my ticket to fame. How pathetic!"
� Christy Lee
The Mole/Celebrity Mole�1
"�or anything with 'celebrity' in it."
- Caleb McCallister
Extreme Makeover�1
American Idol�2
The Apprentice...2
Surreal Life...2
Forever Eden�3
"any of the shows that contain completely fake people who are just out there to be on TV really get under my skin."
� Aimee Watts
My Big Fat Obnoxious Fianc�...9
"I detested it for its idea, and for the contestant 'bride's' decision to really fuck with her family's emotions for her own personal gain."
� Tiffany McFarland Lees
And then there were the three: "I watch all of them and I honestly can't say which is the worst." (Wow, get out a little.) And two: "REALITY TELEVISION IS TRASH...HONESTLY PEOPLE NEED TO START LIVING THEIR LIVES INSTEAD WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE LIVE THEIRS."
Looking at the success of The Bachelor/ Bachelorette it seems that American viewers are fine with women looking for husbands and Men looking for wives, but throw a midget or a "big fat" anything into the mix and it's all over. Ahh conservative America must be cringing at the way these networks are undermining the Blessed Sacrament of marriage for ratings. One person offered this thought: "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fianc� and Married By America are two that disturbed me the most because they treated marriage and commitment with such disregard."
It seems that the further from what we have been conditioned to expect from a "reality" show is what drives most of us from it. Oddly enough, it's also the same thing that draws some in.
[that's IT!]