An observation and question re: 'reality' shows

[helenabear]

I've caught bits and pieces of a few different reality shows. I latched onto Survivor once (the 1st one) because I saw a part of it and picked who I wanted to win and thought should win based on how they played the game. When I told someone that, they told me I was dead wrong... so I kept watching to find out if I would be right or not... to see if "my person" would win Never watched it since the end of the last one.

I've watched American Idol because I want to see who wins... who the judges and ultimately the US population thinks is "Star material"

Joe Millionaire is one that just dumbfounds me... how can any guy expect to have a relationship built on a BIG lie!!! I don't get it! I am very interested to see the final episode of this one just to see the interaction between him and the "winner" I did a lot on studies of relationships in college and that intrigues me how someone can think this would be a good way to begin a relationship.

I will say I do watch for the winners the rare times I have watched these and I will say if I catch them on TV that is fine and if not, then no big deal to me. I truthfully wouldn't be upset if all reality TV shows went away completely.

 

[figmentvi]

LOL Dan that is some list.

I watched Survivor for the first time when I was in WDW for Discon2. Holly is addicted to the show. I just didn't "get it". It wasn't funny, it wasn't educational, it wasn't suspenseful. I thought it was very sophmoric and at times, downright cruel.

It just beats the heck out of me as to what the attraction of these shows are.

Maybe some humans just get a kick out of seeing other humans humiliated (shrugging my shoulders).

 

[Jenzebelle]

I watch some, but not all of those shows.

My reason for watching them is quite simply - escapism.
There's no longer the sinful guilty pleasure of night time soaps like Melrose Place, Dynasty, etc.. so these reality game shows fit the bill for me.

Sometimes I like to sit down and watch mindless entertainment. Think of me what you will, but in a lot of cases it's a sanity saver for me.
I can laugh at the himbo Joe Millionaire and shake my head at the stupidity of some people and for that brief time I'm not worrying about things like: my Grandfather's recently diagnosed aneyurism (sp?), whether or not my husband will survive his company being reduced by 1/3, how I'm going to pay these extra bills, whether or not his car is going to need repairs, etc...

Everyone needs a break from worrying. Everyone needs a guilty pleasure. Right now, these reality shows seem to serve that purpose for many of us. Especially since the real reality is so bleak for so many,

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I love amazing race. Why, well for several reasons.

#1 I love to travel but because of limited funds I can't as much as I would like to. This gets me to see different parts of the world, and they do bring in parts of the culture into some of the challenges.

#2 I am not very good at decision making, I hem and haw deciding what is best, (even when ordering take out LOL!) but these people have to make decisions quickly and I am in awe of that and always try and guess what I would do and how it would work out.

#3 Some of the relationship dynamics are amazing. Some of the teams grow so close and I love watching that.

 

[Kelsie]

Originally posted by snoopy
Oh, and the train wreck part is kind of fun too! I'm not above it, I'll be the first to admit it.

Same here Snoop!

I have a list for you..


Chalk line-CB
Pool Hopping-RB
Splitting meals-Restaurant Board
Home Schooling-DB&CB
Six to a room at All Stars-RB
Cooking in your room-REST. Board
SAHM – DB/CB
Anything that was posted by EROS-CB
Anything posted by Jason Lyons-CB

I guess what I am trying to point out is that we all have our own ‘train wrecks’ that we sneak a peek at now and then :teeth

I love to watch Trading Spaces, Changing Rooms, Ground Force, Survivor, Big Brother and American Idol.

 

[Bumbles]

So, my question is, I guess, why do you watch these train wrecks?

A few reasons I guess.

First and foremost, I'm not any better than that

#2 there's nothing good on PBS since the Democrats took it over and made it a leftist network

#3 Beats being stuck on a computer all day...woman cannot live by the keyboard alone...

 

[iLovDisney]

Dan, I don't watch these shows and I don't understand their thrill either.

I also shudder at the daytime "talk" shows that love to humiliate the people who show up. "I need to tell you that you're not the baby's father -- your brother is."

 

[Jenzebelle]

I don't think watching reality shows is anything to be ashamed of or that people should be made to feel morally inferior because they watch them.

We ALL have our guilty pleasures. I don't read trashy romance novels or eat a 1/2 gallon of ice cream in one sitting. I don't look down on anyone who does.

 

[AngieBelle]

I'm not really into the reality shows. Survivor doesn't interest me at all. I only love the "house" shows on PBS- 1900 House, 1940s House, and Frontier House. I love learning how people lived long ago! That's stuff you don't get in history books. It did bug me on Frontier House when the families got competitive as if they were on a game show. I did however, catch the 2nd episode of Joe Millionaire and fell victim to the now I have to see what happens next syndrome. I also caught an episode of American Idol...I can relate to the auditioning experience. But why do people have the desire to humiliate themselves??

 

[Saffron]

I watch 3 of them, all for different reasons.

I watch Survivor because it's something that I wish I could do. I love the fact that the people are living off the land and competing as groups. I think it's a cool show. I don't like the cut throat politics of the show at all.

I watch Amazing Race because it's something I wish I could do. To be able to figure out clues, travel around the world and compete in a friendly competition is a really cool thing to do in my eyes.

I watch Judge Judy (which wasn't on the list) for the train wreck factor. I like to see the crazy things people sue others for and I like to see her yell at them for it! She scares the heck out of me! ROTFLOL!

 

[Amy]

I'm a Survivor nut, got into it the 2nd show of the first season and have been hooked ever since. Why? The escapism and seeing how people of such different backgrounds manage to live together. I would never last for one day on Survivor (I can't even swim!), so I enjoy seeing people actually survive off the land for 39 days. I don't watch to see the losers (except for rooting for Robb to get kicked off); mainly, my DS and I will pick our favorite during the first show and watch to see how long "our" person lasts.

Besides, it's better than watching all those shoot-'em up shows; not much violence on Survivor.

 

[Fishbone†]

I love reality shows (except for the sleezy ones... Bachelor, Bachelorette, Shipmates, etc... and that's simply because there's some stuff I just DON'T want to know about yet). I watch Survivor, Amazing Race, The Mole, Fear Factor, Big Brother (although that's not my favorite one), Weakest Link... I'm sure there are a couple of others, but anyway.

Here's the deal.... first I LOVE the challenges they set up. I've ALWAYS loved game shows for that very reason, and second I love watching the relationship dynamics... and just the "people watching" part. There isn't many shows I enjoy watching outside of reality TV.... I'm not into Friends, or Law & Order or Judging Amy or ER or anything else like that. Sometimes it boggles my mind when people "talk" about those kind of shows (soaps included) as if they are real people in real life situations with real life feelings. It's a script!! It's made up..... someone is controlling the outcome. I'm not saying one way or the other is right, I'm just saying my preference for shows to "get caught up in" are ones that are (for the most part) not scripted (this is why I LOVE TLC!!). I don't know if that made any sense..... just my humble opinion. Oh, and the way I figure it, if you signed up for the show, and you make a fool of yourself, that's the choice you made - maybe they don't care. That's why I don't sign up for the shows (well, and I probably wouldn't be chosen, but what do they know?)

 

[eeyore74]

We don't watch any of them - think they're idiotic. (Not the people who watch them, just the shows!!) I don't call them "reality," either. Reality would be a show with average people figuring out how to pay their bills since they got laid off.

We did watch a few of the Boot Camp one, since DH is a former Marine. He laughed at them - said he wishes boot camp had been that nice.

 

[holycow]

I'll admit I watched the 1st episode of Survivor and and the last episode of the 1 and 2nd one...but I really can't stand ANY of these shows and am always so amazed that one of my friends or family become sucked into one of them...the majority really like American Idol...I don't care for that one either....

I'd rather read or find an old movie on...

Holycow

 

[Liz]

Wow Dan, I never had any idea there were so many!!!

I love Survivor (some have been better than others), but I don't focus so much on the losing aspect. I enjoy the show so much more when there is someone I truly like that I can root for. But it is enjoyable when a contestant who is totally annoying gets voted off too!

Same thing with another of my favs, Amazing Race. I (hopefully) find a team I like that I can root for!

 

[Beauty]

I must admit to being very very hooked on The Bachlorette! Honestly I love watching these guys look foolish because there are so many shows that make women look foolish. I have never been able to get very interested in Survivor, Fear Factor is so/so...sometimes I can get interested, sometimes I can't.

Now, my absolute favorite is The Amazing Race!! I love watching that show! Its not so funny to see all these people race across the country and argue and pull together and outsmart the other teams. I can't wait till the next one!!

I also love Tough Enough which is wrestling...because I like wrestling. I've been trying to explain WHY I like wrestling to my mother for years....I can't explain it I just love it!!

 

[goofygirl]

I admit to watching American Idol and Joe Millionaire.

Why do I watch stuff like this? Because its "junk food for the mind." Sometimes I just want something on the tv that I dont really have to pay a whole lot of attention to. I like the intellictual shows too (all the Law & Orders, and things on PBS), but I am not always in the mood for them. Sometimes I like simple entertainment.

 

[caitycaity]

i'm so evil b/c i watch these shows. i'll take my 40 lashes now.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Lots of good thoughts here. Thanks much. And no need for excuses nor feeling put down, I was just wondering why actually people watch them and why they seem so popular.

Another question/thought. Does anyone think the shows are actually scripted and maybe not really 'reality'? Not really spontaneous and whimsically evolving? Like I am thinking of the one that is out now, the million guy. I guess he is supposed to actually be poor, but is lying to a bunch of 'ladies' that he is really rich. Now, I have never seen a moment of the show, just heard about it, but what actually do the 'ladies' of the show think the 'plot' of the show is? How are they kept in the dark that he is lying when the rest of the world knew it before the show even came out? Again, just a question, not an accusation.

 

[Liz]

I assume with Joe Millionaire that the whole thing was filmed and concluded before any publicity started regarding the show. One lady (MoJo) was interviewed on TV the other day and they asked her when she learned the truth about Joe's finances. She said it wasn't till she started seeing commercials for the show.

As far as being scripted, I've heard rumors like that occasionally, but I'd hate to think the things that happen are encouraged or there is some other motivation other than what happens naturally.