Article says Reality TV on life support, do you watch, did you watch, what changed?

[NYCgrrl]

The only reality show that held my interest for a time was a Bravo show about fashion designing.

The show’s name just popped in my head: Project Runway.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I did not and do not watch any "reality" TV.

 

[fla4fun]

I think before the pandemic reality tv was less processed and more real, but it has gone way downhill the past four years. I would hesitate to call what is on the air now Reality TV because it is manipulated so much by the production team to create artificial drama. I only watched one reality show pre-pandemic and now that I cut the cord and went back to an antenna, I don’t miss it. There is so much drama in real life that I want to escape all of that when I watch tv.

 

[tvguy]

Reality TV to me is like COPS. I don't consider shows like Survivor to be reality shows since the premise and settings are all planned and scripted and only a small portion could be real. Although when I worked at a CBS stations most of us were hoping Jeff Probst would get vote off!

 

[deserrai]

I think it is because there is not much reality to it anymore. They all try to create drama which makes it seem fake.

 

[lynxstch]

Survivor
Amazing Race
Big Brother
Top Chef
Sister Wives

Those are the extent of my reality tv unless you are talking shows like Idol or The Voice, which I watch too

 

[CynBeth]

I watch different types of reality shows mostly on the major networks but also Food Network.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Always loved Survivor but it's really gone/going downhill the last few seasons. Still love Amazon Race .

 

[_19disnA]

I think it is because there is not much reality to it anymore. They all try to create drama which makes it seem fake.

I agree. People get tired of the phony/staged drama and all of the shows start to look the same and catch on to how contrived they all seem to be. Who wants to watch a bunch of self-absorbed/egotistical people sitting around and arguing with each other or bragging about how rich they are? Whether it's some group of 'housewives', realtors or people in the music business, they all seem the same. Shows like that eventually run out of new ideas and the viewers move on to other things. I am sure the producers go out of their way to create phony drama and disagreements in an effort to make the show more compelling to watch.

 

[neverlandsky]

We watched. It became oversaturated and heavily scripted. I watched it as a guilty pleasure to feel better. Then it became boring. Then it was depressing due to it always being the same. It would follow the people, then the relationships, then someone always cheats, then breakup/divorce/survival, and repeat or it was who was fighting who this season and very cliquish of grown adults in their 30s-60s.

I did enjoy Below Deck with Captain Lee. Selena & Chef, however I'm convince she might be messing up on purpose. She also donates to the charity of Chef's choosing so I'm still in.

 

[starry_solo]

I watched Survivor, Season 1 and 2, and part of 3. Then stopped. Oh, then watched All Stars
I watched Dancing with the Stars, up to about Season 5 or 6. Then watched All Stars
I watched American Idol, Season 1-3, then stopped.
Amazing Race for a few seasons
The Mole with Anderson Cooper for 2 seasons?
There was the funny reality show with Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie that was on for a season.


I watched America's Most Wanted with John Walsh (although those are reenactments so maybe not really considered reality tv).

 

[Dan Murphy]

I think it is because there is not much reality to it anymore. They all try to create drama which makes it seem fake.

The daughter of a very, very good friend of ours was on a bachelor season some years back. She confirmed that the show is heavily scripted and contrived. As a kid, she and our Natalie, same age, used to always play together a lot.

https://bachelor-nation.fandom.com/wiki/Trina_Scherenberg

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I still watch Survivor, but the last few seasons haven't held my attention like it used to.

I used to love Amazing Race, but while I have the last two seasons recorded, I haven't watched them yet.

I recently started watching the 7 Little Johnstons, and while it is obviously scripted, I've been enjoying it.

Thats it for me!

 

[Suger Mag]

I enjoy the reality shows that are snippets of interesting things that happen on the job... like the various 'To Catch A Smuggler' shows... North Woods Law... The Angry Neighbors/Customers/Road Rage shows.... Parking Wars.... I used to like the Southwest show... forget what it is called. I like to watch the Animal Kingdom behind the scenes show.

 

[sasywtch]

I watch probably more reality then regular tv.
Survivor
Amazing Race
Masked Singer (however, fast forwarding now more since it's out of my target zone and I don't know who the singers are)
Below Deck
I use to watch Real Housewives Beverly Hills, Orange County, NY, NJ but, it's dwindled A LOT. Tired of the screaming and fighting and I miss Sonya and Ramona's antics. Did not watch the new NY. I don't think I even watched any of NJ last year. Plus, Andy Cohen is a dougebag and I have no idea why Bravo hasn't been sued for sexual harrassment with his after show.
Traitors-great show and like the Australian and UK versions better.
Top Chef
Cooking/baking competitions
Even though I know they are set up, the remodling homes and house hunters on HGTV

 

[RangerPooh]

Back at in the mid-90s I watched the first few seasons of the Real World but stopped after maybe season 4. Same with Road Rules, I stopped after season 2. DH and I religiously watched the first 5 or so seasons of Survivor, but it got boring.

These days I’ll occasionally watch a Food Network competition. Loved Kitchen Nightmares and Restaurant Impossible, but both were canceled. Occasionally might watch Dr Pimple Popper, but not often.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I watch 7 Little Johnston and Sister Wives.
Oh and 1000 lb Sisters

 

[LoveDaisy]

I have not watched any in probably 25 years. I honestly don’t get the draw to watch it and I’m surprised things like survivor and big brother are still on, clearly it’s only me who doesn’t enjoy it because they keep pumping them out.

 

[wabbott]

Why Going back to MTV I used to love this stuff it over time it got more and more exploitive and even sometimes sadistic so I gave up watching so many shows.

I have been watching Jersey Shore Family Vacation but the way they seem to push cast members to drink very early and stay out unreasonably late is unnerving, like some people seem hired just to drink and make a scene so it makes me rethink watching. Seems like the drinking is jumping the shark.

Also liked a bunch of RHW but the same sort of thing happens, not sure who is driving it but it isn't subtle.

Where are other old fans and current fans on this?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/b...ty-tv-workers-production-slowdown-1235910373/

I saw and read that article. My $0.02 is that YouTube has decimated Hollywood's version of "reality." Real people making their own movies and clips is way better than anything Hollywood can come up with. I mean, Hollywood has always been a fantasy land, filled with con artists, grifters, and swindlers - nothing like the real world.

YouTube is where all the eyeballs have gone.

 

[E&Cmom]

I use to watch competition type shows like Amazing Race, Top Chef, American Idol but after awhile it became old so I haven’t watched in year. I never could get into any of the drama ( housewives) or Bachelor type shows.