Suck? Pure entertainment? Beneficial? Are there different genres within them?

Ehh ... Cat, gotta say ... not much of a fan of such.

Might be because of the over-saturation of said shows and the respective presentation format/production (hand-held shots, et al).


I did enjoy and still do, from time to time ... watching Gordon Ramsay rant on his "Kitchen Nightmares" show.


If anything, this is mindless entertainment where most of this genre of shows is concerned ... from my side of the viewing and lounging chair.

Some shows, however?

Had promise on their given premises, but.. I think the majority of the producers gave into the sensationalizing of whatever subject matter and shock value quotient to up viewership.


Anything akin to the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" ... ehhh.. no.

Planned Reality = non-reality for me!

The early 'reality' shows were just that....daily reality. Now it is commercialized with trips to places, re-shooting scenes, designated backgrounds etc.

To me, that is a movie! :o)

I occasionally tune into "The Amazing Race"... other than that the only ones I would ever watch are similar to "Kitchen Nightmares" that Les mentioned, mostly BBC shows (Country House Rescue, The Hotel Inspector, Secret Millionaire etc) but I don't think they fit into most peoples idea of a "reality" show. The problem with most of them is that they focus on a set group of people in a set environment and that can become tedious after a while, especially when they try to drag things out with 5 or 6 "episodes" a week.

BTW it might interest you that what many consider to be the first modern "reality show" was "Silvania Waters", filmed in a Sydney suburb and first aired in 1992. I wonder why it took so long before the concept caught on...

Sylvania Waters

I do enjoy cooking shows, think that is why "Kitchen Nightmares" captured my attention.

And.. ahem ... speaking of cooking and foodstuffs..


There is another BBC programme that I've watched a few episodes of ... namely that of "The Trip".

And I quote;

"An improvised tour of the north of England reunites comedy favourites Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. In the style of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the story is fictional but based around their real personas."

It does have the feel and look of a reality show. In that aside from the actual footage shot in the restaurants ... there are some sub-plots as to what is transpiring in the two 'hosts' lives.

The final bill tallies for their dinners, in some instances, are astounding.

Some beautiful scenery and cinematography as well.

Silvania Waters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats a long time ago.. lol.. i remember watching that.. lol.. caused all sorts of problems with the family involved, didn't it get axed because the husband wife seperated and got divorced? I don't mind the cooking reality shows

"In the style of Curb Your Enthusiasm..."

Now there's a show worth watching... saw some episodes on the plane coming back from USA, we were both in tears of laughter...

Just about to finish the last two episodes of season seven (the pseudo 'Seinfeld Reunion') of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" .

Larry.. his rants are epic.

'Tis howls and then some.


"The Trip" is not quite as caustic (character-wise). Still, funny though.

I LOVE "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.....I enthusiastically doooooo! Larry David is awesome! Did anybody see the episode "Vehicular Fellatio"....
um....uh...."just asking".....{slinks away}.....

I saw the very first episode of the Survivor & it turned me off Reality shows FOREVER. Except, & I don't know if you'd call this a real reality show or not..

Wipe Out

But I like it. ;oD

The type of "reality" shows we watch, & it's more Gary than me, are things like "How It's Made."

Howsabout "OPERATION REPO" ? I am wanting to see SONIA kick LYNDAH's lil princess a-- ! hehehehe

Is anybody counting Jersey Shore as a reality show & if so, show of hands for people who want to axe Snooki. Literally.

Or poison, I'm flexible.

I would have thought it was practically a definition of the genre? But then again, I've never seen it. Just going by what I've read here.

There's.. "Intervention".

There's.. "Obsessed"

The newer breed of TV reality shows (sort of).


It's these shows in particular, focussed on human suffering ... and aberrant behaviours/disorders ... that turned me off of this genre.

More so, than that of the first (that I became aware of and know and associate), like "The Amazing Race" .. "Survivor" and their ilk.

Almost forgot..

Curious if Cat was aware that on the SAT.. there was a question about reality shows. That, as a question ... drew some fire and criticism.


Here is that question;

"How authentic can these [reality] shows be when producers design challenges for the participants and then editors alter filmed scenes?"


Here is the full prompt:

"Reality television programs, which feature real people engaged in real activities rather than professional actors performing scripted scenes, are increasingly popular. These shows depict ordinary people competing in everything from singing and dancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. Most people believe that the reality these shows portray is authentic, but they are being misled. How authentic can these shows be when producers design challenges for the participants and then editors alter filmed scenes?

Do people benefit from forms of entertainment that show so-called reality, or are such forms of entertainment harmful?"

I recall avidly watching Sylvania Waters.

I loathe the ones where people get voted out. Don't watch them.
There is not much reality about being put on a desert island with the full support of a camera crew and rescue people.
I do like Gordon Ramsays Nightmares - living with a GR disliker makes it all the more attractive :)
Secret Millionaire is another fave - UK version best.

I recently watched a UK series called Coach Trip where people got voted out each week and new ones added - that is an exception to my dislike of 'voting out' shows. The antics of the Tour Guide, Brendan Sheerin were enough to keep me glued.
http://brennybaby.blogspot.com/2008/08/coach-trip-excellent-reality-tv.html

I am not sure if I think these shows harmful - those involved choose to be there and we choose to watch - or not.
I guess we could blame our faults on having watched some of the (often) contrived reality :)

Yes, we watch 'The Coach Trip' sometimes. How people behave is interesting... for instance the competitors quite often say "we are only voting you out because you are the ones we know least well... we do like you, really." And when they are away from that unfortunate couple, they wrinkle their noses and say "we don't get on with them AT ALL!"

Another one we can't help watching is 'Come Dine with Me'! Again it's all about how people behave. Often I look at their voting habits and wonder if it teaches us anything about how things are rated here. The ones who take it seriously (and want to show off their detailed knowledge of wine and food) tend to try far too hard, and often come a cropper. (I feel for them, and like them quite often, but I also understand why the others get impatient). People like a bit of fun and a relaxed atmosphere. Food for thought, anyway. :-)

Coincidentally I saw a bit of the Greek version of "Come Dine With Me" on SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) this evening...

Les, I did see it, I disagree that the question is an issue for SAT takers, for this reason:

Because whether people are watching them or not, they are a real enough and widespread enough phenomenon that people need to be aware of them and their impact on the world and people around them. Failure to be able to understand their impact, regardless of having watched them, is a failure to be perceiving the world around them. As such, it is equally a valid question as whether or not patience is always a virtue.

It did in part prompt the question here, because I freely admit to being a reality tv addict. And I thought it was a good subject to debate (I have others in mind for future). However, I have my limits.

Stuff I love: Top Chef, Big Brother, Teen Mom (and 16 & Pregnant), Jersey Shore. I love watching the dynamics play out. In some cases, I also love trying to figure out what leading questions they might have been asked.

Train Wrecks I can't help watching: VH1 shows like "You're Cut Off" - again, for me, the interest comes from the dynamics I'm watching, and generally how un-self-aware many of the people are. And also because sometimes, you see some very interesting things - like Tool Academy - a show for revamping "unacceptable" boyfriends. I find it interesting and valuable to watch and see how much is missed. Like the bf who goes out to the bar when his gf gets pissed and won't talk about stuff. Just shuts down. 3 episodes later - hey, what's that? His gf gets pissed in a nuclear way and she agrees that it's impossible to talk to her when she's like that? So wait... that wandering off to the bar is a *symptom* of her rage and the unacceptable way that *she* is?

Stuff I sometimes find interesting: Remodeling project shows. Used to like the Real World, and amazingly outgrew out. I never thought that would happen! I loved Road Rules - it was about the adventure of it, and for this reason Amazing Race and Survivor sometimes make it on the list as about "dynamics" and "adventure".

Stuff I have no interest in watching: Anything to do with competing for something for a wedding. Shows that follow any celebrity person, couple, family. The first couple of them were interesting for what they were. The newer ones feel so tired. I have enough issues living my life, I don't need to live yours too!

Also anything that sets up unrealistic expectations in a very ugly way. i.e. The Bachelor - part of being able to love someone, to be IN love with them, is interacting with them as they live their day to day life. The premise of a show that thinks there is a shortcut to this, and that it is a good idea to search for a partnership outside of the life you need to live every day - I think is awful and damaging. Likewise, the original Extreme Makeover and The Swan - Competing for extensive plastic surgery, going through miles of extreme external changes, rather than minor external changes and major internal changes? Ugh. Just ugh.

------------------------

And finally - a note about the Jersey Shore. From about 19 to 24, I lived with and among people who acted like this. I'm pretty sure I did some of it myself. I was always considered the one who was a little more sane and didn't quite fit in - but I fondly remember those people and times, AND the good things that they brought to the table. While what we see on the show is the most extreme of the more absurd behavior, I can attest that those moments absolutely exist. Just not quite as often as when you stick them all in a shore house for 2 months. 8•D

Which means that no you can't kill Snooki Lauren. Sorry. 8•P

I wouldn't want to interact with most of the people on these shows in daily life. Why would I want to watch them on a screen?

There are so many wonderful things that could be presented through the medium of televsion, but it seems to have become no more than a vast wasteland.

I do like the cooking shows sometimes and the history channel offerings as well as some real detective stories here and there and old movies. Maybe it's because I grew up without much TV, went to college and never watched it in the dorm.
The only reality I really remember that left me aghast was the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby and the explosion of the Challenger with Christa McAuliffe in it. Every other horrible world happening was a rerun when I saw it.

Why would I possibly care about Kim Kardashian or the couple with eight kids or the supposedly funny Ozzie Osmond family. Yikes, enough already! Give me a good book! Maybe even a classic, but I have enough reality in my own environment and surroundings to entertain me already.

Just my take.

"I wouldn't want to interact with most of the people on these shows in daily life. Why would I want to watch them on a screen?"

Interesting question - I think because I do in fact have to interact with people who are like some of the people on these shows, or see them out and about in the world, and having a safe place that explores some of their mindsets and likely motivations helps me understand them and be kind to them. To remember to treat them as humans, deserving of a basic level of respect, just for being human, even when I don't agree with their approach to life.

Some of them are also a quick pick-me-up ego boost as no matter how much of a failure you might feel, you can always be guaranteed that the people on those shows will make you feel good by comparison...

PS I don't know if this counts as "Reality" (probably closer to documentary) but this is one of my favourite shows of all time: Grand Designs

Anyone even remotely interested in design or architecture is really missing out if you haven't seen this show...