I Hate Reality TV

836 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: effects of reality TV on society

For someone who considers his television a family member, such as myself, the summer season is a harsh, empty period of time. Fresh programming is at a minimum, leaving me to either rehash old broadcasts, scan the wasteland of hundreds of other channels offered by my cable company, or; god help me, just turn the ol' TV off. Lately, with the current trend of programming choices, I have been opting for the latter of the three, finding my entertainment in print form (crazy, I know). The primary factor contributing to this oustanding decision has been the broadcasters (and I suppose in turn, America's) infatuation with the 'reality' genre's subset of contest shows.

I cannot stand any of these shows. These are the ones where there is a panel of 'judges', be they celebrities, near-celebrities, ex-celebrities, 'experts' of their respective field, or just eye candy; observing some act or object, giving their two cents, and then turning it over to America and all their wisdom to choose a winner. I'm sure you are familiar with at least one of these shows: American Idol, Big Brother, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, The Biggest Loser, America's Got Talent, Last Comic Standing, America's Best Dance Crew, Celebrity Circus ...etc. These shows are wildly popular, and for me, completely unbearable.

What makes me cringe at the thought of watching these televised messes are the fact that for every success or great performance seen, there are many more failures and catastrophes that go along side with it. I don't know if it is just something about my character, but I do not get any pleasure about seeing someone genuinely try and fail miserably, only to have it then critiqued, deconstructed and replayed again and again. My te...

... middle of paper ...

...eek, we are concerned with how they will bounce back and make things right. If they do fail, it is for a reason and has meaning, not just laughable fodder. This is how entertainment has been done for as long as a story has been told. Character to plot to problem to solution. There is no solution for the losers of the contest show. There is only a long drive home and the 'fifteen minutes of fame' that would assuredly be happily traded back for perhaps some nice parting gifts.

So, until the fall rolls around with the new wave of happy scripted shows, I will be searching for other stories where the characters are appreciated and not discarded after their failures are pontificated. Humanistic? Sure. But more so, I think it comes back to the Golden Rule that should be instilled in us all. How would you feel if that happened to you? I wouldn't want anyone watching that.

Show More
Related

  • The Networks Surviving With Survivor

    2625 Words  | 6 Pages

    The failing television networks have found a number of elements in reality shows which can save them money. These elements have combined to improve rating, while also improving the amount of money brought into the networks. The networks have had pressure from stockholders to improve the return on their investments, or possible begin to lose their money. So the networks have discovered ways to save money with reality’ shows one being they haven’t had to pay actors. All the main characters of this shows are contests and only one will be ~paid” at the end. In addition to not paying actors, they have also been able to cut back greatly on the number of writers used to write scripts. The reality shows have been in a way been “pre-tested” in other nations. The U.S. networks know that the shows can be successful because of the success they have had in Europe. These facts have all come together ...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Reality Television: Oxymoron By Jack Perry

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    How Reality TV affects the audience and the characters who were participating into it? Does it really give knowledge to people who were watching and supporting? Or is it just the sake of money and exposing their appearance on television? When it comes to watching television, people at home can choose which types of program they want to want for many reasons. Some people look to television for inspiration; others want to be kept informed about their surroundings and the world. In the article entitled, “Reality TV and Culture” by Jack Perry, he argues, there are some good points to how reality television are formed and offered. Perry explains that, not all of the shows are designed to encourage and promote dangerous and unrealistic. However,

    Read More

  • Television Quiz Show Scandals of the 1950s

    3211 Words  | 7 Pages

    By 1958, no one was laughing anymore. Grabbing the attention of the public even more than the shows themselves were the scandals which emerged around them. The public's naive trust had evolved into suspicious cynicism because it had learned that many of the shows were rigged. As can be imagined, this caused great disgust among viewers. The supposed winners, for whom Americans had ro...

    Read More

  • TV's Survivor: Heroes and Villains

    3051 Words  | 7 Pages

    While all of these negative arguments are valid, critics are underestimating the positives of the show. The reason why the series has managed to last through ten years, twenty seasons, two-hundred contestants, and dozens of locations varying from jungle isles to desert oases is that it offers a psychological ...

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In Reality TV Show: My 600-Lb Life

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Producers of reality television shows often attempt to imitate many common stereotypes, behaviors, and emotions that go hand in hand with everyday life in the real world today. As a matter of fact, the aspect of reality within TV shows often proves as the foremost reason to why individuals decide to dedicate themselves to watching a show on a regular basis. Viewers frequently feel inner connections to particular characters or events that occur throughout a given reality TV show. These connections provide viewers with a sense of purpose watching a show since it may have an impact on how they go about their own lives within the real world. On the other hand, I generally have limited experience watching reality TV shows throughout my recent past, but for this assignment I decided to watch and evaluate a few episodes of the show, My 600-lb Life.

    Read More

  • Some Detriments of Reality Television Shows

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is no secret that reality television shows often present contrived situations as reality. Many producers claim that there are no scripts used in the production of reality shows. They maintain that nothing in the lives of the participants is planned purely for viewers’ entertainment, and that what is presented in the show is their actual reality. However, most people know this to be untrue to a certain degree. The events and situations in reality shows are often staged, re-enacted, or cleverly edited to make them appear more dramatic, thereby more interesting, than they are. Elizabeth Larkin writes, “After so many “reality” programs, we can discern a pattern of “characters” that isn’t very far different from the stock characters found in fictional programming. There’s the sweet and naive person from a small town looking to make it big while still retaining small town values. There’s the party girl/guy who’s always looking for a good time and who shocks those around them—and the list goes on” (Larkin 290). Participants in reality television shows are often looking to gain wealth and fame, and they are willing to do anything necessary to achieve that.

    Read More

  • hunger games

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...he power of the stars. Reality TV shows want to make excitement and inters for the fans and sponsors to sport. Having the ability to show a talent is important but also having the ability to give people the look they want and get interested in you is important also. Our society is based on how people will appear in front of the cameras, how they stillest worked on the reality TV stars how they will perform a performance. Beauty and power have the big impact of the people living in our nation and that’s how people become fans of any reality TV shows.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Symbolic Interactionism In Sociology

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    Powerful individuals and social institutions have a great deal of influence over what is seen on television. Those with the most money can purchase the most media exposure, dominate the advertising field, and maximize their competitive advantage. Politics are often perfect examples of how money, power, and respect can cause an unbiased in an election. As another example, reality TV illustrates how prestige and wealth often form the basis for the most intense competitions within a society. Nearly all reality television shows use some sort of conflict over resources to keep their ratings going through the roof. It looks as though people easily associate to the manufactured struggles because of the conflicts that exist daily in their own

    Read More

  • Argument Against Reality Television

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    What pleasure do you get from watching a group of people humiliate themselves in the name of television? Media both in the UK and around. the world seems to have "discovered" that so-called "reality" shows are. very profitable, resulting in a growing string of such shows in recent years. years.

    Read More

  • Impact Of Reality Tv On Society

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reality television has changed the world today by encouraging violent behavior, elevate imprudent personalities, and depict woman of their values. Many reality TV shows are driving young kids to be driven by money and fame. Our reality television make us seem ignorant to other countries. Young viewers of these reality TV shows do not realize that most of the shows are often scripted and are not “real”. Although the programming of reality TV can be highly entertaining, it is important to be aware of the messages, and values that these shows often portray. Since reality TV has such a strong foothold in American pop culture, it is likely not going anywhere or changing its content any time

    Read More

  • How Reality TV has Affected Society

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    While Americans watch these shows, it seems that the show is real life, but in reality, no pun intended, before the show is even filmed, it’s written, edited, and produced (Breyer 21). Writers humiliate and degrade people just for the plot of the show, making their private lives public (Breyer 16). One question that viewers ask is, “Is Reality Television really real?” One can think so, but in the long run, it is really not. A great example of this is World Wrestling Entertainment, also known as the WWE.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Reality Tv Shows

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this day and age, there isn’t hardly a person who doesn’t watch some form of reality television. Whether it is an adrenaline pumping baking competition, a talent based show with singing and dancing, or the pure entertainment of a day in the life of celebrities most everyone watches some form of reality television. There seems to be a few different sides of reality TV that make it so entertaining for people to watch. There seems to be the shows that lure people in because of the motivational aspect, the drama, or the deep down genuine appearance. However, most people are oblivious to the fact that the screen they are watching isn’t usually what actually happens in real life. James Poniewozik explains the manipulation going on behind the camera

    Read More

  • Having Regulations On Reality T.V.

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Shannon Kelly, reality television has the worst reputation of any type of television programming. Reality tv has gotten bad ratings and reviews due to its violence, profanity, racism, behavior, etc. if these shows had regulations, there wouldn’t be so much negative feedback upon them. “Complaints about the amount of ‘reality’ that is actually a part of reality television, is not the only issue the genre has to contend with.” (Reality TV 62)

    Read More

  • The Reality within Reality TV Shows

    767 Words  | 2 Pages

    The creation of television broadcasting changed the way the world interacted, making it one of the most successful and important innovation. The Entertainment industry brought Reality TV to America, changing and evolving along with the changes in society. The concept of Reality TV is to show the struggles of real people or actors without scripts, surprising, and terrifying many of its viewers. The television content has changed over the years reflecting the changes in society; the Reality Shows are becoming more obscene, controversial, and competitive.

    Read More

  • Reason why People Watch Reality TV Shows

    1267 Words  | 3 Pages

    A second reason for people’s love of reality television, is the fact that reality TV can stir the viewer’s emotions. “While some cheer for their favorite celebrity on Dancing with the Stars….” (Lehmann). “ Or cry with joy watching Say Yes to the Dress…” ( Lehmann). These are just two of many example quotes that show that people sometimes get very emotional by simply watching other people live out their lives so publicly. Many people id...

    Read More

More about I Hate Reality TV

Open Document