is reality TV taking over in other countries around the world?

Which country are you in?

It sucks here too

Yes it is .
Here in Belgium we can for example look at Jean-Marie Pfaff's reality soap He used to be a famous goalkeeper... makes really boring tv.

Luckily there is now a satirical 'reality show' (Het geslacht De Pauw), now this is really funny: it's about a former famous tv-personality, desperately looking for attention. The camera sees everything they don't want him to see. They're constantly crossing the borders of good taste and what's decent.
I hope this will make people a bit more aware of the awkwardness of these shows.

Reality TV has become just tooooo much.. I didn't think they could come up with any more stupid plots for more reality TV, UNTIL I SAW Who's your daddy and The will... What a bunch of shite! TALK ABOUT AN ALL TIME LOW....
[Edited 1/24/05 11:26am]

Paradisekiss03 said:

I hope so.

There should be reality TV about reality TV.

Each week a network executive is forced to come up with an original thought.

...so that's a minute of air time right there.

subhuman09 said:

"Original thought is like original sin: both happened before you were born to people you could not have possibly met." - Fran Lebowitz

Better contrived shows featuring actual human behaviour than contrived shows featuring simulated human behaviour.

Ace said:

I don't think so...at least in the latter there is a form of creativity involved. The former is just for explotation's sake.

applekisses said:

Can't we just make Fear Factor have people throw network execs from a cliff?

applekisses said:

They're both created for the same reason: it's all about the Benjamins, baby. Why is programming featuring a bunch of above-average-looking people (made even more so by flattering lighting and make-up) playing-out romanticized scenarios, scored with music, inherently better than a show which is essentially a contrived documentary?

Ace said:

Because the script/storyline actually takes some creativity (in a good television show...and there are some ) and a played-out psuedo documentary is just that.
Stop being so cynical

applekisses said:

Creativity is well-overrated. What is the value of "creativity"? I am an incredible cynic, but I'm not being cynical here. I don't see what makes fiction better than a reality show. In fact, I think most fiction is more damaging than even the worst reality show.

Never watch them...

I watch "wife swap" and all those plastic surgery makeover shows. It sure beats murder as entertainment, which is about all we have here as an alternative.

Ace said:

Although I am a big fan of socially responsible art (i.e. Bauhaus) it all dosen't have to be to have that type of value. Just the act of creating something out of nothing is of value in itself.
But that's another discussion
[Edited 1/24/05 21:22pm]

Reality TV is to some extent great. This whole question tends to endorse a rather snobbish view of what is, or is not, correct television and I reject that. I am totally opposed to those views who refuse to reject what they consider 'commercial' television. Reality TV is the equivalent of saying,'always accept every invitation. You are just as likely to meet the love of your life at a bad party as at a good one.' I suppose I feel the same about reality television. You are just as likely to find riveting entertainment in reality TV as in pretentious, nonsensical dramas. Consequently, I am not in the least ashamed of watching any programme that takes my fancy.

charlottegelin said:

I watch that too!

I like to pretend they have a husband swap and I get Liv Tyler.

Natisse said:

What's that?

Stax said:

it's a show he did at a shcool in England a few months ago now...he used to be a teacher before he was The Demon and he went and taught a group of music students about the music business It should be awesome!!

StrawberryShortcake said:

Interesting. I hope its shown in the States.

Stax said:

oh you can count on it and if you see the new series of American Idol there and you're a Gene fan make sure you're watching today the 25th

StrawberryShortcake said:

hmmmmm, it gets curiouser and curiouser. I will be away from the TV on the 25th. I NEED TIVO!!

Stax said:

he's guest judging on it can you get someone to tape it for you?

I wish Reality TV would just go away.


I honestly don't understand why, instead of going out and experiencing the real world, people would want to watch someone else's "reality" on TV. Scripted shows I understand because it's like the lazy man's version of reading -if well done the stories can completely enagage you and bring you into another world. Reality TV, on the other hand, is a bunch of losers doing humiliating things for money and their 15 minutes.


Maybe instead of Reality TV, they should call it "Watch some shlub eat dog shit for $100" TV

I hope it's reached it's peak in America & will start to die. I'm glad to have weened myself off of a lot of reality shows but I'm still guilty of watching a few...

PROJECT RUNWAY, Wednesday nights @ 10pm on Bravo

JDINTERACTIVE said:

meow85 said:

So, wouldn't reality TV then be the equivalent of reading non-fiction? And where is the value of being brought into another world?