Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

I watch Project Runway (or used to) and can't get enough of "Iron Chef America" & "Chopped" but to me they're more like game shows than "reality" shows.

When I think "reality" I think of "The Real World", "Survivor", "Keeping Up With The Kardashians", "Real Housewives", etc.

To me, a reality show is any show that doesn't pay writers.

I'll bet you a dollar to a donut there isn't a show in history that's never paid writers. Shucks, all that drama on most of those shows is contrived by someone who's getting paid, don't you think?

RodeoSchro said:

But I did watch one of the results shows for "The Biggest Loser" and it darn near moved me to tears. Those people were so proud of what they'd accomplished that there was no way not to feel good.

I don't watch that, or Extreme Home Makeover, but I do admire that those are among the few that are trying to do something good for people.

The rest seem to be damaging society by rewarding bad behavior. It's contageous.

Yes, but I've really gotten into that Keeping Up with the Kardashians show. It's an illness.

NDRU said:

RodeoSchro said:

But I did watch one of the results shows for "The Biggest Loser" and it darn near moved me to tears. Those people were so proud of what they'd accomplished that there was no way not to feel good.

I don't watch that, or Extreme Home Makeover, but I do admire that those are among the few that are trying to do something good for people.

The rest seem to be damaging society by rewarding bad behavior. It's contageous.

I watched the Extreme Makeover when they redid a home here in Clear Lake, but I didn't see anyone I knew. It was a real good episode, though.

It kills me that my daughter loves the Kardashians and the modeling shows. You're exactly right, all they do is reward bad behavior.

Which reminds me, I need to put Scott Disik (one of the Kardashian chicks' boyfriend) on my Men I Want To Punch In The Mouth list. Dude is just begging for it.

DesireeNevermind said:

There's some show called Undercover Boss. Really?

I confess I occasionally watch "It's Me Or The Dog", for educational purposes.

Ottensen said:

Lammastide said:

I been sick of the "lifestyle documentary" brand of reality shows since the 3rd season of MTV's The Real World back in the early 90s. The participants have been shallow, unsympathetic and, frankly, unbelievable for years now.

Now the competition or project shows -- ANTM, Project Runway, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, etc. -- I can still get with as long as we're met with fresh challenges, settings, etc. each season. Lately, though, they've been getting a bit stale as well.

[Edited 10/5/10 11:06am]

Do you remember the first REAL WORLD in New York? Wow, it's been a loooong time and way since then!

I admit I loved it at the time, and thought it was groundbreaking tv experiment with a lot of interesting personalities.

The first season was AWESOME! That last episode had a brother tearing up -- I was a freshman in college, and it just seemed to say I could make my life and relationships whatever adventure I chose!

The second season was less intriguing, but still halfway decent. Beyond that, the show's been trash.

Keyumdi said:

Yes, but I've really gotten into that Keeping Up with the Kardashians show. It's an illness.

So very true.

I use to watch "What Not to Wear" and "Trading Spaces" but they got predictable and boring.

My VERY FAVORITE reality show was on BRAVO. Can't remember the title, but they followed rookie performers in the Cirque du Solei. (sp?) LOVED IT.

I only watch Jersey Show and the T.O show, which is soooo heavily scripted

Nothinbutjoy said:

I use to watch "What Not to Wear" and "Trading Spaces" but they got predictable and boring.

My VERY FAVORITE reality show was on BRAVO. Can't remember the title, but they followed rookie performers in the Cirque du Solei. (sp?) LOVED IT.

ooh I used to love trading spaces but yeah..it got waaaay predictable. but I do still love what not to wear.

rmartin70 said:

retina said:

Does everything that's non-scripted qualify as a reality show? In that case I still like them.

A few Discovery Channel favourites:

Survivorman

Dirty Jobs

Mythbusters

Man Vs Wild

Cash Cab

I never liked the ones where they're supposed to live together and vote each other off etc though, not even when it was still "trendy". Too much catty behaviour for my taste.

I like all of those shows.

I'm not used to people agreeing with me on this site, lol.

NDRU said:

retina said:

Does everything that's non-scripted qualify as a reality show? In that case I still like them.

A few Discovery Channel favourites:

Survivorman

Dirty Jobs

Mythbusters

Man Vs Wild

Cash Cab

I never liked the ones where they're supposed to live together and vote each other off etc though, not even when it was still "trendy". Too much catty behaviour for my taste.

A genuine reality show (if you can call it that) has always been a good thing. I'm a sucker for the OG reality show This Old House. I also like most of what is on your list (and I have not seen the others).

But glorifying disgusting people seems to be the only purpose of the modern reality show and I have no interest in that. There is only one disgusting reality guy I liked, and he was the original...

The Puck:

Yeah, shocking/disgusting/annoying behaviour will always sell better. A car crash draws bigger crowds than a car being assembled. Humans are a funny species.

retina said:

NDRU said:

A genuine reality show (if you can call it that) has always been a good thing. I'm a sucker for the OG reality show This Old House. I also like most of what is on your list (and I have not seen the others).

But glorifying disgusting people seems to be the only purpose of the modern reality show and I have no interest in that. There is only one disgusting reality guy I liked, and he was the original...

The Puck:

Yeah, shocking/disgusting/annoying behaviour will always sell better. A car crash draws bigger crowds than a car being assembled. Humans are a funny species.

but some shows have managed to do it, like Mythbusters & Man vs Wild.

They are either interesting people, interesting situations, or interesting ideas, and people watch. What a concept!!

Big Brother is the only reality show I really watch, I dig the fact that they give you a 24/7 live feed and you actually get to see the cast members true personalities and not just what's edited.

I used to be a huge Real World fan in the 90's, never missed an episode. I even watched the first two Real Worlds in the 2000's, Back to NY & Las Vegas, which were the last two good ones IMO. After Vegas the show went downhill quick, it just wasn't the same anymore.

As far as the other reality shows I can't say I'm sick of them because I haven't watch them enough to be.

Shorty said:

DesireeNevermind said:

There's some show called Undercover Boss. Really?

I confess I occasionally watch "It's Me Or The Dog", for educational purposes.

I've seen undercover boss a few times...it's actually really good. COE types go undercover as entry level employees of their own company. They always seem genuinley changed by the experience...and it highlights the regular hardworking everyday americans who keep big companies going.

How come these employees don't recognize their boss? Are the bosses in disguise with false names or something? Seems strange that they've never seen a picture or advertisement or paid attention to the authorizing signature on their paycheck.

I'm not sick of them, I'm damn sick of them and have been for ages. They are the reason I don't have cable these days and don't miss it.

vainandy said:

I'm not sick of them, I'm damn sick of them and have been for ages. They are the reason I don't have cable these days and don't miss it.

I'm almost at the "damn sick" point. and what's really fucked up is these fools are getting paid mad money to act like the dumb asses they naturally are.

I'm bored with reality tv shows. I don't watch any.

Heck I was sick of them after I saw the First Real World on MTV years ago.

[Edited 10/6/10 3:40am]

I've been sick and tired of all of em for years

I like competition reality shows. The other ones that document people's lives are boring and pointless. Where's the prize at the end?

RodeoSchro said:

Genesia said:

To me, a reality show is any show that doesn't pay writers.

I'll bet you a dollar to a donut there isn't a show in history that's never paid writers. Shucks, all that drama on most of those shows is contrived by someone who's getting paid, don't you think?

The first "Real World" was genuine REALITY television. Turned out to be somewhat BORING, so they sent them to a vacation to spice things up.

After that, and in subsequent Real World's, they came up with various ways to get the housemates to be more interesting (such as getting them jobs and making sure there was tension in the house).

I watched The Hills religiously...to look at Brody Jenner.

And The City too.

[Edited 10/5/10 20:03pm]

I like to watch them

I'm hooked on this show

I'm ashamed of myself

Nothinbutjoy said:

XxAxX said:

i kind of hated them from the get-go.

Same here

every hour that i spend watching someone else "live their life" on TV is another hour i am spending not living my own life.

that being said, there are some shows like this old house, or antique roadshow, which are appealing and i do actually turn them on sometimes

XxAxX said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Same here

every hour that i spend watching someone else "live their life" on TV is another hour i am spending not living my own life.

that being said, there are some shows like this old house, or antique roadshow, which are appealing and i do actually turn them on sometimes

This Old House with the Norm guy? If so, oh yes, used to watch that.

Most reality shows seem to be people acting like it is reality but it is so far from the reality that I know that I do not care to watch it.

Create your own reality. That's my thought anyways.

I hate reality shows.I never watch that crap.

Ottensen said:

Lammastide said:

I been sick of the "lifestyle documentary" brand of reality shows since the 3rd season of MTV's The Real World back in the early 90s. The participants have been shallow, unsympathetic and, frankly, unbelievable for years now.

Now the competition or project shows -- ANTM, Project Runway, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, etc. -- I can still get with as long as we're met with fresh challenges, settings, etc. each season. Lately, though, they've been getting a bit stale as well.

[Edited 10/5/10 11:06am]

Do you remember the first REAL WORLD in New York? Wow, it's been a loooong time and way since then!

I admit I loved it at the time, and thought it was groundbreaking tv experiment with a lot of interesting personalities.

I started watching The Real World from when it first aired until after the season of The Real World: Back to New York...after that season my attention was tapering off. Remember Heather B.? Wonder if she is still rapping. Remember the girl who had an abortion on the show? Wonder if she's still married?

As far as BET's "College Hill" goes...I tried to watch a season of it, but it was just a rediculous version of The Real World to me...a copy cat. I only watched a few episodes of the season when the show was at VSU but the whole cast turned me off with their ignorance.