the decline of reality TV
- Thread starter Chun-tzu
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EricNoah
Adventurer
Reality TV ... blech. If I want reality I'll look out the window.
Plus, from a network'd POV -- those reality shows can't be a very good long-term investment. You can't really re-run them like you can scripted TV -- and who's gonna want to see them in syndication? But then maybe they're so cheap to produce that it all comes out in the wash.
Plus, from a network'd POV -- those reality shows can't be a very good long-term investment. You can't really re-run them like you can scripted TV -- and who's gonna want to see them in syndication? But then maybe they're so cheap to produce that it all comes out in the wash.
John Crichton
First Post
This is like the dot-com crash. The internet is still around and going strong. Reality shows are here to stay. This is just a downswing on the trend. Someone will come up with something that will be a reality show that will do great. And there will always be shows, both reality and normal that tank.
Fast Learner
First Post
And it's not really a "reality show," per se. It's more of a game show. The focus certainly isn't on the interaction of the "real people," which is certainly what I associate reality shows with.
Not only aren't reality shows "real," they're not even kinda real. They're completely "written" in editing, with tons of manipulation by the producers. In Bachelor-type shows, for instance, they intentionally mislead you about people's personalities and interactions in order to create drama, making them incredibly predictable once you've seen them a time or two. Blech.
Not only aren't reality shows "real," they're not even kinda real. They're completely "written" in editing, with tons of manipulation by the producers. In Bachelor-type shows, for instance, they intentionally mislead you about people's personalities and interactions in order to create drama, making them incredibly predictable once you've seen them a time or two. Blech.
Prince of Happiness
First Post
I've been waiting for years for "Making the Game" where a group of six young, hopeful contestants with contrasting personalities and backgrounds compete in a series of gaming sessions to be the last one and become a player at "The Most Prestigious Gaming Table in RPGs."
For some reason, FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC all have restraining orders against me. I don't get it. I mean, it all the women have to wear chainmail bikinis for cryin' out loud.
For some reason, FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC all have restraining orders against me. I don't get it. I mean, it all the women have to wear chainmail bikinis for cryin' out loud.
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Nareau
Explorer
The only reality TV show I ever watched was "Joe Schmoe". It was hilarious. And it really appealed to my cruel streak.
Not to wax political here...but I have a reality TV show I'd love to pitch: Race for the Whitehouse! The basic idea is to take all the presidential candidates (maybe 10, from various parties) and put them on an island. Let America vote one off the island every week. No campaign managers, no spin doctors, just a bunch of hopefuls fighting over rat corpses. I think it would be a much better way to choose a president, and it would increase voter turnout tenfold.
Spider
Not to wax political here...but I have a reality TV show I'd love to pitch: Race for the Whitehouse! The basic idea is to take all the presidential candidates (maybe 10, from various parties) and put them on an island. Let America vote one off the island every week. No campaign managers, no spin doctors, just a bunch of hopefuls fighting over rat corpses. I think it would be a much better way to choose a president, and it would increase voter turnout tenfold.
Spider
Fast Learner
First Post
They kinda had that. See Showtime's American Candidate.
Chimera
First Post
EricNoah said:
Well, it depends. So far, they've been cheap.
But I was reading an article the other day on how the insurance companies are taking a hard look at reality TV and potential costs.
All it will take to sink the ship is one good lawsuit. Someone gets CjD (Mad cow disease) from being forced to deal with animal parts, or someone gets killed trying the wrong move on Fear Factor or something like that and presto!, instant multi-million dollar damages and bad press for the network.
I'd say that, so far, they've been extremely lucky. Especially some of those shows where they put the person in a situation dealing with a phony serial killer or vampire or something. Someday someone (like me) is going to fight back and cause serious mayhem, as opposed to simply screaming, cowering and/or running.
John Crichton
First Post
I find these kinds of topics fascinating. Still with me? Okay, cool...
The media and entertainment industry is a beast. However it is a beast that tends to mirrors the wants and desires of the public. There are a ton of medical/cop dramas out there, there are a ton of "reality" shows. There is some truly entertaining a creative stuff in that group but overall the trend gears towards either the grizzly, the mysterious or flat out competition.
"Reality TV" has been going on since the dawn of civilization - see gladitorial fights and their ilk. Comedy and tragedy are two of the most powerful forms of theme in entertainment and reality based shows feed off of that - the emotions and reactions of the people who we've usually never seen before. The ultimate voyueristic experience: there are no drawbacks, no chance of getting "caught."
A violent society (which one could argue both ways as to what we are) propagates more violence. Where is this all going? Well, to shows like "Running Man" for starters. Yeah, that was a cheeky sci-fi Arnie flick but there is some merit to it. It hails back to the gladitorial arenas of old and satisfies the public's desire for intense drama. Sure there would be outcrys against a show like that and it would take someone in great power to get it on the air (either that or some radical change in the world/government) but that is one potential direction that this kind of entertainment is heading.
So, you may want to ask yourself: Would you watch Survivor if the people were truly surviving? Against wild beasts, natives, the elements and themselves. There would be death and gore but the producers could edit it to a tolerable point. I think a great amount of people would say yes.
Do I truly think this is where this is all heading? I don't know - but I do know that it is a possible direction. And that is a bit scary.
The media and entertainment industry is a beast. However it is a beast that tends to mirrors the wants and desires of the public. There are a ton of medical/cop dramas out there, there are a ton of "reality" shows. There is some truly entertaining a creative stuff in that group but overall the trend gears towards either the grizzly, the mysterious or flat out competition.
"Reality TV" has been going on since the dawn of civilization - see gladitorial fights and their ilk. Comedy and tragedy are two of the most powerful forms of theme in entertainment and reality based shows feed off of that - the emotions and reactions of the people who we've usually never seen before. The ultimate voyueristic experience: there are no drawbacks, no chance of getting "caught."
A violent society (which one could argue both ways as to what we are) propagates more violence. Where is this all going? Well, to shows like "Running Man" for starters. Yeah, that was a cheeky sci-fi Arnie flick but there is some merit to it. It hails back to the gladitorial arenas of old and satisfies the public's desire for intense drama. Sure there would be outcrys against a show like that and it would take someone in great power to get it on the air (either that or some radical change in the world/government) but that is one potential direction that this kind of entertainment is heading.
So, you may want to ask yourself: Would you watch Survivor if the people were truly surviving? Against wild beasts, natives, the elements and themselves. There would be death and gore but the producers could edit it to a tolerable point. I think a great amount of people would say yes.
Do I truly think this is where this is all heading? I don't know - but I do know that it is a possible direction. And that is a bit scary.
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