reality TV - is it for you

veinbuster

veinbuster

Zombie Three, DFZ
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I don't watch a lot of TV, and tend to avoid reality TV because I think most of it is fake reality, but there is no denying that is the way things are going.
I got me wondering if there is a reality show that real people would like to be involved in. No rules, just curiousity.
Would you want to be an 'actor' on the show, or work behidn the scenes?
Is it a show that exists, or one you think would be fun to create?

I found the concept of The Apprentice intriguing and would have found it fun to play if it was more about starting companies and less about selling lemonade and hotdogs.
And I've wondered how long it would have taken to realize I was in "The Truman Show".
 
IMO, that's something I wouldn't want to touch with a ten foot pole. lol
 
TV died for me when Seinfeld ended. Well, I guess that's not entirely true... but that was right around the time "reality" tv took over. There are still a few shows I watch, Walking Dead, Southland, Justified, White Collar. But I ditched cable a while back, just watch on Amazon so I don't get sucked into watching the crap on tv just because it's there.

I have watched the first couple episodes of Boston's Finest, which was kind of fun considering they were chasing a fugitive on my block. And at my school.
 
I can't stand it!!! :mad:

That whole genre seemed to start (In the UK at least) with programmes like Big Brother. Now it seems like most of thr stuff on TV is 'reality' based. But like someone said - it's a fake reality. It's just cheap trash TV for people to zone out to.

I don't begrudge there being some reality TV or people watching it as it's up to them. It's the sheer amount of trash thats on. I used to escape to the documentary channels such as Nat Geo, Discovery, etc. But now most of the stuff on those channels is cheap reality fodder.

At the risk of sounding like a snob, I find the whole genre insulting to my intelligence. There may as well be a sign that comes up before the show starts warning you about brain cell loss!

problem is... These programmes attract those who desperately want their 15 minutes and society worships them. A sad reflection on society but I don't see it changing anytime soon.

Now... reality TV that is about reality.. I.e. Documentaries that genuinely follow a real life event are fine. A great example is a show in the Uk called Grand Designs which follows people as they build their own homes. The show doesn't treat you like an idiot.
 
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I'm not a big fan, there have been a few that I found mildly interesting. My most watch TV is probably football & college basketball. I like The Walking Dead, The Following and things like that mostly.
 
doc's for me

or LPGA ;-))
 
I stay away.

But to answer your questions I think it would be fun to create a show and work behind the scenes.
 
There should be a show where they send me back to high school, with a chaperone of course... That or I think they should have a show about what its like to really be in a touring band, I have been in a few that would have made better TV shows than bands.
 
sergiodeblanc said:
There should be a show where they send me back to high school, with a chaperone of course... That or I think they should have a show about what its like to really be in a touring band, I have been in a few that would have made better TV shows than bands.
Click to expand...

I have bad news for you -- your mother and I just got a call from your sixth grade teacher, turns out you didn't pass.

So you have to repeat middle school and everything that came after. But look on the bright side, this time you'll make the football team!
 
Reality TV is very contrived. I can speak from extensive first hand experience.

My family and I were featured on the old reality show "It Takes a Thief" which was based on the theme that they would show how easy it is to break into your home.....then safeguard it from potential thieves....then film the thief trying to break in after all the security modifications were completed.

I can safely say that through editing, scripted dialogue, and contrived circumstances....a lot of what you see is not what really goes on in front of the camera.**

One of our neighbors is featured on "Real Housewives of New Jersey". That was a mistake! Since they have been on the show, the marriage is in trouble, the IRS has come calling...and random idiots drive by their house trying to take pictures or see members of the family.

On the other side....having been featured back in the1996 on "20/20" with Barbara Walters, Timothy Johnson and entourage....back when "20/20" was a quality show on Friday night prime time.....I can tell you that "documentaries" are also the victim of selective editing and post production.

As a matter of fact...I've been featured on Dateline NBC, The Learning Channel, National Geographic, TLC, The Discover Network, Local News and Fox News (leaving out many....as the point person for a new medical procedure, I got lots of prime time TV exposure between 10/96 and 12/01) and the ONLY ONE that "got it right" and didn't distort the concept or selectively edit during the post production...was Fox News. And that was only because it was broadcast live during their Saturday AM news feature...so I was interviewed on live TV for about 15 minutes and they couldn't edit since we were only on a 5" delay. I still remember being driven back and forth to the Fox studio in Manhattan circa 9/97 by the Fox Limo....and the Mets were in the thick of the pennant race and I kept telling the driver to step on it, we need to be home to see the start of the game!

All in all....reality TV sucks. That being said...my favorite programs are "Pawn Stars" on the History channel and "America's Dumbest......" on TruTV. :p


**Edit...just realized.....on "It Takes a Thief" my '1987 PRS was "stolen" and my 1989 PRS was damaged to the extent that they had to pay for the difference between its original value and the devalued damage, as part of the "post production reconciliation process". But...the TV program did feature about 4 of my PRS at the time, as the Thief gloated over his "swag" on camera.
 
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Is "Pawn Stars" the one with the old pony tail dude and his two kids? I can't watch that one. Or any of them. I tired the one about Red Jacket firearms, but like all the others, too scripted. World's Dumbest on TruTV is the one I can't get enough of.
 
Here's what I earn living with, for the past 15 years...

panavision.jpg


I can tell you, unless its really live broadcasts, everything you see has been edited to produce a SHOW, not to reveal the truth.

I guess the Truth just doesn't sell that much... :confused:
 
JustRob said:
Is "Pawn Stars" the one with the old pony tail dude and his two kids? I can't watch that one. Or any of them. I tired the one about Red Jacket firearms, but like all the others, too scripted. World's Dumbest on TruTV is the one I can't get enough of.
Click to expand...

Nope...that's the dysfunctional "Hard Core Pawn" on TruTV which sucks....the father (Les) the son (Seth) and the daughter (forgot her name....try to repress her whenever possible) have some serious anger and control issues. the two "kids" are just overgrown, spoiled asses who abuse the power of their position and frequently provoke the customers into their angry tirades. Nasty show about nasty people. OTOH, Rick Harrison, his son Cory, his father Richard, and good ol' Chumley make for a very interesting program. Since it's on the History Channel, you get a lot of information about the various items that come into the shop from their cadre of experts in various fields.
 
docbennett said:
Nope...that's the dysfunctional "Hard Core Pawn" on TruTV which sucks....the father (Les) the son (Seth) and the daughter (forgot her name....try to repress her whenever possible) have some serious anger and control issues. the two "kids" are just overgrown, spoiled asses who abuse the power of their position and frequently provoke the customers into their angry tirades. Nasty show about nasty people. OTOH, Rick Harrison, his son Cory, his father Richard, and good ol' Chumley make for a very interesting program. Since it's on the History Channel, you get a lot of information about the various items that come into the shop from their cadre of experts in various fields.
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I was done after seeing 2 episodes way back when, of the show where the old man and his sons built choppers. How can every episode end in a rush and panic at the last minute? You're the guy who set/agreed to the date for the customer. Here's an idea, whatever date you come up with 1st, make the delivery date a week or two later because your ability to estimate a job sucks. And fire your goofy ass sons and hire some professionals. Oh yeah, that's not in the scripted reality.
Sorry, rant over.
 
Survivor is the only tv show i make an attempt to watch live. I cant tolerate any other reality show unless it's about cooking. Oh, and that show that made me hand in my man card: Project Runway
 
docbennett said:
...the ONLY ONE that "got it right" and didn't distort the concept or selectively edit during the post production...was Fox News.
Click to expand...
...because they couldn't comprehend the material they were reporting. You might have used words that had almost 6 or 7 letters in them!:rolleyes:
 
No, I prefer a good documentary on either music or space (if in the UK bbc4 on a Friday night has some really good music documentarys) , any reality tv that comes on and the channel is changed or the tv turned off and I'll listen to some music or pick up the guitar.
 
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