Community Forums => General Chat => Topic started by: MaryJane on March 29, 2011, 05:29:59 PM
Title: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: MaryJane on March 29, 2011, 05:29:59 PM
I'm creating this thread to discuss the direction T.V is taking, in regards to the overused reality genre. I am also hoping that others make threads of a similar nature (might I suggest a Sci-Fi Edition for all the Trekkies and SGaters).
What got me writing this thread was that today I clicked on the SyFy channel to watch Star Trek: Enterprise (which I don't like but there was nothing on so I figured I'd give it a chance) and instead found myself watching Marcel's Quantum Kitchen. Now, as a fan of science and food, I liked the show, although I don't like Marcel and I'll probably never watch it again. However, the Fy in SyFy used to stand for fiction, and I find a science fiction channel airing reality television as egregious as the History channel "making history" with their reality shows.
Back when I was a kid, the only reality shows were Cops, and talk shows like Richard Bey, Jerry Springer and Ricki Lake. Now the things are everywhere, and I find most of them distasteful and largely scripted (like those talk shows). Not that everything thing said is scripted, but the scenes are set up and then the aspiring actors who sign up for these things then have 'real' discussions. Reality shows are now the norm, and I bet it won't be long before Cartoon Network also has a reality series on it. I think that overall, reality shows compared to scripted TV are like the cheap games on iOS compared to 3DS games; one offers a quick, mind numbing experience to fill a gap in your life, while the other can potentially offer you a memorable experience that leaves a lasting impression on your life.
There are reality shows that I like; America's Next Top Model, American Idol (only the tryouts), Survivor, Amazing Race, Bizarre Foods, No Reservations, Survivorman, Cops, and The First 48, but the only one of those I watch on a regularly is ANTM, the others are just things I turn to when I'm bored.
So does reality TV actually have any value, or is it just a way for studio execs to make cheap entertainment and sell commercial air time for the exact same amount as, or even more than, a scripted show?
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Stogi on March 29, 2011, 05:42:20 PM
No Reservations shouldn't be on that list for the fact that it's WAY better than all that's listed with it and it's more a documentary than a conventional Reality TV show. Shows like Man vs. Wild I would consider as a documentary as well.
That said, conventional reality shows have value in the same way that toilet paper has value when hung next to a toilet.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Morari on March 29, 2011, 05:48:23 PM
Reality television is less redeeming than the general programming found nowadays. It's all basically the same and has little payoff. It's cheap and easy to make however, so studio execs love it.
I've never heard of Quantum Kitchen before. After a little searching though, it doesn't sound all that different than any number of shows that Food Network or even Discovery Channel has. That, I think, has been the biggest problem with television over the last several years in particular. Every channel is slowing becoming an exact copy of the previous one. In an attempt at mass appeal, each channel is giving up the niche that once made them unique. They have forsaken their old dedicated audience in favor of a more fickle mainstream one.
The History Channel shows little more than Biblical Apocalypse and alien abduction programming nowadays. The Travel Channel seems intent on having food shows. The Food Network is almost all reality programs now. Sci-Fi (oops, I mean "SyFy") has professional wrestling, cops, and now reality restauranteur shows. G4 absorbed and destroyed everything that made ZDTV/TechTV great, replacing it instead with another Spike TV clone.
Face it, television is dead. :P
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ThePerm on March 29, 2011, 06:08:28 PM
one thing i hate is when channels decide to start changing their focus to become more general. Like MTV focusing not on music anymore, or Sci-Fi turning into Syfy.
The History channel gets a pass though, because American Pickers and Pawn Stars have historical content. I remember when Pawn Stars came on I was like "wtf, they've ran out of ideas, a show about people working at a pawn shop, how fucking mundane is that?", but then i actually watched it and its pretty good i think and really does fit the History Channel. There are rival pawn shows and they are far less historical based. Other then that History Channel fails where it used to succeed. The thing though is the History Channel has made documentaries on virtually everything and puts them into rotation at some point. There is only so much history to go through. I used to love it back in the day when they had the big Egyptian specials with Bob Brier.
I think Food shows works with Travel Channel..when you travel you got to eat. Also food network...they've always had just reality shows. If shows are instructional, or documentary, then their contest based. Iron Chef has been on since I started getting food network. Chopped All-Stars has been pretty interesting this season.
I've always liked Survivor.
Real World is dead to me. There was a certain point when the show went from gathering interesting people from all walks of life to gathering a bunch of people that would just bang each other and get in fights.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Morari on March 29, 2011, 06:20:03 PM
I think Food shows works with Travel Channel..when you travel you got to eat. Also food network...they've always had just reality shows. If shows are instructional, or documentary, then their contest based. Iron Chef has been on since I started getting food network. Chopped All-Stars has been pretty interesting this season.
I think that food shows could be alright on the Travel Channel. However, they seem to become more and more of a focus as time goes on. One or two would be alright, but they've seemingly become an abundance.
As far as Food Network goes, they barely even have any actual cooking shows anymore. All of that has been relegated to their Cooking Channel network. Heck, even the few competition shows that used to be worth watching have been butchered over time. Iron Chef America is a fine example of that.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Stogi on March 29, 2011, 06:24:03 PM
I remember when I use to want to be on the Real World. I would have exploited the **** out of it. Before I left to the house, I would have called anyone, everyone like Colbert trying to get sponsors. I would have worn Doritos gear, drank Dr. Pepper, and constantly done slogans.
I would have also taken the time to find all the cameras so I could gesture to them how I really feel about this crazy bitch I'm talking to.
I also would have charged anyone and everyone who wanted to come back to the house with me. In that year, I would have made a doctor's salary.
But meh...I didn't give enough of a **** to send in a tape. And now, I don't give a **** at all.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ThePerm on March 29, 2011, 06:26:21 PM
What's weird is i'm too old to be on Real World.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Stogi on March 29, 2011, 06:27:55 PM
Crazy. This whole time I thought you were younger than me.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ShyGuy on March 29, 2011, 07:00:21 PM
99% of reality television involving contests or scripts is terrible. I like No Reservations, Dirty Jobs, and... Man vs. Food I guess.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ThePerm on March 29, 2011, 08:03:49 PM
i havent seen Dirty Jobs in a while...thats a good show
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 29, 2011, 08:21:08 PM
I liked Face Off on SyFy, but I'm not sure if it still comes on or not.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: MaryJane on March 29, 2011, 09:28:23 PM
A lot of reality TV is the same, and you're forced to choose out of the similarity the best one. Certainly clear winners emerge, like No Reservations, and the more documentary sided ones, but there is very little that separate Pawn Stars from Hardcore Pawn imo. Survivorman is way better than Man vs. Wild (and even though I like Man vs. Food, I wish it had a different name) because of the authenticity, and you can go on and on about which out of every genre and naming battle is better, but would their really be better TV on if reality TV shows weren't so widespread?
I had very little reason to watch the Travel channel pre-Anthony Bourdain, and I still don't watch The Food Network, but I'm sure their ratings have increased significantly. And I fully agree with The Perm that networks are sacrificing their individuality in a race for ratings, and it sucks the biggest one. I like finding science fiction on my Sci-Fi channel, and historical fact on the History Channel. There are so many intricacies to history that the History Channel could explore, as well as new archaeological finds. Hell I would even prefer shows about alternate history than a reality show.
For channels like Travel, Food, Discovery, etc. reality shows make perfect sense, and even in local primetime, a few reality shows here and there is a good thing, but can we get out of the swamp of conformity and similarity and get some truly original programming. The last time I checked, the creativity well has not dried up, and actually some of the set-ups for these reality TV shows might have made decent scripted shows. Could you imagine Celebrity Apprentice as a scripted comedy? That would be absolutely hilarious. I do think we have benefited somewhat from the reality show explosion, but can't we curtail it now?
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ThePerm on March 29, 2011, 09:36:59 PM
Face Off was pretty decent, theres another season in the works. Another contest show I liked was Work of Art:Next Great Artist, which I almost applied for the second season, but I didn't have the means to go to LA for the audition. I hope the next season airs, and there's another season which I can apply too. Watching that show was so weird, it was just like being in art school.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Stogi on March 29, 2011, 09:49:23 PM
I've watched both Survivor Man and Man vs. Wild, and while I can see why people hate on both, I think it comes down to personal preference.
For instance, I like Man vs. Wild way more than Survivor man. Why? Because it is so much more interesting and fun. Bear makes me wish I was there with him, jumping off of waterfalls, climbing through ice caverns, and sky diving to remote islands. I want to someday do those things. Which is why I don't like Survivor man. While I respect him for being real, I feel like I will never be in his situation or even want to be in his situation.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ShyGuy on March 29, 2011, 10:04:32 PM
I've watched both Survivor Man and Man vs. Wild, and while I can see why people hate on both, I think it comes down to personal preference.
For instance, I like Man vs. Wild way more than Survivor man. Why? Because it is so much more interesting and fun. Bear makes me wish I was there with him, drinking urine, jumping off of waterfalls, climbing through ice caverns, and sky diving to remote islands. I want to someday do those things. Which is why I don't like Survivor man. While I respect him for being real, I feel like I will never be in his situation or even want to be in his situation.
fixed for lulz.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ShyGuy on March 29, 2011, 10:06:19 PM
I think you can tell the few good reality shows have a strong premise that is compelling enough in its own right and the bad ones get worse and more contrived with each season.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Toruresu on March 29, 2011, 10:59:57 PM
Honestly, SyFy can die and I wouldn't care anymore. When Heroes got canceled I actually hoped SyFy would pick it up, it never happened. SG-1, Atlantis, Enterprise, all these great Sci-Fi shows, canceled for space soaps. I was one of those people that couldn't get into Battlestar Galactica, and then they use the same formula for SG Universe. I tried, I kinda liked it. Then they hooked me and boom, canceled. :(
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 29, 2011, 11:06:22 PM
I haven't watched SyFy since the Battlestar Galactica finale. I wouldn't care if the network died if it weren't developing a BSG prequel set during the first Cylon War, which I'm very interested in.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ThePerm on March 30, 2011, 01:00:24 AM
its always a good thing to care about your core audience.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ShyGuy on March 30, 2011, 01:19:20 AM
Wasn't the first BattleStar in the 70's supposed to be the first Cylon war?
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: MaryJane on March 30, 2011, 07:58:36 AM
HEY! Open a Sci-Fi Edition thread to discuss the movements of BSG, and SG. :P:
What I've never understood is why SyFy never created shows out of the millions of sci-fi books out there. There are so many ideas out there, and if they actually stuck to what they were good at, they could have cornered the nerd crowd years ago. Instead, we're reduced to reality shows, and wrestling .
Worst of all, it is reality shows that caused this obscene level of conformity. Other channels saw how much CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX were making off of their reality series, and wanted a piece of the pie.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 30, 2011, 11:35:04 AM
More like those channels saw how much MTV was making off of The Real World and decided to jump in while the idea was still hot. It was almost free money with non-actors getting paid sightly more than a regular job and only a few writers there to help direct/influence drama but not specifically write it.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Morari on March 30, 2011, 11:59:37 AM
What I've never understood is why SyFy never created shows out of the millions of sci-fi books out there. There are so many ideas out there, and if they actually stuck to what they were good at, they could have cornered the nerd crowd years ago. Instead, we're reduced to reality shows, and wrestling .
They were too busy wasting money on those unwatchable "Sci-Fi Original" films. Besides, their attempt to adapt the first three Dune novels into a pair of mine-series failed. It may have been technically accurate in many ways, but it wasn't nearly as interesting as David Lynch's vision.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Stogi on March 30, 2011, 12:08:28 PM
That's because David Lynch is amazing.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: oohhboy on March 30, 2011, 12:27:58 PM
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Ian Sane on March 30, 2011, 12:42:13 PM
Reality shows are a good example of why it's worth bitching when something incredibly stupid becomes popular. The common defense is "if you don't like it, don't watch it". But that doesn't work. When something becomes popular it starts a trend and more and more of that crap gets made. You can't ignore it if you don't like it because it creeps into everything. There are less scripted shows on TV because reality shows take up the timeslots.
Usually quality and cost go hand in hand. **** is cheaper to make. So if you put up with **** that's what you get. Why would they spend money on better when the public will put up with less?
I don't mind something like Dirty Jobs because I don't see it as a reality show. It's more like a documentary. It's the stupid shows where a bunch of idiots are filmed doing contrived bullshit that I don't like. The most annoying thing is I don't like anyone on these shows. They intentionally hire jerks and idiots because it adds to the trainwreck appeal. It also kind of exposes the fakeness of the whole thing. In real life people usually don't act like these people act. So either it's all an act like pro wrestling or they really worked hard to cherrypick the most immature self-absorbed lunatics they could.
The worst thing about it is that it has emphasized fame more and more. Young people that have grown up in the age of reality shows are becoming obsessed with being famous. That's a rather sick thing to want. Fame is a byproduct of success. You're a successful musician or actor or athlete and that brings with it a certain notoriety. Fame itself should not be the goal, the success that brings fame should be. Desperate pathetic sick people are obsessed specifically with fame itself and all this reality stuff just feeds into that.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: MaryJane on March 30, 2011, 03:09:44 PM
Sci-Fi has made mistakes in the past with originals and conversions, but in line with what Ian said, they no longer feel the need to try because trying and failing with a scripted show is expensive, but reality shows are cheap and almost guaranteed to attract a large enough audience to offset its marginal cost.
Though I agree with Ian on that, I do think that people do act like they do on reality shows in real life. They film these people twenty-four seven and then take 22mins or 44mins of film to make a show. For the other 10,058 or 10,036mins in the week, they're just like everyone else, and then the producers put them in situations that make good TV. Speaking of situations, I've never watched the Jersey Shore (because I live in NJ and think shows like this give us a bad (ok... worse) name and I refuse to support them) but from what I've seen on commercials and clips on CNN, what happens to them is typical of what does happen at the Jersey Shore; people get drunk, stupid, and violent. Yes, I am sure that people get on these shows and 'act' the entire time, but even then, they're characters are based on themselves or other people (if I wasn't lazy, I would find examples of both of these things taking place on Real World, and another show that I can't remember but could probably find on Google).
I've seen (and I can only imagine the perceived politeness of Canadians as the reason you have not...) women display exactly the same amount or even more catiness and/or bitchiness that the women on reality shows display. That stuff I always see as authentic, because let's face it, women are crazy. They can be great, but there's always that little bit of craziness waiting to pop out, and some women don't bother ever holding that back... lol
I do also agree with Ian's point on reality shows causing fame to be the aspirations of our children. When someone mentioned MegaMind in the new movies thread, I mentioned how I hoped that movie would be a message to kids that being smart was still something worthwhile. Not to get political, but with money being cut from the Art and Music departments at school, and the influx of reality TV, our children are stuck between conformity and fame, and I can hardly blame them for choosing fame. Creativity and intelligence need to be rewarded and seen as goals rather than what being successful with either attribute can bring.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Morari on March 30, 2011, 04:13:56 PM
Not to get political, but with money being cut from the Art and Music departments at school, and the influx of reality TV, our children are stuck between conformity and fame, and I can hardly blame them for choosing fame. Creativity and intelligence need to be rewarded and seen as goals rather than what being successful with either attribute can bring.
Fame is conformity.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: MaryJane on March 30, 2011, 05:53:06 PM
Reality show fame, maybe. But there are famous authors, actors, etc., and even a few doctors and scientists that deserve some of the accolades they get.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on March 30, 2011, 06:10:19 PM
almost none of them will ever be as famous as The Situation or Snooki.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ShyGuy on March 30, 2011, 06:59:58 PM
Speaking of how contrived reality shows are, That Gold Rush show (I've never seen it) kicked off one of its "stars" and he started a blog about the show and how fake it was.
In one episode, he wrecked a coworkers car with a backhoe or some such thing. He said in his blog, that he was told a week before to hit the car with the machinery and the car was purchased just so it could smashed on the TV show.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Ian Sane on March 31, 2011, 02:39:02 PM
Quote
Fame is conformity.
I have to agree with this. Think back to grade school when there would be kids that would do anything to be popular. Desiring fame is the same thing only expanded to cover a larger range of people. Instead of being popular among your peers, you're popular among your society.
Of course like popularity, you can achieve fame somewhat accidentally without having to compromise who you are. Fame itself isn't necessarily conformity since many revolutionaries became famous. But a specific desire to be famous for the sake of being famous where being famous is the reward itself is conformity. One can desire to be famous for the exposure it provides to their message or works but in that case it's merely a tool.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Stogi on March 31, 2011, 04:05:46 PM
If I had one wish, I would wish for World Peace AND to let everyone know I was the who responsible for it.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Morari on March 31, 2011, 07:27:47 PM
If I had one wish, it'd be to have the power of shapeshifting...
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 31, 2011, 07:32:16 PM
I'd just wish for 100 trillion dollars, and then I could simply buy anything else I wanted.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: King of Twitch on March 31, 2011, 07:40:27 PM
Wrong. Then your money would be worthless due to inflation.
You should wish for better math skills.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 31, 2011, 08:35:54 PM
I would still have several times as much money as the rest of the world combined.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Stogi on March 31, 2011, 08:41:19 PM
Meh, you guys are forgetting that if everyone knew you were responsible for world peace, you wouldn't need money anymore. In fact, people would offer to pay you just to wear their brand of clothes, drive their brand of car, and so on. You would be a God amongst men.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ThePerm on March 31, 2011, 08:47:20 PM
Respect is better than Fame
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: ShyGuy on April 01, 2011, 01:57:16 AM
Speaking of fame, With so many of these third rate reality shows popping up, has anyone here ever known a reality tv star or had contact with one of these shows?
One of my neighbors growing up had a daughter who competed on the Pirate themed survivor rip-off a few years back. She later killed herself. :(
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 01, 2011, 02:25:18 AM
I knew a girl that was on the Real World. She was a slut on the show, a slut before the show, and a super snobby slut after the show. She was more a friend of a friend, so I don't remember her name or what season it was.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: MaryJane on April 01, 2011, 08:59:38 AM
One of the hottest chicks in my 3200 student high school and who dated a friend of mine for two years was on Room Raiders** like in '03 or '04, her name was Jessica something or another, and I remember the dude pulling out one of her thongs... Some other people were on also on some other things. With that many people, and that many reality shows, and so many based or stopping in NYC, I've heard about a lot of people in passing being on this show or that show, (some chick even made it to the second stage of American Idol, but I didn't know her, she was a freshman when I was a senior) but their fame is so fleeting (and so speciously earned) that I don't really bother to remember.
Jon Seda (who played in Selena, a Jet-Li movie I can't remember right now, and that latest HBO special about the Japanese side of WWII) also went to my high school (Clifton High School) and his brother is my brother's best friend. I met Jon once right after that Jet Li movie launched, and he was cool and down to Earth. (yeah, I just named dropped...)
**Dating "reality" shows: Room raiders is one of the worst offenders of the term "reality" but it was very entertaining. Cheaters, while not a dating show, is also a funny time waster. A lot of these dating reality shows were spawned from the dying game show dating shows like The Newlyweds, which I loved when I was a kid, and still watch from time to time.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: MaryJane on April 01, 2011, 05:14:03 PM
Rutgers is paying Snooki $32,000 to speak on one of their campuses, but Nobel Prize winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, and novelist Toni Morrison, who is delivering the commencement address in May, is "only" receiving $30,000. Now, it is only a $2,000 difference, and the money comes from two different division within Rutgers, but it says something about our society, especially this friggin state that I live in, that a (even if purposefully) stupid reality star is valued more than an accredited author.
Title: Re: The State of T.V: Reality Edition
Post by: Morari on April 01, 2011, 05:47:43 PM
Well, at least your state hasn't elected any reality television stars to office yet. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Duffy)
And to think, he is "struggling" to get by on his meager $174,000 salary! :'(
