Why I watch (some) reality TV

Posted on | March 15, 2010 | No Comments

First, let me clarify. Unlike some people I know (you know who you are) I don’t watch the reality shows that depict former rock star Playboy midgets with 19 kids and counting. Instead I turn my weekly attention to a few of the “game show” programs such as “Amazing Race” and “Survivor.” There is a huge difference in the two. The game show has been around since day one of television. Truth or Consequences was on the bill on the first official day of television, July 1, 1941. These modern day game shows are admittedly different in that they are not 30 min segments filmed before a live studio audience, but they do pit player against player in an effort to win some fabulous prizes or in later cases… 1MILLION DOLLARS. The shows like “Girls Next Door” or “19 Kids and Counting” are just… well… stupid. They are nothing more than a bunch of egotistical people who think we really do care. Unfortunately, for a subgroup of our society, they are correct. So why do I watch the Game Shows? They are a cross between sports and a social experiment. When you get people competing against each other in a series of tests, you tend to get through the “acting” and see who they really are. As is the case on this season’s “Amazing Race” where human prejudice comes screaming to the surface between teams of rednecks, New  York cops, lesbians, homosexuals, and beauty queens. It is proof positive that everyone hates. And it’s fun. P.S. No, the hypocritical nature of a blogger/podcaster writing this post is not lost on me.  It’s a bit different, but that is for a later post.

First, let me clarify. Unlike some people I know (you know who you are) I don’t watch the reality shows that depict former rock star Playboy midgets with 19 kids and counting. Instead I turn my weekly attention to a few of the “game show” programs such as “Amazing Race” and “Survivor.” There is a huge difference in the two.

The game show has been around since day one of television. Truth or Consequences was on the bill on the first official day of television, July 1, 1941. These modern day game shows are admittedly different in that they are not 30 min segments filmed before a live studio audience, but they do pit player against player in an effort to win some fabulous prizes or in later cases… 1MILLION DOLLARS. The shows like “Girls Next Door” or “19 Kids and Counting” are just… well… stupid. They are nothing more than a bunch of egotistical people who think we really do care. Unfortunately, for a subgroup of our society, they are correct.

So why do I watch the Game Shows? They are a cross between sports and a social experiment. When you get people competing against each other in a series of tests, you tend to get through the “acting” and see who they really are. As is the case on this season’s “Amazing Race” where human prejudice comes screaming to the surface between teams of rednecks, New  York cops, lesbians, homosexuals, and beauty queens. It is proof positive that everyone hates. And it’s fun.

P.S. No, the hypocritical nature of a blogger/podcaster writing this post is not lost on me.  It’s a bit different, but that is for a later post.

Comments