Is reality TV a generational thing?

[Cmonster]

Always wondered if shows like Jersey Shore, The Real World or any of the VH1 stuff would have cut it back in the 70's. I mean seriously, would any of you at the age that most of the demographic is for these shows, watched that crap back in the day? Could you actually see yourself watching that garbage instead of Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, In Search Of, Star Trek, or even something like Family Ties or Growing Pains?

It boggles my mind that kids today or anyone for that matter, are interested in this kind of crap.

SC

[Nostalgiabuff]

I agree with you but have to admit my wioofe loves this ****. she must watch almost all of them......not the MTV garbage though.....I think that stuff is aimed at the teens and twenty somethings and is pretty low brow

[The Toyroom]

Always wondered if shows like Jersey Shore, The Real World or any of the VH1 stuff would have cut it back in the 70's. I mean seriously, would any of you at the age that most of the demographic is for these shows, watched that crap back in the day?

I watch Jersey Shore...At first it was a curiousity as to what the hub-bub was all about. Now it's for entertainment value as to how stupid these kids are.

Real World...Religiously watched for about the first 5 seasons. Different point in my life when the show was more identifiable for me. Favorite Season? Two, followed by Four. Four gave us Puck putting his finger in Pedro's peanut butter but it also gave us Judd Winnick

Stuff like Rock of Love with Bret Michaels? Yeah I watched that too...
Also put me down for Survivor...never miss a show.

Could you actually see yourself watching that garbage instead of Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, In Search Of, Star Trek, or even something like Family Ties or Growing Pains?

In Search Of? Are you kidding? Bleech! Actually of your short list Star Trek is the only thing I would watch. Growing Pains was...painful...And I recently tried to watch Family Ties several times on The Hub and it just doesn't do it for me. In fact I find it downright lame. Give me the antics of The Situation over Alex P. Keaton anyday...

It boggles my mind that kids today or anyone for that matter, are interested in this kind of crap.

To each his own...Would I love it if TV programmers catered to just my tastes? Yeah I'd love a channel something along the lines of what TV Land, SciFi and Boomerang were promised as and started out to be. Unfortunately that's not the case as each year I slip further and further away from their precious demographics and they constantly change their mission statement to chase viewership that is dwindling.

Movies on TV Land? Wrestling on SciFi? Oh excuse me...SyFy But you get my point. It's all about picking your battles I guess...I just need to be occassionaly entertained for an hour here or there when there is NOTHING ELSE ON...Springsteen was right. So if "reality TV" fits the bill for a while, so be it.

It's either that or popping in a Big Bang Theory DVD

[Zemo]

Always wondered if shows like Jersey Shore, The Real World or any of the VH1 stuff would have cut it back in the 70's. I mean seriously, would any of you at the age that most of the demographic is for these shows, watched that crap back in the day? Could you actually see yourself watching that garbage instead of Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, In Search Of, Star Trek, or even something like Family Ties or Growing Pains?

It boggles my mind that kids today or anyone for that matter, are interested in this kind of crap.

SC

I'm with you, it's pure crap. Though once I hit 16 I didn't rally watch tv anymore. To much fun stuff to do out in the world.

[MIB41]

The only "reality" show I have ever watched is the VH-1 celebrity rehab. It's fascinating to see some of these folks screwed up. Charlie Sheen should be in season six. How much of that is rigged I'm not sure, because their pretty messed up head cases. It's more about what you don't see, rather what you do see. Their individual therapy is not really shown. And these group 'talks' is more of a staging for the show. But I think their personalities are very much them. Anyone who thinks Leif Garrett is faking it, doesn't know that guy's struggles. I think we'll be reading about him in the obituaries soon after his mother dies. She currently has leukemia. And she has been the one lone supporter (and likely enabler) Leif has had through this whole process. It's rather breath taking to watch this kid star erode into a virtual unrecognizable drug addict. Very sad, but symptomatic of the Hollywood scene.

[Mikey]

The only "reality" show I can tolerate is Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.

[Brazoo]

I dunno - I think a lot of this stuff has pretty wide demographics.

I think it's just the situation TV is in now. Reality TV's big advantage seems to be that it's cheap to make. They have lot more stations and time to fill now.

I'm not sure, but I would bet that the biggest hit show on TV right now doesn't get the ratings of any of the shows you mentioned.

[Brazoo]

The only "reality" show I can tolerate is Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.

I actually use to get a kick out of that show too - but, I tried watching it once this season and I couldn't take it. Maybe it's just me, but it seems very scripted now. Like, he'll flip out at something that seems pretty minor just to cause drama.

[HardyGirl]

The only reality TV I watch is stuff that helps people, like Extreme Makeover:Home Edition, Clean House and Hoarders. I don't groove on watching people act stupid; that's not entertainment to me. I didn't even like Survivor, b/c of the whole idea of voting people off. I would have like to have seen them working together to survive and split the money. The only reason people watch this crap is b/c of the hype, and kids just don't know any better, b/c this is normal to them.

[TrueDave]

I watche some of the first Big Brother. I remebered when the girl comes out and theres FANS all over she had no idea what Reality TV was doing to her popularity in teh Media.
I watched 1812 house on Public TV with a girlfriend and her mom.

I just like Documentaries.
Saw " My three Year Old could paint That" a few years back , and watched " King of Kong: Fistfull of Quarters" a few days ago.
Both good documentaries. Yes, theres some sensationalisim.

I DI catch " I will do anything for money" ( i think that was the name) at the Laundrymatt. Bunch of Ex Reality TV runners up being made to be the fools they are.

I was at a friends while she watched Survivor. I kept asking questions. " If that guy in the suit KNOWS all those people are hungry why doesnt he just GIVE them teh bag of rice ?" Clearly I didnt get it. Watched Biggest Loser at my Ex Girls place. She liked it. I screamed and ranted a lot.

I'll take the Price is Right or Jokers Wild any day.

[Mikey]

I actually use to get a kick out of that show too - but, I tried watching it once this season and I couldn't take it. Maybe it's just me, but it seems very scripted now. Like, he'll flip out at something that seems pretty minor just to cause drama.

I mostly only like the British version.

I sometimes watch the American one, but not often

[Brazoo]

I mostly only like the British version.

I sometimes watch the American one, but not often

Yeah - the British one was way better! I especially like when he does the follow ups a few months later at the end.

[huedell]

Sandy... as Anthony implied... there's the "watching a car crash" value
of the stuff. I've always found that "awkwardness" and other such human
humiliation makes for good entertainment... if not for myself, for the
public as a whole.

I hate to say it (because it seems so silly)... but there's also a huge part
of the population out there that really buys into the idea that this stuff
is actually akin to "real life" and they get off on that, altho' it's pretty
far from the... um... (excuse the word here) "reality".

Wyhatever the case.. it's all just entertainment whether it's
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA or JERSEY SHORE... analogies abound...
but, let's just say sometimes fast food cuts it, other times home cooked
meals etc etc. You know

[kingdom warrior]

Wasn't in Search Of a reality show in it's essence? Most of the topics were about things in the real world....not some sci fi BS. I mean, I loved that show never missed it fascinated me and opened doors to discovering and reading many of the topics presented.

Same with Unsolved mysteries which i loved.

Reality shows are basically flashy video documentaries. except they want more forced drama added to them to make a 30 second sound bite to sell......

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I think it's a cheap lazy way to make tv and it doesn't interest me at all.