Is reality TV a generational thing?

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Reality shows are one of them things that comes around every so many years. We had a HUGE go of it the last decade, but they were always there. Somewhere. Remember "cops" is from the 80's, and there was a whole whack of 'em in the 70's/early 80's. The Gong Show, Candid Camera, Bloopers Bleeps and Boneheads.... (or whatever it was called.) Even the "man on the street" shows of the 50's and 60's are basically reality shows, in smaller form. (So even short attention spans isn't really new.)

Don C.

[Sandman9580]

Whenever there's a re-run of COPS on I have to watch it. Not sure why.

[Brazoo]

Yeah - they're not new, I just assume Sandy is talking about the huge amount of shows and the huge success of them now compared to back then.


A few years ago I got a trial free cable hook up for a few months - it was the first time I had cable since I was 12 years old. I watched hours of "Flavor of Love 2" and all those dumb shows on TLC, like the "Half Ton Teen" and the one about the two-headed teenager learning to drive a car. It was pretty entertaining while it lasted. Then - when my trial ended I never bothered getting cable again.

[megoat]

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,

Actually, when the Real World debuted in the early 90's it was aimed precisely at OUR demographic.

[Meule]

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.

Same here

[wayne foundation 07]

My idea of Reality TV is THIS OLD HOUSE on PBS .All that other stuff is just mind rot stuff .

[Hector]

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.

I watch Celebrity Rehab too...Dr Drew rules...

[Hector]

I understand what Sandy is saying though...some of this junk is really bad.

But Anthony has a point too.

Hey, it's just a matter of personal taste...in the end...it's all entertainment...good or bad.

[torgospizza]

I think it depends on the people involved. Really, what's the difference between some of this stuff and watching the Up series of documentaries? And I'd call those art, almost life changing.

[megoscott]

I like Survivor, and we love the good creative competitive shows like Top Chef and Project Runway. I've never been able to get into the real world/jersey shore thing kind of show, but I understand the appeal.

[Sandman9580]

^ I was a latecomer to LOST and now I'm a huge fan, but when it was first on (and I wasn't watching it) I can remember rolling my eyes and thinking "Oh okay, they just turned Survivor into a one-hour scripted drama. God, Hollywood is so out of ideas."

Whoops.

[The Toyroom]

And of course there's always American Idol

[mego73]

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

It's more of a TV Landscape thing than a generational thing.

Back then, with the three networks any show would have to have broader appeal than a show like Jersey Shore would allow for.

They pull in 7 to 9 million which is fine for MTV but wouldn't cut it on the networks then (and probably now).

[BlackKnight]

Stuff like Rock of Love with Bret Michaels? Yeah I watched that too...

That Show was Fantastic.

[TrueDave]

You know I've noticed ads I see for "Educational" documentaries are getting more "sexy" and have more irrelevant but "exciting" subject matter.

Gotta compete I guess.