Is reality TV a generational thing?

[starsky]

it seems like every other frikin thing is a reality show or some trashy talk show. i miss the good ol days! i guess that's why i have all the dvds of my youth. my kid watches them too, unfortunately, he says no one at school has a clue as to who buck rogers, steve austin, thomas magnum, etc... are.

[MeerkatMego]

I'll take a scripted show with real actors any day over "reality" tv. Even the commericals for shows like Jersey Show irriate me. I see enough bone heads and idiots in my daily life without having to come home and watch it on tv. Now with that said, I do watch Pawn Stars and I enjoyed Top Shot on the History channel. The marksmenship contests are great, but when the whinny, back stabbing crap at the house starts I change the channel.

[trekfan]

Seems to me, Reality TV is a monetary thing - it's significantly cheaper (to the Networks) to produce than standard shows (Two and a Half Men, etc.). Also, older people also watch Reality TV, just maybe not the gonzo shows (i.e. Jershey Shore and that ilk) in the same numbers as younger people watch. My Mom, who's in her 60's watches a ton of reality shows (The Amazing Race and Big Brother being two of her favorites).

Confession: I also Tivo Reality shows (Amazing Race, Top Shot, Hell's Kitchen/Kitchen Nightmares, An Idiot Abroad (Karl Pilkington rules)).

David

[mego73]

Reality TV is a monetary thing

You are right about that. As soon as they discovered they can make shows with people off the street instead of high priced stars, as soon as they discovered they can shape those shows with non-union writers and editors then you had an explosion of reality TV.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Survivour really bothered me, since they're not really survivoring wherever they are. (Seriously; folks who spend 30 days in the field AREN'T that pretty.) They want a show? Stop feeding them. "For today's challenge, catch and clean a wild boar."

Don C.

[Werewolf]

I watch Pickers and Pawn Stars once in a while. But that's really all I can stand for Reality TV.

[Mikey]

Reality TV is a sneaky cheap way of getting men to watch soap operas (which that's what they basically are)

[Hector]

Reality TV is a sneaky cheap way of getting men to watch soap operas (which that's what they basically are)

I thought soap opera for men was pro wrasslin'...

[MeerkatMego]

Reality

Yeah, but isn't that what man vs wild is? Everytime a new reality show comes out I can't help thinking we are one step closer to Running Man. Course if Fox had it's way they'd produce it.

Hmmmm....

Survivour really bothered me, since they're not really survivoring wherever they are. (Seriously; folks who spend 30 days in the field AREN'T that pretty.) They want a show? Stop feeding them. "For today's challenge, catch and clean a wild boar."

Don C.

[TrueDave]

I was told there was suppossed to be a reality show " Handicapped House." but Political Correctness killed it.

That makes me mad. It just reaffirms the message you cant get on TV even in a REALITY show unless you are pretty, whatever.

[garagesale]

Is Mythbusters a reality show? I watch it occasionally with my son. That's a good show.

Fine line between reality tv and documentary these days, I think. Cops in the 80s was more like a doc, and anything Michael Moore or Morgan Spurlock do is more like reality-style (I.E., altered from reality/semi-scripted).

I greatly prefer scripted, fictional shows. Lots of time they contain more truth.

JamesD

[Adam West]

I was always a fan of "The People's Court" even back with Judge Whoppner. Almost all of the cases are the same (loan vs gift), not honoring contracts, damage of property, stuff that is pretty cut and dry as far as the law is concerned.

Personally, I like a lot of reality based tv. I really like that there are lot's of options in tv viewing today so there are no longer 3 or 4 choices and that's it.

[Brazoo]

I was always a fan of "The People's Court" even back with Judge Whoppner. Almost all of the cases are the same (loan vs gift), not honoring contracts, damage of property, stuff that is pretty cut and dry as far as the law is concerned.

Personally, I like a lot of reality based tv. I really like that there are lot's of options in tv viewing today so there are no longer 3 or 4 choices and that's it.

I use to watch that as a kid - no idea why it was interesting to me as a kid, but it was!

I have occasionally zoned out to these new courtroom shows - like Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown. I somehow find it relaxing to watch someone get yelled at once in a while.

[shyndman]

Reality TV is anything but real. Its generally preplanned, carefully directed, and edited to be entertaining. Sometimes the phony drama they have to concoct to add some "excitement" to the show - like the horribly contrived competitive smack talk on Storage Wars - makes it difficult to watch without either laughing at the absurdity or throwing something at the TV. Why is it so prevalent today? Money. The shows are cheaper than hell to produce (which several have already mentioned) so they make more money than a traditional show with actual writers and such - the profits go to less people.

Ah well. Time to go watch Pawns Stars, or Pawn Queens or Hard Core Pawn or something. Can't find a Lost In Space rerun anywhere.