Those of us that endured the likes of Jerry Springer, Morey Povich and the original Survivor series, have realized by now that those were only the tip of a huge iceberg of Reality TV programs that were heading our way. Is there really any other kind of television these days?
Seeing how far past reality the genre has evolved it's difficult to imagine where the end will be. There seems to be no turning back now. I submit to you Mr. Besilly's list of "10 Realities I've Learned from Reality Television."
1. Everyone wants to be famous, even if it means humiliating themselves a little or even a whole lot.
2. It's not actually reality. People are performing for the camera. Just ask Dog "The Bounty Hunter". His Larry King interview was the best reality TV he's ever done. (link)
3. It's good to remind your kids often, that what they're watching is not reality. They will thank you for it later, especially if they move to Laguna Beach or The Hills of Los Angeles.
4. People do not love it when you scream at them through a bull horn unless you're giving them a free house. Try it once on your neighbors and you'll see what I mean.
5. Anybody's life can look interesting if it's viewed in short episodes, edited properly, funded by sponsors, scripted to add excitement and video taped for six hours to get one good hour of entertainment. The family from "Growing Up Gotti" is one exception to that rule.
6. Marie Osmond is most interesting when she's passing out on TV. Otherwise she's a complete snore to watch and should remain home in her own altered reality show. (link)
7. Tyra Banks is no Oprah. Oprah is no girls school principal. Tyra should stick to Top Models, Oprah should stick to show business. (link)
8. Every man would love to have a house full of women willing to jump at his every command. It's simply not reality, I can't get one woman in a house to do that. Ask my wife of 23 years.
9. Forcing a large group of strange women to live in one house together for an extended time is good for TV but bad for the self esteem of the women. Just ask the angry, weeping women from Charm School, The Flavor of Love and America's Top Model. (link)
10. If you're really good at working with Crocodiles, stick to what you know. Working way outside your core skill set can result in a sadly tragic reality.
Reality television is a highly addictive substance similar to candy corn, soda pop or Red Vines and equally hazardess to your health if consumed daily. I invite you to submit the realities that you've learned from Reality TV in comments. The only guidleline I would ask you to follow is, keep it real. Cheers!
I embrace reality by writing a script for my own life, acting it out, and then voting myself off the island. It is a cathartic ritual that helps me get through each day.
Posted by: David G. | December 02, 2007 at 08:25 PM