Is Reality TV Really Realioty???
By LadyMarissa
@LadyMarissa (12148)
United States
March 30, 2009 11:23am CST
For years I've resisted watching the "reality" shows. Now it seems that is just about all that is on so I've caved in & become addicted to some of them. Now I'm noticing that their reality seems to have NOTHING to do with "real" life. Do you watch reality shows??? Do you find them realistic??? Or do you see them as scripted??? Do you enjoy them or do they bore you??? Would you want to be on a reality show???
5 people like this
19 responses
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
30 Mar 09
I thing that the term 'reality" is a misnomer LadyM. Take Big Brother (I wish someone would!). A dozen people that you would least like to know packed into dormitory style living accommodation where we wait for them to fall out and fight. Just like home? Only if you live in a very dysfunctional one. Personally, I'd rather watch paint dry. Chewing gum TV for the chewing gum generation. It even makes you fat as you sit there digesting the candy, ice cream etc whilst Leanne frets over whether Aristotle will have it off with Jemima tonight instead of her. I do see the addictive quality though. I'm going to resist. Now, where's the WWF channel! LOL.
3 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
30 Mar 09
Oh p1key, the WWF is now the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). Where have you been??? Watching Big Brother possibly??? 
I agree with you James. I find Animal Planet to be as much "reality" as I can stand & definitely NOT scripted!!! 
I agree with you James. I find Animal Planet to be as much "reality" as I can stand & definitely NOT scripted!!! 2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
I do get caught up in some of them, yes! But where I live now doesn't offer me a whole lot to choose from, so I have slim pickings really. I get to see stuff like "The Hills", "Beauty and the Geek" and "Ultimate Fighter", "The Contender" and shows like this from time to time. There's no question that they are scripted at times, or at least the footage is manipulated to create certain outcomes! I do enjoy some of them though as it's TV that you don't really have to think too much about. The only reality show that I would consider going on myself is "The Apprentice"! 
At least on this one it would be challenging and there's less of a chance of being made to look like an idiot.
At least on this one it would be challenging and there's less of a chance of being made to look like an idiot. 2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
I've never seen a celebrity version of The Apprentice and by the sounds of it, that's a goood thing! lol. I too love American Idol and Biggest Loser has been shown here once or twice before too. American Idol is actually on twice a week here at the moment and we're only a few days behind the US! My Wife and I are glued to it every Thursday and Friday night.
My Wife and I are glued to it every Thursday and Friday night.1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I beg to differ on The Apprentice. This season I'm finding Dennis Rodman & Joan Rivers pretty much making an azz out of themselves which makes me wonder about the sincerity of that show. When it first started, I found it interesting & challenging. Then the egos got involved. Now it's celebrities' egos involved. 
The only reality shows I enjoy much at all are the talent shows like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars or maybe the serious vein The Biggest Loser. I hadn't planned on watching High School Reunion but my Dad has seemed to have gotten me attracted to that one. I quit watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette series as they have gotten too far out of the realm of my likings!!! 
The search for ratings has diminished my interests in most of these type shows!!! I think it is time for the next network shift in programming. I've been through the Game Show faze, the Soap Opera faze, the Talk Show faze, the News Show faze, the Reality Show faze. Now I think it is time for a newer faze!!! Something a little more new & exciting!!!
The only reality shows I enjoy much at all are the talent shows like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars or maybe the serious vein The Biggest Loser. I hadn't planned on watching High School Reunion but my Dad has seemed to have gotten me attracted to that one. I quit watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette series as they have gotten too far out of the realm of my likings!!!
The search for ratings has diminished my interests in most of these type shows!!! I think it is time for the next network shift in programming. I've been through the Game Show faze, the Soap Opera faze, the Talk Show faze, the News Show faze, the Reality Show faze. Now I think it is time for a newer faze!!! Something a little more new & exciting!!! 3 people like this
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
30 Mar 09
In the beginning I gave a few a chance, but they are not part of any reality I know, so I stopped. I think some of them are scripted, others just have odd agendas. In real life we do not have to follow other people's agendas, only our own. You could not pay me enough money to humiliate myself like that.
2 people like this
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
31 Mar 09
My all time favorite show, ER is ending this week. I a very sad that quality dramas are no longer around. ER in my mind was more real than any of those other shows. I do watch Dancing with the stars when I have nothing else to watch, at least that is entertaining. Idol is Ok, but so much drama going on.
1 person likes this
@benny128 (3615)
•
30 Mar 09
these reality tv shows that make so called celebs really do my radar in lol,
the big brother type shows are just madness, they take the strangest of people and put them together.
How is that reality, its staged to a certain degree.
If it was reality say the big brother serious they would put people in from all walks of life not just the strange ones that they pluck from nowhere,
then they become celebs wft a celeb from a reality tv show they are as much a celebrity as I am a celebrity on mylot lol,
sorry as you can tell not a huge fan of the big brother type syndrome.
Tho I do like the wildlife based series just watching yellowstone at the moment which is amazing.
2 people like this
@vaibhavbansal (427)
• India
30 Mar 09
hiii there.
i like to watch reality shows but i personally feel that they are not real.
most of the reality shows use some extra things and planned scripts to get extra fame.
2 people like this
@sheabebabe (14)
• United States
30 Mar 09
My daughter watches this stuff all the time. Most times I believe it is real but then some of it I think is fake and they go by how the producers wish to see the show go.
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I agree 100 percent!!! There are just times when I feel insulted that they think I am too stupid to see their tricks!!! 
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
8 Mar 10
Personally for me, it often depends on which type of Reality show it is. I have never been a Big one of shows like "Survivor" but more for shows like "American Idol" or "The Biggest Loser" which helps give a person new character and a chance to find out what they are really made of, and to help in turn develop their Self Esteem more as well. Sometimes I think they tend to go overboard with all the shows they come up with and sometimes makes it hard to determine your real life for sure.
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
8 Mar 10
WELCOME BACK!!!
Survivor & Big Brother do absolutely NOTHING for me!!! I used to enjoy American Idol & The Biggest Loser, but even those seem scripted lately. I enjoy America's Got Talent & So You Think You Can Dance. I watched High School Reunion for 2 seasons & the scripting became blatantly obvious!!! So, I no longer watch that one. I get insulted when they think I'm too stupid to see it!!! 
@malsun (1528)
• United States
31 Mar 09
All reality shows are just horrible. They are ruining us. Yet they are interesting. Thats what keeps them alive. People love watching other people fight, cry and throw dirty words at each other, it gives a sadistic pleasure it seems. Maybe because it vents some of our emotions that we are bottling up inside us. The show makers with each new seasons are pushing the bar of vulgarity and inhumanness. I am not too happy with the trend of reality shows. The television shows should provide us with a respite that makes us forget our frustrations for a while and not make us more agitated about someone or something you would otherwise not care about!
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I am a reality junky for sure. I do love to watch them. I do think that some are scripted at times. I don't care to be on a reality show, maybe if I was younger and in better health I would. I really can't wait until this summer when Big Brother will be on.
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I've managed to miss Big Brother so far. Everybody I know LOVES that one, so maybe I'll break down & watch it this summer!!! The more of them I watch, the more I see as scripted. I can't imagine doing & saying some of the things said & done knowing that a camera is following my every move!!!
1 person likes this
@Amber4106 (540)
• United States
31 Mar 09
I don't know if they are real or not. I enjoy watching some of them, but at times they do seem like they are just going by a script. One of my favorite ones is Big Brother, I have no idea why, I just enjoy it. As far as being on a reality television show, I don't think that I could handle living with that many different people. I don't have enough patience with people, so I probably would ask to leave before I got booted off.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I think that the term "reality" came into being because they are being taped in real time and not scripted. But, they are not realistic, which is a different thing.
My take on it is, if you enjoy it, watch it. If you do not, change the channel!! LOL
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
30 Mar 09
OMG, I've changed the channel on more than one!!! When I first started watching them, I understood that the term reality was NOT actually an appropriate terminology. Yet they remained somewhat interesting. Then I got wrapped up in The Bachelor/Bachelorette series. I laughed with them, I cried with them & then I cursed when they picked the wrong person. Then that clown couldn't decide to love anybody. Now this last clown can't make up his freakin mind. I began to notice that there is a ratings war going on between the reality shows. So, I decided to swear off any except those I'm already watching. I've refused to flip to any of the new ones. My Dad started watching High School Reunion. The reruns come on on Tuesdays & Wednesdays while I'm cooking Dad's lunch. Since I'm in his home, I can't tell Dad not to watch it. So, I've gradually seen things that were happening & was interested to see where it was going. The more I've watched, the more I've wondered if these people are not just underpaid actors doing a cheap version of a Soap Opera. I enjoyed The Apprentice I think it was 3 (maybe 4) years ago. Since changing over to Celebrity Apprentice I find it less than sincere. I do believe this will be my last season for Mr Trump's show. The more I look around, the more I see as fakality. Yes, I can quit watching them altogether. Look around, there is not much else on!!! I guess I'm just expressing my frustrations here. Thank you for your thoughts!!!
2 people like this
@ritwikbiswas22 (144)
•
31 Mar 09
Enjoy whatever you want as long as you want to.As for me,i usually dont get ttime to watch TV .When i can i catch up with some of the shows.But then they are not a must for me.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
30 Mar 09
Hi LadyM,
I do watch reality shows like Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here? which is in the Australian Jungle an its brilliant, I don't watch any other reality programme and I don't think I would like to be in one.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I've never heard of Get Me Out of Here & I know I NEVER want to be on one of those shows!!!
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I'm beginning to wonder if they are just there for the fame or IF they are just untalented actors pretending to be real people in real situations!!! 
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I have tried to watch a few like one is the Surreal life one it all seems scripted to me because yo would never think that half the stars and celebrities would ever act like that. And other people. Goodness gracious no I would never want to be on a reality t.v. show..my life is bad enough without having the whole world putting their noses and business into it..lol
@mummymo (23706)
•
31 Mar 09
It depends on the show and on my mood but I do enjoy them sometimes! LIke Big Brother - it can be really irritating and annoying but it can also be fascinating to see how different people react when trapped in the house and how they interact with each other. It never ceases to amaze me how far some of the people are willing to go to get a little piece of infamy! xxx
@littleowl (7157)
•
30 Mar 09
Hi LadyM Reality programmes bore me silly nowadays, at one time they were quite interesting but as you say they seem to be all that is on, instead now I tend to watch National Geographic it is much more interesting....hugs littleowl
@emilie2300 (1882)
• United States
31 Mar 09
Yes I watch Reality shows. Big brother, Biggest losser, Bacholer, Bacholeret, Survivor, Real life, The big catch, Ice road truckers, 50 cents power for money, From G's to Gents, Amazing Race, Fear Factor.
I do find them to be realistic. My husband says he belives some are scripted the ones he thinks are script are. Bacholer, Bacholeret,
He belives Biggest looser is just to get you to buy products to loose wait. The only way your going to loose wait is if you want to loose wait and have some one motovate you.
Yes I do really enjoy them. I don't find them boring.
Me and my husband both would like to be on Biggest Looser & When Fear Factor used to be on I wanted to go on that show.
@vworld4u (143)
• India
31 Mar 09
It is referred as "Reality show" as they simulate few instances of real life, not all and even not that they are reality really!
It is reality show in the fact that participants are going to behave really according to their own intuition, not according to other's will (especially not according to director's dialogs/story). Even though the outline behavior is controlled by somebody else, the minute details of behaviors are not controlled by anybody, but themselves. Thats why it is reality show. But it is not complete reality.
A complete reality show may be one which really show the life of various classes of people from society recorded and shown to people! That may not be coming soon to screens, but one may think in that angle in future!
