Although the first reality show was aired in 1973 (An American Family), Reality television really exploded in around 1999 and we have had some classics like Survivor, the early Big Brothers and Cops . Then came Idols, The Apprentice, Fear Factor, America's top model, The Amazing Race and so on. In the case of Idols and X Factor, the executives found a profitable way to exploit people who want to become rich and famous through using their talent. But this is another article.
The need for reality type programs grew larger than that of scripted programs. As a result we have a glut of reality programs, including Miami Ink, Cake Boss and so on. There are a number of dating programs where some poor loser in love goes out to find his or her true love from a number of contestants. Further to this there are Job Seeking programs (e.g. Dream Job & Deadline), Sports (e.g.The Big Break, Knight school), Self improvement (e.g. Extreme Makeover, The Biggest Loser), Renovation (e.g.Complete Makeover, While you were out).....and so on and on and on and on.
Reality even made The Osbornes and Judges TV stars.
Not all of reality TV is bad or brain dead though. There are some that are educational or at least stimulate the mind- like Ghost Lab, Cops or Ice Pilots. Reality programs with an education have their place and I find them stimulating.
However there are those 'brilliant' ones like Kate plus 8 which celebrates the exciting (not) life of a woman who has landed up with 8 brats....wow.....it numbs my mind. Oh then there is the 'stimulating' show, Reality Wives which let's you into the life of a chap who collects wives like we collect socks. Let us not forget Toddlers & Tiaras, where we see children being violated in that they compete in an adult environment in beauty pageants against each other, with the mother and trainers pushing these poor kids from five to grown up in weeks. This in my view is as close to child abuse as is legally allowed.
There is no question that we are flooded with too much reality. People are searching for things to film, and it seems anything goes. When looked at in this perspective, The Truman Show takes on a new slant.
Obviously I have not named dozens of programs, but I am sure the point is clear. The glut of Reality shows makes the well scripted programs less wanted and this is sad. I never thought there would be such a need and I will not even begin to predict if this will last much longer this fad will last.
Posts
