I HATE reality shows except (I thought ) only one....

[Frankie]

American Idol. I like the show's entertaining transition from wannabe jokers to presenting very talented contestants.

Having said that, I'm beginning to get kinda hooked on...... NANNY 911. I watched a couple of episodes and it's much better than I thought.

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

1. The CSI and L&O franchises are solid. It's one thing to bemoan a crappy franchise. Another to bemoan a quality franchise.
2. Reality shows killing TV is a concern of mine, but an EXCELLENT episode of Lost last night [as well as a quality launch of The Shield Season 3] give me a measure of faith.

I can understand the concern of reality killing TV, but I actually think in the past year and a half or so we've started to see less of the crap reality TV that was coming out before that. I think the tide is turning.

America has gotten a taste of good reality TV games and such with The Amazing Race and Survivor, and I think we'll always have them. But all the other pathetic crap "reality" shows won't last forever.

I'm not concerned.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by jcroft

People call me a reality TV nut, but I don't really consider myself to be one. I really only get into the elaborate game shows (Survivor, Amazing Race, The Mole) and American Idol (which is basically a talent show, a la Star Search). If there isn't some competitive element to it, I can't get with it -- except for The Real World. I like that show, just because I've been watching it for my entire adult life.

It bugs the hell out of me that so many different shows are all considered in this reality TV genre. The Amazing Race is NOTHING like, say, Extreme Makeover. Why are they both lumped together as "reality TV?" The Mole was a clever deceitful game to play; it's nothing like The Bachelor -- and yet the genre for both is "reality TV."

It bugs me.

Reality TV has, at it's base, a lack of script, and the generation of drama by putting 'normal people' in dramatic circumstances and filming their unscripted responses.
The Amazing Race and Extreme Makeover may be very different shows, but in each instance the 'hook' is the suspense of the 'reveal.' Who wins the race and how? How has the ugly duckling transformed into a swan?

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Reality TV has, at it's base, a lack of script, and the generation of drama by putting 'normal people' in dramatic circumstances and filming their unscripted responses.
The Amazing Race and Extreme Makeover may be very different shows, but in each instance the 'hook' is the suspense of the 'reveal.' Who wins the race and how? How has the ugly duckling transformed into a swan?

I guess so, but the fans of the two shows are often very different people (although there is certainly overlap, too).

I guess it's personal for me. I hate saying, "sure I like reality TV," because then people assume I watch crappy romance shows and Nanny 9/11. In my opinion, the reality shows I like, (again, Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol, a few others) ARE quality shows.

Why is it that people say, "I love reality TV," or "I hate reality TV," and yet no one says, "I hate drama TV," or "I love comedy TV."?

Reality TV is just like any other genre -- there are good shows and bad shows. You really can't judge the entire genre as a unit, and yet in the case of reality TV, people do it all the time.

[beer bacon]

I hate all reality shows. I hate their idiotic comercials. If I see one more Meet My New Mommy or Have My Nanny Wipe Your Ass commercial i am going to go ballistic.

[bogie]

I'm surprised every time a network orders another reality tv show. Obviously people are watching them. A&E has picked up a 3rd cycle of Growing Up Gotti, that will make 39 episodes. Lost was excellent last night as was West Wing. Thankfully there's an audience for scripted TV as well.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

By this definition, IMO, American Idol doesn't satisfy the reality label. For it to be reality TV, there would have to be more focus on the personal interaction of the contestants outside of the talent competition.

The talent competition is the focus, or "hook", of that show.

The only part of AI that is 'reality TV' is that you don't know what's gonna happen until it happens. In the early rounds, it's 'is this freaky girl or guy gonna make me laugh with a ridiculous voice or tear up with the most beautiful voice I've ever heard?' In the later rounds, it's 'is Xxx or Yyy gonna 'bring it' or 'choke' tonight?'

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

By this definition, IMO, American Idol doesn't satisfy the reality label. For it to be reality TV, there would have to be more focus on the personal interaction of the contestants outside of the talent competition.

The talent competition is the focus, or "hook", of that show.

Not sure I agree. At least a good part of the drama generated on AI (which I really like, by the way) is based on how the "normal" people contestants handle the pressure and what their reaction is to being placed in an exotic circumstance. For example, how will little ol' country girl Carrie Underwood react when Simon tells her, "If I'm being honesty, that was ghastly," and how will defensive fat kid Scott Savol react to just missing the bottom three this week?

And of course, the big one: how hard will so and so cry when they finally get eliminated?

AI is definitely a talent competition with quality talent, a very good host, and a couple of good judges (Paula is worthless). But, it's still "normal" people in exotic situations that makes the show what it is.

[Simplex3]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Why would you watch that when you could watch the Ultimate fighter?

I have an idea that can make us all rich. We COMBINE "The Ultimate Fighter" with "Nanny 911"!

Leben v Susy would kick ass!

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

WTF are you talking about? They do to. Drop TV from those sentences, and you've got two statements that people have used for YEARS to describe their tastes in television and film.

If they are doing that, they aren't doing a very good job of describing anything.

If I say I love comedy, are you going to assume I love BOTH Not Another Teen Movie AND Garden State?

Those are two very, very different movies who generally would have very, very different fan bases.

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

Anytime a person is on TV it's an "exotic" situation. Jeopardy contestants aren't normally standing behind a podium answering trivia questions in front of a live audience.

But, it's a game show, not reality TV. There are perfectly good, more accurate, pre-existing genres for telelvision shows that are being trampled on because the buzzword "reality TV" sells more douche commercials.

I totally agree. I consider Survivor and the Amazing Race to be game shows, too. They're just elaborate ones that stretch and entire season with the same contestants, rather than having different contestants on every episode.

[bogie]

Did anyone else think Paula A. was drunk or somehow waisted on the last episode?

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

How descriptive the statement, "I enjoy comedies" is or isn't is not the point of contention. You claimed people don't make such statements, which is untrue.

Fair enough. But if I say, "I love comedy," people will usually respond with, "what kind of comedy?"

If I say I love reality TV, people just think I'm a nutcase.

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by bogie

Did anyone else think Paula A. was drunk or somehow waisted on the last episode?

Here's what I think of Paula:

- She's old. She needs to stop trying to look 25, because she looks ridiculous.
- She's a worthless judge. She never says anything but "great job."
- She's annoying.

But no, I didn't notice her being drunk.

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

I think Survivor would best be labeled with some manner of mixed genre. Like Reality/Game show. I'm not a fan, but isn't a major aspect of the show the personal interactions between the team members as they live together on a deserted island?

Yes, it is. But so is trying to win a million dollars. What you are referring to (the interactions) are a result of the large prize. It's a "what will you do for a million dollars" sort of thing. So the game aspect and the big prize is essential for the creation of the drama.

But yeah, a mixed label is probably best.

[bogie]

Originally Posted by jcroft

Here's what I think of Paula:

- She's old. She needs to stop trying to look 25, because she looks ridiculous.
- She's a worthless judge. She never says anything but "great job."
- She's annoying.

But no, I didn't notice her being drunk.

I agree with your opinion of her. But I do think she was on something. My wife and I both thought so. Maybe she's affected by her hit and run incident.