Owning up: Hooked on Reality TV
by Ashley Mondale, English Teacher
Feb. 22, 2010
I love reality TV. I think I may be addicted. But the thing is, I’m often disgusted with myself for watching all of the trash, and yet I’m glued to the drama. I guess I find pleasure watching other people make fools of themselves for the whole world to see.
I grew up with reality TV, but it used to be different. Now, don’t think I’m going to go into one of those stories your grandparents tell you like “Back in my day, we used to walk to school barefoot, in the snow, for ten miles, uphill, both ways.”
But seriously, I am part of the MTV generation, and I could probably tell you every cast of “The Real World” since the beginning of the show. I loved watching seven strangers try to live and work together. And I learned from these people too. I learned that people can overcome their prejudices and become friends with people so different from themselves. I learned more about AIDS and HIV from watching Pedro Zamora during the San Francisco season than I ever did in school. I learned about hate, love, friendship, forgiveness, alcoholism and the commonness that we all share regardless of race, religion or beliefs.
And then things started to go wrong. My beloved “Real World” became a show more about getting drunk, hooking up and partying than about learning to live with people. Reality TV had transformed from a documentary style testimony to watching people let tarantulas crawl all over themselves while locked in a glass coffin just for a chance at a million dollars. “Reality” shows became scripted and planned set-ups. I remember my anger when I found out that “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” were staged. Sadly, I have to admit that I really did believe those shows were real.
But I still watch. I watch every time Bret Michaels tries to find his “Rock of Love” mostly because I can’t believe women are that crazy about a rock star, who despite that status, probably has more diseases than doctors can identify. I was completely disappointed when VH1 pulled “Megan Wants a Millionaire” because one of the contestants brutally killed his ex-wife and then himself. It was horrible that he went that crazy, and I feel extreme sadness for the victim’s family, but I really wanted to know who that gold-digger was going to pick. I was appalled at the ridiculousness of “Jersey Shore,” but I guess there really are more idiots out there than I could ever imagine. For some people gym, tanning and laundry is what life is all about.
I want to believe that I have a love-hate affair with reality TV, but if I am going to be honest with myself, and with you, I have to admit that what I have is a true love affair. I religiously DVR “Project Runway.” I truly miss Holly, Bridget and Kendra on “The Girls Next Door.” I can’t get enough of the Food Network challenges whether the chefs are building bridges out of Rice Krispy treats or Bobby Flay is trying to “Throwdown” with some random barbeque guy from one of the Carolinas. I love to love and love to hate the people on “Survivor.” Recently I rekindled my love for “The Bachelor.” (Come on, Jake, kick Vienna to the curb. She is all kinds of crazy!)
Society as a whole has this love-hate relationship with reality TV as well. Millions of people watched “Jon and Kate Plus 8,” but now they can’t stand either Jon or Kate. At the beginning of this school year, my ninth grade students made posters about themselves. One of the topics included was to name something they hated. Devin Dunmire wrote he hated Kate Gosselin. When I asked him why, he stated very matter-of-factly, “She used her kids to get fake boobs.” I just smiled at him because it was a true story – sad, but nonetheless true.
Italian-Americans protested “Jersey Shore” and claimed that it was stereotypical, yet the show was so popular that MTV plans a second season and the cast is negotiating so they each receive more than $10,000 an episode.
Critics often pan reality shows, yet the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences includes “Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program,” “Outstanding Reality Program” and “Outstanding Reality-Competition Program” as part of the Emmy Awards.
In recent years, reality shows (and sports) have been in the top 10 most watched shows according the Neilsen ratings. In fact, for 2009 the top 4 out of 5 shows were reality shows, with “American Idol” holding the top 2 spots. Clearly, we Americans like these types of shows, but I am always left wondering the effect they have on our society. What do these shows say about what we value? What do they say about who we are and what we may become?
I don’t want to become overly philosophical on the topic, so as dear Scarlett O’Hara would say, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” I’m disappointed in myself for saying so, but for better or worse, I’m a reality TV junkie. Tonight I’ll snuggle in a blanket on my couch and watch a good dose of “The Office” (a sitcom pretending to be a reality show), “Ace of Cakes,” “American Idol” and some DVR-ed “Project Runway.” Thank heavens for reality TV!
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