Reality TV That Doesn't Make You Feel Dirty Watching It
I'm watching "Modern Marvels" on The History Channel. This episode is about axes. Yup, axes...big, heavy, sharp things meant to hack trees apart. Makes me soooo glad that we have chainsaws.
Reality TV like this is educational, interesting and actually...well, real.
When I finish watching MM, or How Its Made, Junkyard Wars, How Do They Do It?...even "Destroyed in Seconds" or "Real TV", I come away without that sullied, vaguely slimy feeling that I get when I accidentally see episodes of The Simple Life or any of those other celeb based pieces of shit.
So, who watches Reality TV? What do you like? Why do you like it? Do you want junk food for the mind or something that makes you wish you were creative and interesting enough to have your own show?
There are no wrong answers. Well, there are, but let's pretend there aren't for now.
I like Idol, but that's about it for reality shows for me. The rest of them pretty much suck in my opinion.
Heh, I like HGTV, all of it. Ghost Hunters, Dirty Jobs, and Mythbusters.
Yep, I thought I'd never been into it, and often frowned on it, until it was stuff I liked.
Now I'm a pathetic addict.
I like Project Runway, Top Chef, Top Design, What Not To Wear AND the shows Elspode and Cicero mentioned.
We are Idol junkies at my house, but that isn't celeb Reality. Much as it is vapid in its presentation and all, it still boils down to this: can the prospective Idol bring it? Based on their performances, their looks, their personalities, are they ready for prime time?
*That* qualifies as Real. I know a potential Idol if, when they perform, they bring goosebumps to my arms. Strip away the trappings of the presentation, and you are left with what the performer can do.
That's awesome. The rest of it is crap, but the performances can and have been brilliant.
I like reality tv.
It saddens people I know (esp HM, who despised it for being cheap, tacky and common - and because he didn't get to work on it).
I don't usually watch TV for edification. I watch it for entertainment. I'm not stupid - I know when it's formulaic. I can spot editing (hell, at least they're usually more slick than panel shows). I know it's not "truth".
I really enjoy I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. Mostly for Ant & Dec, I admit, but it never pretends to be a serious show. Can't wait for the next series - Dads finally succumbed to it last year, it will be fun talking to him and Mum about it.
Shipwrecked is the ultimate hangover TV - even when you're not hungover, seeing bratty teens wearing as little as possible is quite calming when you know you will never again be judged on how you look in a bikini. It does make me feel dirty though - bad example.
I like the singing shows. The ones based on musicals. Having Lee Mead in Any Dream Will Do last year made it a must-see for me because he was such a professional (he was already a West End understudy). Glorious. I'd Do Anything - not so good. Still better than the pop based shows though.
Oh and Faking It almost always makes me cry.
What can I say? I haven't come far since bread & circuses.
Ah, but what about
Beer and Circuses?Coincidentally, there's people whinging about chariot racing in the London papers today. I think it might be coming to the O2. Not my bag - I'd take beer and bread over chariots & circus any day.
And thick cut frites with mussels, and mayo, and unsalted butter.
Damn I'm craving Belgian :yum:
Top Chef and Iron Chef are my favorites. Dirty Jobs is ok sometimes, mostly just because Mike Rowe is hot. I've never seen any of the network tv ones.... usually I have History channel on and half watch it.
Mike Rowe is hot.
Have you seen any of the episodes where he happens to sing? He used to be a professional opera performer, no shit.
But I don't think nonfiction shows like "Dirty Jobs" and "Mythbusters" count as reality TV. To me, there have to be major unscripted elements and some semblance of a contest to qualify.
I like "Top Chef" and "Project Runway," and I've mentioned before my really inexplicable love of "The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team." I used to like a lot of the interior re-design type of shows, but I got burnt out on them.
Mike Rowe is hot. .
OMG, YES! He's cool and funny.
I forgot to mention Survivor Man. I much prefer him over the other one with the cuter guy.
Mike Rowe has this remarkable likability quality, as in, he's immediately somebody I'd want to hang around with. Like he's never been a dick to anyone, ever, although you expect somebody that good looking to be a dick. I would not be gay with Mike Rowe but I would happily hold his towel while he's gay with somebody else.
I have never really enjoyed How It's Made, and I like it less since I realized it's really How It's Made In Quebec. Everything you see is being made there. For me this makes it into, like, one of the Japanese shows that's translated into English for the new cable audience. It's fundamentally dishonest, like if you watch it with the original soundtrack you hear some bitter Quebecois saying with a heavy accent "Now zees ess how we stamp out stan-less stell seenks to sell to tha stupeed Americains."
J and I enjoy that "Cash Cab" occasionally but this, too, is not reality programming.
Funny you would start a thread about this, I was thinking of doing something similar.
I sort of have a beef with RT (Reality TV). On the one hand I really enjoy it, it dominates much of my watching. On the other hand there are a bunch of really crapy shows out there that I just can't relate to and for the life of me can't figure out why people watch them.
I lean towards the shows that are more adventure or out doors like. Some of the first ones on were very good, like This Old House. Most of them we PBS based. No one else was doing them.
I enjoy Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, the show about the lumber companies in Washington State, Survivor Man is ok but Man vs. Wild is much more realistic and provides more useful info. Much of the stuff on History Channel is good. American Idol is only good for the first few episodes where all the idiots who think they can sing get booted, good for a few laughs. Gardening by the Yard with Paul James is quite informative. Myth Busters is great entertainment and a few new ones along that line have been good.
There was a time when Cops was good, but then it got old. It has been replaced by Cold Case Files, Swat, FBI shows, the show where they chase the car theives, Jacked, and one that I really enjoy, First 48. Parking Wars is funny but not really my style.
Now we move to some of the more questionable ones for me. I don't get shows like Project Runway, Next Top Model, Real World, Big Brother, Temptation Island, The Anna Nicole Show, The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Hey Paula! and Hogan Knows Best. The show with the black dude with his bling clock (who is one ugly mug) and a bunch of nasty gf trying to win his heart for a date. Now they have added Rookies, about rookie cops who cry on TV when they screw up. And a whole bunch of shows where they throw people together or follow around a bunch of rich wives as they get plastic surgery and argue with their kids and rich friends.
Much of it I don't understand what people get out of some of these.
And "Breaking Bonaduce". I hate that guy.
And "Breaking Bonaduce". I hate that guy.
I agree. And that reality show with all the celebs in Rehab, how frigging nasty is that? Watching Nick Nolte and some of those other dropouts makes me sick.
there's a difference between shows about real things, like cooking, or decorating, or manufacturing . . . and shows about people set up in contrived situations to compete and connive against each other. I won't watch any of the latter. I blame MTV.
Nah, blame Japan. They're the ones that popularized the format years and years before it ever caught on here.
I think you define reality TV differently than I do.
The ones I named as liking are the really low down dirty ones that you all hate.
I will even kill time watching My Super Sweet 16 and The Newlyweds if I am somewhere with MTV and nothing else on (usually waiting for my parents at their house and not wanting to get interested in a proper programme).
What can I say - I'm like a person who only reads magazines, but will occasionally pick up a good book. Except that's my TV taste - dross, dross, dross, sterling comedy, documentary, dross, dross. That's how I can easily cope without one at present.
Parking Wars is funny but not really my style.
That one cracks me up mostly because it's Philly I think. Although people getting booted anywhere is probably funny...
Have you seen any of the episodes where he happens to sing? He used to be a professional opera performer, no shit.
I haven't and did not know that. I'll have to keep watching... ;)
I like "Top Chef" and "Project Runway," and I've mentioned before my really inexplicable love of "The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team." I used to like a lot of the interior re-design type of shows, but I got burnt out on them.
I endure those because it's easier than fighting with jinx.....and they're awful. both of them. I would punch any or all of the judges/hosts... including Tim Gunn.... right in the labia if i ever saw them on the street.
here's my favorite reality tv.....and it is real.
[youtube]99iJzJxoWAA[/youtube]
See? The Japanese completely own us.
Its really funny when other people get hurt.
The ones that weren't knocked unconscious all came up smiling... they look like they're having a blast. They probably won't even sue.
Its really funny when other people get hurt.
fucking totally. remember when i fell in the woods.....it's still funny to me event though it was me....because i can watch it on video, and laugh like it's someone else.
Top Chef and Iron Chef are my favorites. Dirty Jobs is ok sometimes, mostly just because Mike Rowe is hot...
Ditto on Iron Chef, I'm not big into Mike Rowe, but I will watch Man vs. Wild any day since Bear Grylls gets near naked every episode!!! I don't really care for reality shows as you know some people act like asses just because they are on TV. Ninja Warrior is pretty cool, too...but I don't really consider that reality TV. I used to watch the show where the Brit nanny would stop by and help out but then it just angered me knowing it's not the kids being horrid creatures as much as poor parenting....in my opinion atleast. I think most reality TV brings out the worst in people. I used to love watching What Not To Wear but Stacy just gets plain 'ole mean now...
The teams-of-competitors show that doesn't suck is Total Drama Island.
And which "reality show" am I not going to watch, except maybe half of an episode to confirm my expectations of it? BFF. This is after all a project Paris Hilton said yes to. Vapid, do you think?
The teams-of-competitors show that doesn't suck is Total Drama Island.
Dude. :eyebrow: It's an animated,
fictional "reality" show.
As a kids' show, it's a terrible example of how to act ditzy, rude, and conniving. As an adults' show... it just isn't one. Next you're going to start telling us that you watch Hannah Montana for the musical lyricism.
I actually haven't watched much TV in the last two years. Not much being perhaps 4 hours total in the last year and a half.
J and I enjoy that "Cash Cab" occasionally but this, too, is not reality programming.
My wife was childhood friends with the host of that show, Ben Bailey. For the last couple of years, we have been getting e-mail updates about his career from my MIL who is still friends with his parents, and when he got that Cash Cab gig, it was big news. I've only seen it once or twice (no cable in our home) but it's a neat show.
Cash Cab is unique in that, I like watching it, but not annoyed if I'm interrupted.
i like it because i know most of the answers, and can feel superior to the people that get thrown out, and yet, i love to see people getting cashed up because they won. it's funny how many of them are on their way out to a bar.
Project Runway and Top Chef are close to it for me. I do watch Top Design, but it's not as exciting. Shear Genius would probably be third.
I can't watch the "reality TV" shows that rely on the contestents being mean and trying to backstab each other. That's not what I consider fun.
The Bravo competition shows are about individual achievement within one's field, but yeah, the personalities definitely play a part (I still can't stand Laura from Project Runway 3 ... pretentious bitch ... and I ended up rooting for Marcel on Top Chef 2 after the other contestants tortured him, even if he did come off as a completely smacked ass).
Celebrity Rehab is too much like work, which makes it funny for me sometimes. Funny in places that most people wouldn't consider funny.
(I still can't stand Laura from Project Runway 3 ... pretentious bitch ... and I ended up rooting for Marcel on Top Chef 2 after the other contestants tortured him, even if he did come off as a completely smacked ass).
I liked Laura, her sense of humor cracked me up (pregnant with her 6th child "just throw it on the pile with the rest"), but I also was rooting for Marcel because Ilan was such a little smarmy bitch.
I just couldn't get into this past season of Project Runway, I don't really know what was different though.
I just couldn't get into this past season of Project Runway, I don't really know what was different though
It's because they threw it together at the last second (because they just sold the rights to the show to a different cable network, and then decided they wanted to cram one last season in before they were done.) The quality of contestants, the interview editing, the creation of an overall story arc--everything suffered.
I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here starts on Sunday!
Woot! Woot! Makes me very happy!
I hope I will still be at my parents and therefore able to watch, rather than have to catch up on my laptop. Either way I'm looking forward to it.
Here's a clip to show why I love it - a bush tucker trial with John Burton Race (another chef I adore) and Janice Dickinson. And Ant & Dec of course. They are eating grim - but edible - things to win stars for the camp of celebs. Each star equals a meal. They get basic rations, but always believe they are starving.
[youtube]XE1SkJqjsTQ[/youtube]
And Ant & Dec in a link, regarding the same train.
[youtube]N1zIbhmaw80[/youtube]
Janice Dickinson & Ant - two reasons I've never nor will I ever watch that.
Well Dickinson isn't in it this year of course.
This is who is:
Brian Paddick - Ex-Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Metropolitan Police, failed London Mayoral candidate, highest ranking gay police officer
Carly Zucker - model and WAG (engaged to Joe Cole)
Dani Behr - former presenter and wild child
Esther Rantzen - well respected presenter, does a lot for charity
George Takei - Sulu of course (also gay)
Joe Swash - ex Eastenders soap star
Martina Navratilova - tennis player! (another gay)
Nicola McLean - another WAG and page 3 girl
Robert Kilroy-Silk - slimy politician, suspected racist and talk show host
Simon Webbe - ex boy band singer from Blue
But if you don't like Ant (why not?!) then you wouldn't want to watch any of them! I know it's a poor bunch this year, but that doesn't mean it won't make me laugh. Dean Gaffney's bush tucker trial almost made me wet myself, and that was unexpected. Here's hoping for more of the same.
(please note - sexual orientation of contestants shown in true tabloid stylee)
Tabloid shorthand for Wives And Girlfriends of football players.
Generally don't have a job of their own (unless it's a model).
Dude. :eyebrow: It's an animated, fictional "reality" show.
That being the entirety of my
point.