Let’s face it, Reality TV is really off-putting. MTV should replace its name as it doesn’t really feature music videos anymore, instead it includes a long list of really bad reality shows like “Tool Academy”, “Bad Girl’s Club” and “From G’s to Gents” (which I actually like but I still realize that it is unpleasant). Some of these bad shows are like watching a train wreck. Sometimes it’s hard to change the seasons. Other shows are so terrible they’re easier to avoid like “The Karadashians” or “Real Housewives of Orange County” or “Jersey Shore.” Some shows aren’t even worth mentioning like “The Surreal World” and “I Love New York.”
However, some reality shows are still compelling and later titles are on my personal list of reality shows that don’t suck.
One of the best reality shows of all time remains to be “Survivor”. Regardless of where these people are dumped, we are enthralled to see how they live on rice and shellfish (or sometimes bats and rats as James gladly did) for thirty days straight. The infighting continues to be really juicy and despite being several years old, the TV show still ranks high among the list of reality TV shows on networks. When they go to tribal council and someone else is shocked, it becomes clear that the secret is actually how the producers choose to edit the show. But as Eisenstein showed us many years ago, every movie or TV show is made entirely on the cutting room floor.
Included in my short list of reality TV shows that don’t totally suck is the fantastic, long-running “American Idol,” which is probably the best of the bunch. This is definitely an amazing feat because basically all it really is is a talent show with a lot of production value and top contestants for the most part. The best part of each season’s TV show is the beginning, when people line up for countless hours to be heard by the judges. All of these “audition” shows are fantastic as you get to listen to the funniest and worst singing in the world. People are entertaining and it is simply because they are completely deluded. This is the place where you will see how crazy most people are and believe me, it is terrifying. However, just like undesirable karaoke, you can’t walk away from it or change the station. Once they get really into the show, it usually gets less exciting, but the beginning is golden.
Although reality television had been available in one form or another for several decades, it really got a boost during the writers’ strike in the mid-1990s. Producers were forced to fill airtime and that offered us all several great shows, and dozens more that were horrible beyond words. Let’s hope the writers stick around for a while longer. However, I’d rather watch “Tila Tequila” than “CSI: Miami” any day of the week.