2008 Woodie Awards
Reality Television
Lezlie Martinez
Issue date: 9/13/06 Section: Opinion
Throughout its relatively short history, television has undergone many trends consistent with people's way of life and interests. The 1950's offered shows such as "Leave it To Beaver" and "Father Knows Best" which was scripted and mimicked the breadwinner/homemaker model family popular at the time.
Jumping to the 80's we tuned into shows like "Saved by the Bell" and "Punky Brewster" which featured edgier teenagers and funkier fashion trends. These days, it's all about reality television. There is at the very least, one television show out there among the hundreds of premium cable television channels that is specifically tailored to meet your needs.
Aspiring to be the next Emeril? Why not watch other hopefuls like yourself get yelled at and have their dreams trampled on "Hell's Kitchen." If that show doesn't compliment your cooking style, there's always "Top Chef" on Bravo or the Food Network which is nothing but cooking shows.
Maybe you'd take more satisfaction in watching what happens when you take a complete stranger and throw them into a family that is completely opposite from their own and more screwed up than your own.
Then you can laugh as they cry their way to a huge cash payout at the end of the week. Here
comes "Trading Spouses" and "Wife Swap" to the rescue!
I'm guessing you might be the more romantic type who wants to see new relationships forming and
competition for undying love blazing…with huge cash payouts of course! Is "The Bachelor," "Bachelorette" or "Flavor of Love" ringing a bell? I predict that just as the earlier trends of television shows that I mentioned faded out, reality television will as well. The problem with reality television is that it is repetitive, not as real as it claims to be and just plain ridiculous.
Have any of you ever stopped to think about how real "The Real World" actually is? How likely is it that seven strangers will agree to live together, cohabitate in a fabulous mansion and have their cars and jobs handed to them on a silver platter? I'll gladly stir up some periodic drama for that sweet deal! I also believe that this "Real World" is leaving out a vast majority of the population from their pool of candidates. Aren't we tired of seeing the same stereotypical people over and over again?
Jumping to the 80's we tuned into shows like "Saved by the Bell" and "Punky Brewster" which featured edgier teenagers and funkier fashion trends. These days, it's all about reality television. There is at the very least, one television show out there among the hundreds of premium cable television channels that is specifically tailored to meet your needs.
Aspiring to be the next Emeril? Why not watch other hopefuls like yourself get yelled at and have their dreams trampled on "Hell's Kitchen." If that show doesn't compliment your cooking style, there's always "Top Chef" on Bravo or the Food Network which is nothing but cooking shows.
Maybe you'd take more satisfaction in watching what happens when you take a complete stranger and throw them into a family that is completely opposite from their own and more screwed up than your own.
Then you can laugh as they cry their way to a huge cash payout at the end of the week. Here
comes "Trading Spouses" and "Wife Swap" to the rescue!
I'm guessing you might be the more romantic type who wants to see new relationships forming and
competition for undying love blazing…with huge cash payouts of course! Is "The Bachelor," "Bachelorette" or "Flavor of Love" ringing a bell? I predict that just as the earlier trends of television shows that I mentioned faded out, reality television will as well. The problem with reality television is that it is repetitive, not as real as it claims to be and just plain ridiculous.
Have any of you ever stopped to think about how real "The Real World" actually is? How likely is it that seven strangers will agree to live together, cohabitate in a fabulous mansion and have their cars and jobs handed to them on a silver platter? I'll gladly stir up some periodic drama for that sweet deal! I also believe that this "Real World" is leaving out a vast majority of the population from their pool of candidates. Aren't we tired of seeing the same stereotypical people over and over again?
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