Do you enjoy reality TV shows [Archive] - Theology Forum

beanieboy

June 8th, 2004, 11:53 AM

I used to. The idea of seeing how other people live, think, etc., was interesting. But then, it seemed to be scripted, and turn into cat fights. And if it isn't real, then you might as well watch a sit-com.

Has anyone seen the HBO Reality of Reality TV?

cattyfan

June 8th, 2004, 12:07 PM

I enjoy American Idol, Survivor, the Apprentice, The Amazing Race, and some of the other shows...but things like The Bachelor, For Love or Money, fear Factor, The Swan, and other similarly themed low-rent knockoffs alternately repulse and bore me.

Like every other successful genre, T.V, execs think all imitations will appeal. But for every "Friends" they give us an American "Coupling" or (the original) "Ellen Degeneres" (the first season was built on the "Friends" model, with people sitting around a bookstore instead of a coffee house.)

We had "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal", so they gave us the show with the young lawyers (the name of which I can't even recall.) It lasted half a season.

For each "Everybody Loves Raymond" we are cursed with a "Yes Dear" "King of Queens" "According to Jim" and "Still Standing."

"The OC" was a hit, so now they trot out "North Shore." :yawn:

Now, with CSI and Las Vegas, they bring us Dr. Vegas...yippee. A doctor version of "Hotel."

Different year, same selection. And very little creativity.

ShadowMaid

June 8th, 2004, 12:53 PM

TV? What's TV? ;)

ShadowMaid

June 8th, 2004, 12:55 PM

But in all seriousness... we haven't had TV for six and a half years. I really don't remember shows like that. Not having TV gets you reading more. :D

Lucky

June 8th, 2004, 01:17 PM

The first season of reality TV, which started with Survivor IIRC, was something fresh, new, and exciting. By the second or third season into the unreal world of reality TV, it had already gotten old. Fortunately for the networks and their sponsors :greedy:, many people were hooked. Reality TV isn't worth anything more than background noise. :down:

the Sibbie

June 8th, 2004, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Knight

Such as...

Survivor, American Idol, Trading Spaces... etc. Trading Spaces is about the best reality show there is...well as far as I know right now. I do like watching Survivor and American Idol sometimes too.

Turbo

June 8th, 2004, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by Lucky

Reality TV isn't worth anything more than background noise. :down: Background noise for TOL?

Knight

June 8th, 2004, 01:27 PM

I like a couple of them....

American Chopper
American Idol
Monster Garage
Monster House

Basically anything with "Monster" or "American" in the title. :D

Turbo

June 8th, 2004, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by cattyfan

But for every "Friends" they give us...I've always considered Friends to be a cheap knock-off of Seinfeld.

For each "Everybody Loves Raymond" we are cursed ... "King of Queens" Oh come on! King of Queens is funny. I think it's the third funniest show currently.

"The OC" was a hit... The OC is a blatant rip-off of Saved By the Bell. Anyone can see that.

Knight

June 8th, 2004, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by Turbo
The OC is a blatant rip-off of Saved By the Bell. Anyone can see that. LOL... Screetch!

Crow

June 8th, 2004, 01:35 PM

I like the ones that center around the E.R. and paramedics. I detest the shows that showcase the crassest and most self-serving of human behavior, and exploit back-stabbing and deceit for the sake of ratings. Some of the stuff I saw on "Survivor"--not the physical challenges but the conniving and "deals" that players made to advance themselves--make me want to :vomit:. I quit watching "Survivor" because I felt that it encouraged the participants to lie and manipulate one another. Yes, I know that such things are common enough behavior, but I don't enjoy watching human rottenness rewarded and exploited.

PureX

June 8th, 2004, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by Knight

Such as...

Survivor, American Idol, Trading Spaces... etc. You know, I have to confess that I kind of did like them when they first showed up. I watched the first season of Survivor, and American Idol, and Big Brother, and really enjoyed them. But there's something about "real" TV that becomes boring very quickly. I find myself longing for a good weekly drama to watch. I like "Joan of Arcadia", "Gilmore Girls", "West Wing", and some of the CSI type shows basically because I'm just sick to death of "gay" sitcoms and reality shows. Broadcast TV is really hitting an all time low, these days. On the plus side, I watch it less and less. I buy DVDs of musical concerts and watch them instead.

Turbo

June 8th, 2004, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by Crow

I like the ones that center around the E.R. and paramedics. I detest the shows that showcase the crassest and most self-serving of human behavior, and exploit back-stabbing and deceit for the sake of ratings. Some of the stuff I saw on "Survivor"--not the physical challenges but the conniving and "deals" that players made to advance themselves--make me want to :vomit:. I quit watching "Survivor" because I felt that it encouraged the participants to lie and manipulate one another. Yes, I know that such things are common enough behavior, but I don't enjoy watching human rottenness rewarded and exploited. Is it any different that bluffing in poker? :think:

On Fire

June 8th, 2004, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by PureX

You know, I have to confess that I kind of did like them when they first showed up. I watched the first season of Survivor, and American Idol, and Big Brother, and really enjoyed them. But there's something about "real" TV that becomes boring very quickly. I find myself longing for a good weekly drama to watch. I like "Joan of Arcadia", "Gilmore Girls", "West Wing", and some of the CSI type shows basically because I'm just sick to death of "gay" sitcoms and reality shows. Broadcast TV is really hitting an all time low, these days. On the plus side, I watch it less and less. I buy DVDs of musical concerts and watch them instead.

:thumb:

PureX

June 8th, 2004, 01:42 PM

Originally posted by Crow I like the ones that center around the E.R. and paramedics. When "reality tv" first began, there were a couple of really good shows like that. One followed serious medical cases through their time in the hospital, and the other followed real criminal trials. I really liked both those shows, but they were really more like documentaries than they were like these weird "reality tv" things out, now.

You the show I really like to watch these days - is that one where a team of designers and carpenters go rebuild someone's house for them. hehe

beanieboy

June 8th, 2004, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by ShadowMaid

But in all seriousness... we haven't had TV for six and a half years. I really don't remember shows like that. Not having TV gets you reading more. :D
That's amazing!

I have so much respect for that.
I got rid of cable, and now, when people ask me what's going on in my life, I don't say, "Rachel and Ross broke up..."

Lucky

June 8th, 2004, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by PureX

I like "Joan of Arcadia", "Gilmore Girls", "West Wing", and some of the CSI type shows basically because I'm just sick to death of "gay" sitcoms and reality shows.
I like them CSI shows. How law enforcement gather evidence and the technology they use to process it nowadays is amazing.

Crow

June 8th, 2004, 01:48 PM

There's a good one, "Little Miracles," that actually has a good bit of positive content--it shows how babies with serious medical problems are treated. I like "Rally around the House" and most of the others in that vein.

beanieboy

June 8th, 2004, 01:52 PM

I like the English version of Trading Spaces (Trading Rooms?).
Trading Spaces always has people walking back into their rooms saying, "Oh My God! Oh My God! It's so beautiful!"
The English Version is, "Um, wow. This is, uh, interesting. Oh, man, I told them no frilly flowers. I left a note on their car begging them...

philosophizer

June 8th, 2004, 01:54 PM

Most of them, I hate. Survivor's stupid. The Bachelor depresses me. I don't like the gross stuff on Fear Factor. And the upcoming one called something like "Next Action Star" looks terrible.

But some I like. My favorite is probably "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." My wife and I always watch that. They go and remodel the homes of these families that all have some tragic history. They make the homes look awesome. It's much better than Trading Spaces because the designers are actually considerate of what the family wants.

beanieboy

June 8th, 2004, 01:57 PM

I don't get the Bachelor kind of shows.

20 men or 20 women compete for the heart of one person, who dates them all, and all claim to be in love with the one person.

If someone told me that they went out with 20 other people simultaneously, and liked me the best, I would say no thanks. I would have totally lost interest.

Crow

June 8th, 2004, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by beanieboy

I don't get the Bachelor kind of shows.

20 men or 20 women compete for the heart of one person, who dates them all, and all claim to be in love with the one person.

If someone told me that they went out with 20 other people simultaneously, and liked me the best, I would say no thanks. I would have totally lost interest.

That kind of show makes me ill. It is demeaning to all who participate in it, and reduces the ones competing for the "prize" to merchandise trying to market itself.

Lighthouse

June 9th, 2004, 04:56 AM

I like very few reality shows. I liked Murder in Small Town X, because it involved a mystery, and actors/tresses. I like Last Comic Standing because I like stand-up comedy. Other than that, they're mostly garbage or just of really low intelligence. I'll leave it to your imagination which category American Idol falls into, for me.

Elaine

June 9th, 2004, 06:10 AM

I don't like reality TV at all. :D

Elaine

June 9th, 2004, 06:13 AM

Pritykity

June 10th, 2004, 05:59 PM

Originally posted by cattyfan
For each "Everybody Loves Raymond" we are cursed with a "Yes Dear" "King of Queens" "According to Jim" and "Still Standing."

Different year, same selection. And very little creativity.

Aww, I like "Still Standing!" I think it's funny. (reminds me of my family sometimes.) ;)

firechyld

June 11th, 2004, 01:34 AM

I don't mind American/Australian Idol... but I hate Popstars, even though it's the same model.

I'm not a fan of Big Brother or the like, but my boyfriend got me hooked on this season. Once you've watched a certain number of episodes, you can't go back. :)

I like Law and Order, and those kind of shows... based in a realistic world, based on true stories, but still well-acted fiction.

However, to be completely honest... my favourite genre is dodgy fantasy. Buffy, Angel, Charmed... things like that. *sheepish*

jeremiah

June 12th, 2004, 06:46 PM

I like Survivor despite the fact that the strongest ones are usually voted off first. Which means that the people least likely to survive a wilderness survival experience win the million dollars. However it is good to see people react for the first time to hunger, and thirst, and isolation, from their natural family and freinds.
I think that the people that survive for more than 3 weeks truly will have had lasting life changing experiences. I do not think that too many of the other shows can say that, except for the winners of course.

Aimiel

June 16th, 2004, 08:47 AM

I think it's funny how they're calling the latest scripted, directed and acted TV shows 'reality.' The closest that Hollywood has gotten to reality was Seinfeld, which follows along the lines of The Honeymooners or I Love Lucy. The documentaries which show reality are the best. I like Scientific American Frontiers and Nova. Reality is still far better than Hollywood's 'version' of reality. I think that we're, perhaps, being prepared for the next step in entertainment, which is Virtual Reality, where the 'viewers' are immersed in the 'show' and interact with it.

BillyBob

June 19th, 2004, 08:33 AM

The only 'reality' show I like is 'COPS'. It's fun watching drunks and drug dealers get busted. :cheers:

SOTK

June 20th, 2004, 12:12 AM

I can't stand them, and I don't watch them. However, I'm okay with Monster Garage and American Choppers! All the other ones bug the crap out of me especially the scummy sexual ones! :mad:

Wamba

June 21st, 2004, 10:54 PM

I try to stay away from "reality" TV shows. Just too trashy for me. Well some of them are. I shun trading spaces, but I'd rather watch that than some other thing like Survivor or whatever else.

Galadrial

June 22nd, 2004, 08:51 PM

well, I voted not at all but I forgot about the trading spaces show I watch that show once and a while, its ok not the best show ever by far. and the one I love most but might not be concidered a reality show E.R.? that one I've watched for.....well ever since it started really!