I'm way past being tired of it. What happened to the good old days when they actually made shows about something, or in the case of Seinfeld (nothing)?
Established Member
I'm way past being tired of it. What happened to the good old days when they actually made shows about something, or in the case of Seinfeld (nothing)?
Order of Kilopi
I quit TV years ago.
Reality or no.
Switch TV on, switch brain off.
I say read books, write stories, doodle pics.
Go outside in the natural world and experience reality.
Where the telescope ends, the microscope begins. Which of the two has the greater view?
Established Member
reality TV is a cancer on our society
Administrator
That might be a little strong, but I am sick of reality TV.Originally Posted by Damien Evans
Established Member
I'm sorry, but it really, really ****es me off that "reality" TV is all they can come up with
And on top of all that, they stop showing the only good "reality" show ever made, The Mole
Administrator
There is a simple explanation - they are cheap to make (no expensive actors and minimal script writing) and almost all of the TV executives and producers are stupid sheep - once one of them comes up with an idea, the rest of the herd follows. Unfortunately, enough of the general TV viewing public are sheep too and just watch the stupid stuff. I can't say that most of the old stupid sitcoms were all that much better.
The only part of it that really interfers with my limited TV viewing is that I used to actually like to watch music videos on MTV and VH1, but now its all reality TV too! I wonder where all the music videos went (long time passing)?
Established Member
This is why the only things I watch on TV now are news, sports, Dr Who, Torchwood and anything from my DVD collection
Administrator
For me its news (and that's mostly just the local stuff in the morning when I eat my breakfast - to get sports and weather), sports (particularly baseball), old episodes of Law & Order, a couple of cooking shows, and the occasional movie.
Established Member
I did leave one show off the list...
MASH! One of our local networks is currently re-running it at 5 pm weekdays
Order of Kilopi
I was sick of it as soon as it started.
STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary
Established Member
I'm not that opposed to reality TV. I actually find it amusing when the cast of Friends demands $1,000,000 per episode and it turns out the network can pull the same ratings putting a bunch of random people in front of a microphone to be rediculed. Granted, when I do watch TV, it's typically sports. I know I watch other stuff - but nothing I feel obligated to tune into every week. I usually try to find a decent movie on TV if no sports are on. Too cheap to rent and takes too much time and money to get to the theater.
The Bourne Supremacy was on last night. I like the books. The movies were okay too - although they went pretty far off the original story. I think the only part they got correct was that the main character suffered amnesia.
Established Member
I work a local flea market on the weekends. You can seldom go wrong underestimating the taste of the general public.
Banned
I'm not... I got rid of my tv a long time ago... I avoided the whole concept.
Order of Kilopi
Isn't it fun with the Tribe actually winning this year? (Assuming you're indeed a Tribe fan).
Of course, dropping 2 of 3 to Detroit, and following it up by dropping 2 of 3 to Toronto (what the?!) isn't the greatest way to enter the break. But there's still half a season to go for them to either turn it back around, or continue their downward spiral.
Moderator
Add to those the audience:
Reality tv is basically voyeurisitc. It allows the viewer to "participate" in something risky w/o risking anything. And, it's more interesting because these are "real" people in "real" situations.
"Reality TV" is, of course, not a correct description. Every one of those shows involves people being placed in an artificial situation. And the people are oftem caricatures of themselves.
There is one reality series that I will watch, because it is reality. That's "The Deadliest Catch." Who knew crab fishing could be so interesting?
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Isaac Asimov
Moderation will be in purple.
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Yes big time Tribe fan (Go Tribe!). I was unhappy with the 1-0 loss to Toronto, but things are much better than last year.
Bad Post-Doc
You anti-TV folks can be as smug as you like. I've gotten used to it. I still probably read more books than most of you.
I've never watched a reality show, though my best friend is sadly, sadly addicted to that Sweet Sixteen show (I do catch bits of that when I go through the living room sometimes, but I've never sat down to watch a reality show, anyway). I understand why the networks make them. I just wish they wouldn't.
And I, too, mourn the passing of music videos on music video channels, though I do love I Love the <fill in decade here>.
_____________________________________________
Gillian
"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"
"You can't erase icing."
"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"
Established Member
And the Tigers are in 1st in the Central entering the break! All is right with the world. Taking two of three from Cleveland followed by sweeping the Red Sox. Perfect way to enter the break!
Banned
I'm not anti-TV, I just prefer books to what I see on TV... personal choice, thats all.
Established Member
Too true! And what's more, there are often subtle and not-so-subtle pressures exerted off-camera by the producers to get the "desired" outcome. Not to mention that any effect or distortion of events can be achieved by appropriate editing...
I've often felt that day-time soaps have more "reality" than "reality" TV. They definitely have more honesty.
Banned
Reality sells, it's about making money...
Order of Kilopi
There is one reality series that I will watch, because it is reality. That's "The Deadliest Catch." Who knew crab fishing could be so interesting?
I also enjoy watching "The Deadliest Catch". I spent a year in the Aleutians and saw firsthand how nasty the weather can be. When I arrived at Shemya (Jan 1990), there was a grounded and abandoned fishing boat called the Opty some distance from the shore. We had a particularly bad storm one day (50 foot swells) and that boat was tossed up on shore. I can't imagine how it'd be to go out on one of those boats. I've never looked at a King Crab in the grocery store the same after watching that show.
The only other "reality show" that I ever watch is "American Chopper." I don't really care that much about motorcycles and hit the mute button when they get into one of their silly arguments, but I do enjoy seeing the creative process in action. It's interesting to see how technology has increased their ability to create advanced designs and parts in house.
Order of Kilopi
Let me try and understand. I suppose when you
are young, being alive is a great adventure
and seeing how other guys deal with things
albeit in an artificial set-up, can be really
absorbing. And I admit to being glued to the
celebrity event here last year. But generally
we old....we more mature folks who have seen
it all before, almost, just want something
gentle and nice most of the time. Which is not
a channel that exists yet! It does no harm to
restate the mode of my Quality channel. 1) No
talking or graphics over credits.
2)No drumming. 3) No presenters under 45. (but
all ethnic groups). 4)start at 5.30pm, end at
11.30 pm. (with video of your countryside and
national Anthem). 5) No drumming. 6) 1 or 2
classical concerts every week. 6) Current
affairs program showing deference to
Politicians. (let the questions, politely put,
do the business). 6) No drumming. 7) adverts
only accepted after vetting for sensible
content.
There is real malice at the moment on our
channels with utter comtempt for the viewer!
Well at certain moments anyway!
Order of Kilopi
Mythbusters. Although it's not as much fun as it used to be, I still enjoy watching them make (and break) things. Those guys have the best job ever.
I watch The Deadliest Catch from time to time, but can only take so much of it. Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs is kind of fun, and a better glimpse of reality than any of the so-called "reality" shows. Rowe also narrates Deadliest Catch.
I can't stand anything on the so-called Learning Channel any more. All stupid "reality" shows.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
Established Member
So....what now exactly constitutes "reality TV"?
There are several, as I see it, some really crappy, and some not so crappy
1. The "contest" type like survivor, amazing race, etc...
2. Humiliation/contest type like american idol, Hell's kitchen
3. The washed up former stars type like surreal life and flavour of love
4. Fake DIY shows like extreme mkeover home edition, flip this house
5. Real DIY shows like Holmes on Homes, This old house, et' al
6. Cooking shows
7. "Save something" shows like restaurant makeover, Ramsey's Kitchen nighmares
8. Meaningless junk, but still fun, like opening soon, junkyard wars
9. Mythbusters (they deserve their own)
What did I miss?
Pete
Order of Kilopi
The nightly news? Occasionally some reality there, as long as you're not watching Fox.
NOVA on PBS, and the few other good science shows around.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
Established Member
Well there are reality tv shows that are sickening ...
But .. I like one...
The Amazing Race..
Order of Kilopi
STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary
Established Member
Big Brother?
Honored Member
I guess I'm not sick of reality TV since I've never seen one of those programs. I saw the ads for one of the first ones and thought, "Reality TV? Wow, how artificial!" Later I recalled MTV's "The Real Life" which title per the ads (never watched the show) was a contradiction in terms.
I guess the only thing regrettable here is the time taken up by all this fluff. But then knowing the general approach of TV execs, that time would instead be taken up by different varieties of fluff.
One plus: that genre allows for more ways to describe baloney. For example, current events as reported by Fox: Reality News.
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