What is our fascination with reality shows? Since Survivor debuted, there has been an explosion of T.V. Reality shows. In fact, there are now more than 100 and it’s getting bigger all the time.
For one, Fear Factor has less to do with conquering your fears than doing something gross. No one in their right mind has lost sleep thinking, “I’m scared of eating brain matter or lying in a wood box filled with cockroaches." Everyone ends up wearing little clothes at some point and lo and behold they’re all beautiful people. Where’s the Average Joe? Not here.
Big Brother, The Bachelor, and Survival are nothing more than a showcase of manipulation, deceit, and gamesmanship. Don’t we get enough of this from our elected officials?
Wifeswap sounds like an X-rated movie. The producers carefully match two families that are completely different for the swap. In the end, not much changes because people tend to gravitate back to where they were.
We are a nation of crazed competitors secretly cheering for the underdog. When they lose as they usually do our hearts are broken along with theirs. Worse yet is the brutal manner in which many are dismissed. Just listen to some of Simon’s remarks from American Idol and you’ll be appalled. Are we drawn to the feelings of stress, conflict, and humiliation? How can you not want Average Joe to beat out the gorgeous hunk the girls blush over? We know how it is to feel insecure or scarred in someway by someone smarter or better looking. We hang onto the hope that someone will win against all odds. The disappointment we feel in the end makes us feel we’ve wasted our time yet again on a long shot. There’s a better chance of the Minnesota Vikings winning the Super Bowl this year, and believe me, even they are looking for tickets.
“The Biggest Loser" holds the dumbest rule of all by allowing the biggest loser to be sent home. So much for their dedication and commitment! Other than this pitfall however, the contestants here are people we can relate too. They epitomize the human soul with their mental and physical struggle each day. They know humility, brutal embarrassment, and courage because they live it every day.
The majority of reality shows demonstrate many negative behaviors to kids such as:
- Losers are humiliated
- Producers are only interested in entertainment at anyone’s expense. Rules are subject to change at any time.
- Winning is everything
- The good guy or gal rarely wins
On the plus side, there are cases where we see:
- Gracious losers
- People go all out to achieve their dreams
- Some positive encouragement
- Even if they lose, they made be found by someone else
- They get a few minutes of fame (recognition)
- Some find out that they are only chasing a dream
- No “what ifs?" when they get older. They get a blunt, unbiased opinion of their talent.
Reality Shows prey on the most vulnerable, are hardly random in their selections, and are manipulated competitions at best.
The truth is that there’s no more reality in “Reality Shows" than there is in the Wizard of Oz. Reality Shows may have taken T.V. by storm, but like any storm its craze will end. For now it should be treated like any other fictional television sitcom. As long as “true" reality continues to bore the masses, reality shows as we see them now are no more than soap operas.
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