Why I hate reality TV

There. I said it - I hate reality TV. But let me be clear - Im not talking about competition shows like The Voice or Project Runway. Im not talking about cooking shows, home improvement shows or documentaries.

Im talking about shows where people who are previously famous for nothing get their own show to display the intimate details of their lives. There are some shows that aren't so bad - I've been known to laugh at Si on Duck Dynasty when my husband is watching, and I enjoy TLC's The Little Couple. But for the most part, the whole concept makes me cringe. I don't mean to single out any particular show, but in many cases I feel like we are watching these shows for laughs and the "stars" have no clue we are making fun of them. It is true that most are compensated quite well for opening their lives up to the cameras. And perhaps they do know that we are laughing but the money is so good, they don't care. But what does that say about our society? We are actively watching programs because we enjoying watching others and thinking about how we are better than them. And we wonder why bullying is such an issue in our schools...

Many years ago I was a communications major. My concentration was in Public Relations, but my love of TV led me to a few electives in the radio/tv/film concentration. While reality TV was not what it is today then (MTV was the biggest producer with Real World, Road Rules and The Real World/Road Rules challenges), it did come up in a few classes, so here is what I remember....

Reality TV is cheap to produce. Despite the crazy amounts of money some "stars" get per episode, they rarely get that in the beginning of a show's lifetime. There are no sets to create and in many cases  no wardrobe or makeup artists. They can make a reality show for far less per episode just because they have no writers to pay. Once the "stars" are making fees closer to what actors make the shows are in the position to be pulling in that money from advertisers or product placement deals.

In my house we watch mostly network TV and scripted cable shows. We DVR new episodes as they air. Most people - those who are not addicts - no longer do that. I have a friend who is also a huge Big Bang Theory fan. One day I asked her about what she thought of the most recent episode. She had no clue what I was talking about. The fact is, she didn't even know that BBT airs on CBS. She thought it was a TBS show because all she's ever watched is the repeats there. When I asked her what she normally watches on a given night she informed me that she normally just channel surfs till something catches her eye. She admitted its generally a cable reality show. I don't think she's alone. The voyeur in us is taking over, and because of that so is reality TV.

And I can hear all the comments - so what? I like it and I should be able to watch what I like. And yes, you should. But I don't think reality TV is good for us. I think it makes people feel like they have a right to know all the details of everyone's lives. If I get to know these things about the Kardashians and the Duggars and Honey Boo Boo then why shouldn't I know it about my coworkers, my neighbors, even my family. But guess what? Its just not your business. The people with reality shows are making a choice to let us in. Your friends and family are not so its not OK to ask them certain things or comment on certain things. I recently overheard this conversation between acquaintances:

Woman 1 - So you'll be married 10 years soon then. Don't you want kids?
Woman 2 - Umm....
Woman 1 - Well, there is no shame in infertility. Guilana and Bill struggled with it too. They got a surrogate.
Woman 2 - Oh, ummm, yeah...
Woman 1 -  I know they are expensive, but you both have good jobs. Would you like me to make some calls? See if I know anyone else who has used one?

Woman 1 just dropped the names of two famous people as if she knows them personally. And she feels like she does, because she steps into the day to day of their lives once a week.

This is a TV blog, so I wont get political, but in the last week some pretty major things have been going on in our country. Next time you watch the news or visit a news website, take a minute to check out the stories, really look at them. Don't just scan for what you are looking for. I think you will be shocked at how many stories are about reality TV stars and minutia from celebrities lives. Then take a look at how many of them are above the fold.

Reality TV is cheap to produce and if we keep watching it, they will keep making it. I think we need to stop watching.