Coached TV

I don't have cable so I don't often watch reality TV. In the past I have watched shows like Mythbusters. Reality shows along the same lines I can see as having merit. Punk'd, Jackass, Fear Factor, and others are mildly entertaining in pieces for me to watch. Most of the gamut of reality shows I have to say are a waste of time. Using the term “reality” is not the best description for them at all. I think that they are all either scripted or the people are at the least being coached from behind the camera. They are exaggerations at best of real life drama. Many are blatantly impossible for the average American. That is why I watch the shows that are usually educational in nature. This is not true for everyone. Obviously someone tuned into Flavor of Love.

Whether they are harmful or naught is up for debate. Violence in video games is still being vehemently argued over by many experts. I think it comes down to whether or not the person watching the show has a susceptible personality. Young people being at a disadvantage because of their lack of life experience. Many shows have come under fire for the authenticity of the “reality” aspect. Big brother is one that is constantly being portrayed as nothing but a bunch of fledgling actors. Man vs. Wild is one that I do watch via Netflix. The host Bear Grylls did an episode near my home town. People who knew the area picked the episode to pieces. Citing that in many cases Bear was a stones throw away from civilization. One scene involved a lake that has a paved access road. I know these things to be true yet at the same time for the show it wasn't relevant. It is a show about demonstrating survival tactics in extreme situations. The fact that they have to manufacture some of those situations for me was a given. Other shows are not so forgivable.

The shows are meant for entertainment. For those who watch them that is the need that they perceive as being fulfilled. I'm not going to judge someone for watching one of the many shows in the dating genre. I don't have to watch them and so I do not. At the same time I can not condone letting a five year old watch Jersey Shore. Nobody really wants their children to grow up and have the pet name Snooki or The Situation. There is probably no denying that reality TV has an affect on our society. There are some constructive shows. It may seem that they are outweighed by the opposing variety. If only negative reality shows were a dying fad.

I will continue to ignore ninety percent of reality TV. None of those in the dating/relationship genre fit into my entertainment needs. The only other show I think is worth mentioning would be Man vs. Food. There are several food joints around the country I want to sample that were featured, and I would not have known of them without the show. Though I probably will not partake in the food challenges that were presented.