TV...reality shows?

Borealis wrote: Peter wrote: Sorry: I tend to despise them -- they appeal to the lowest common denominator, to pull in viewers at a bargain price. No, give me some real writing and acting any day -- not a bunch of preening silicone & steroid-pumped wannabes eating disgusting things while clad in bikinis and speedos, and assassinating each other's (near total lack of) characters in the shameless, self-absorbed pursuit of a quick, easy, unearned buck. The McDonalds of TV-- the epitome of a sick, soulless, valueless, youth and money obsessed, short-attention-spanned, instant-gratification-demanding culture in rapid decline. The sort of dreck that religious fundamentalists can justifiably point to as "evil." The worst are the ones where you get to watch "ordinary" (but young and attractive) people of dissimilar backgrounds live together day by day -- a voyueristic look at others' lives, for pathetic folks who can't seem to get one of their own. Turn the f**king TV off, and take a walk outside. Really communicate with the people around you. Try to make yourself, and the world, a little better -- THAT'S reality. Just plain DUMB. I really liked this post. Simply what TV really is, and the way I see it (although I might have told it that well )

Wasn't there something in Revelations about "the great Reality TV plague"?

No, I must be imagining things again!

There is ultimately no such thing as "reality" TV, since the vast majority of these shows have been shown to be almost as "scripted" as regular programmed TV.  Like the wizard in Oz, it is basically a case of "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."  They are as phony as a nine-dollar bill.

As Peter says, these shows appeal to the lowest common denominator, whether it be the cult of personality/celebrity, stab-the-other-person-in-the-back competitiveness, the viewer vicariously living through other people's lives and actions, or blatant revenge fantasies.  It is sick, and only makes society sicker.

As Peter says, turn the TV off and go experience life for yourself.  Believe me, it's much more satisfying and fun.

Peace.

Sorry: I tend to despise them -- they appeal to the lowest common denominator, to pull in viewers at a bargain price.

No, give me some real writing and acting any day -- not a bunch of preening silicone & steroid-pumped wannabes eating disgusting things while clad in bikinis and speedos, and assassinating each other's (near total lack of) characters in the shameless, self-absorbed pursuit of a quick, easy, unearned buck.

The McDonalds of TV-- the epitome of a sick, soulless, valueless, youth and money obsessed, short-attention-spanned, instant-gratification-demanding culture in rapid decline. The sort of dreck that religious fundamentalists can justifiably point to as "evil."

The worst are the ones where you get to watch "ordinary" (but young and attractive) people of dissimilar backgrounds live together day by day -- a voyueristic look at others' lives, for pathetic folks who can't seem to get one of their own.

Turn the f**king TV off, and take a walk outside. Really communicate with the people around you. Try to make yourself, and the world, a little better -- THAT'S reality.

Just plain DUMB.



Edited by Peter

The contract that is signed for Big Brother TV show by anyone who appears on it, basically enslaves the person to the network production company they have signed with. Not only that but when they leave the show, they are contracted for the rest of their lives to the same agent. Effectively, the producers can do whatever they want with them (within the law) and there is no recourse. People are so desperate to get on TV and be 'famous', they sign. The power of television. 

If you have not already watched it and wish to gain a better understanding of corporate power, watch the documentary, The Corporation - The one with the man in a suit with briefcase and a halo and devils tail (Canadian production). It is an excellent expose of who the real powers that be are in the world and how they got it in the first place.

If you want to shape the mindset of a generation, just buy a TV station and make it the most popular in the land. They swing political agendas. There is no independant regulatory body to tell TV stations what they can or cannot put on. They are supposed to be able to regulate themselves. Essentially, this is the same as telling you that you can set your own speed limit and how much you can drink when you drive. Even if you have an accident, if you have enough money you can tie the complainant up for that many years, they will go broke before they ever see the end of the case. This is what Merck intends to do with the Vioxx suit. They have a 1 billion dollar warchest to fight the individuals that have been poisoned by their product.

Free press and independent journalism/editorial, stylish entertainment and production values, valid incisive comedy, educational documentary programs.

TV in its current form, 90% of the time.

Reality tv shows a distinct lack of originality in tv today......the more pish we get the less value we get...if i want to to see reality i'll look outside my window...........go and get a life people.

Saved by the Bell and the College Years were so .

saved by the bell: hawaii.

I could go on and on about how cool the first one was... but what's good on TV these days?

Man With Hat wrote: Cygnus X-2 wrote: Man With Hat wrote: Cygnus X-2 wrote: Man With Hat wrote: Big Brother isn't that bad. Esp. when there is nothing on in the summer. The Amazing Race is also pretty good. But, my favorite they took off a few years ago. THE MOLE. Excellent TV right there. One of the best shows of Television. I miss that show. Ahh well... Anyway, i don't get to watch too much TV anymore, being im gluded to my comp. all day I was also very interested in The Mole, it was terrific. WOOT!! Support...they need to bring it back now I think they did briefly, but it got cancelled again. Now another one of my favorite TV shows (although it only aired twice) was Clerks: the Cartoon. Luckily, View Askew released it on DVD. It was a celeb version i think. And it wasn't as good, esp. because they got rid of Anderson Cooper.

Ah, yes it was, and it was in Hawaii if I'm not mistaken... and that one was a stinker compared to the first one...