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Post by The Curmudgeon on Nov 12, 2007 20:37:17 GMT 2
It's a puzzing title, "reality TV." For me, it sums up the very worst of what is classed as "entertainment" these days. Vile, pointless shows with vile, pointless "celebrities" desperate to do anything and everything to keep in the public eye.
But then, there ARE a number of programs I watch and enjoy that are based around "reality" - i.e, they have no "actors" in them, no real scripts and no central plots. But they're not the of the dead-eyed singing/dancing variety, nor the washed up Z-list coke snorter trying to cut hair/live in a jungle/learn to dance/learn to be in a circus etc etc that are spewed onto television schedules throughout the world.
Things like Pimp My Ride. The American version (not the horrific UK attempt) is pure brain-free fluff - but it's 30 minutes of good fun, as X-Zibit is a genuine TV star - funny, warm and with a genuine charisma that makes this thouroughly pointless show damn good TV, except for the end when the kid drives back to his neighbourhood and his stupid friends act like the monkey's from 2001 jumping around the monolith. It's not like I never miss an episode, but it's the only show on MTV I can actually sit through without wanting to kill every single person on screen.
Cooking shows bore me to tears, but my wife (who used to be a chef) is a fan of Gordon Ramsey - and now so am I. As a result, The F Word, Hells Kitchen (the hilariously over-dramatic US version) and Kitchen Nightmares are now never-miss programs. Seeing people reduced to tears because they forgot to take a steak out of an oven is always funny.
See, not all of the dreaded "R" word is bad. Anyone else got some favourites?
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Post by trashcanman on Nov 13, 2007 0:25:45 GMT 2
My wife also worships at the altar of Gordon Ramsey, and I'll admit that I enjoy him every now and then too. Whenever he starts sputtering and calling people "fucking don-kay!" we laugh heartily. I will indulge in the trash TV of "Cheaters" where a PI agency catched people cheating on their spouses and then brings in the significant other for a full-on Jerry Springer confrontation. I hate myself for loving it. The best for me is "The Ultimate Fighter". It's like "Big Brother" if the housemates got to beat the shit out of each other at the end of every episode. Plus, it's mined some of the most exciting UFC fighters from it's ranks. I'm a proud fan.
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Post by The Curmudgeon on Nov 14, 2007 1:32:42 GMT 2
That show sounds awesome - it's something we don't have over here sadly, but I would be front row centre for that one. See, I have no problem with "reality" tv per se - it's been a staple of television ever since it was created. Not every program can be a high brow drama or a comedy. With a genuinely interesting and worthwhile premise, likeable cast who aren't just in it to get their name in gossip mags, then showing real people can be pretty damn rewarding television. It's only recently that the word "reality" (and, for that matter, celebrity) have become by-words for dross. And that's a shame. Speaking of Gordon Ramsey, it's worth noting he hated doing the UK "celebrity" version of the show, hence the fact he opted out of the later series and went to film the American version which had the main prize of the winner getting to run his restaurant. A genuine show with a genuine prize - they're not looking to become famous - they're looking to do what they love, get paid shitloads and do it in one of the best places in the world. And how can you not love THIS? www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGvto-laVRoMan, he would probably have kicked my ass, but there's no WAY I would have taken that without at least attempting to knock Gordon out. Still - makes good TV! |
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Post by trashcanman on Nov 14, 2007 23:49:00 GMT 2
That man is a maniac. I've had bosses that weren't far off of that, though. I tend to crack up laughing at the sheer lack of control in an adult human being when someone screams at me like that. Of course, that just pisses them off more which leads to more screaming and more laughing and on and on...
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Post by Ben on Nov 15, 2007 6:55:42 GMT 2
The only reality TV I really watch is "The Amazing Race." I used to watch with my family all the time and just recently discovered it again. Of course, it's terribly easy for even the dumbest goons to discern where they edit the show for drama and play it up to be closer than it is, but it's still enjoyable, especially since they go to some really (this will sound cheesy) awesome places around the world.
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Post by hackersanonymous on Nov 16, 2007 3:24:35 GMT 2
I don't watch any reality shows at all.. However, my fiancee watches America's Next Top Model. And Canada's Next Top Model. And Britain's Next Top Model (are you sensing a theme here). I'm sitting next to her working on the laptop (or feeding the babies), and so I'll catch a bit here and there.
Weirdly enough, it's the least "ooh, pretty girlies" out there.. I can honestly say I'd rather slit my wrists open than spend any time with any of the harpies in this show.
Mind you - it does have one selling point.. It's worth watching an episode of America's, and then switch to Britain's just to see how monumentally cheap and shit it really is - not a single stop has been pulled out...
Toodles!
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Post by The Curmudgeon on Nov 16, 2007 9:24:53 GMT 2
Yaaayy.. welcome back, Hacker - long time no see. I hope The Brood are well.
I just think the American's do this sort of thing - you know, television - better than us. So America's version of that model rubbish is better, but the US version of Hell's Kitchen is paced like it's fucking 24, with dramatic music and jump cuts and poe-faced voice overs.. it makes you feel like what you're watching isn't just some twats running around burning cakes.
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Post by The Curmudgeon on Nov 18, 2007 21:35:14 GMT 2
Oh, I forgot one I actually really quite enjoy - it's a reality show and it's also.. gulp... a talent show. Where the winner get a record contract.
No, wait! Don't desert the site just yet. It's not THAT one.
This one is called Mobile Act Unsigned, and whilst it follows the same formula as Cowell's cash cows, it is actually completely different. For a start, there's no eager to please gimps with white teeth singing Bee Gee's songs - this is a competition for REAL unsigned bands who have to write and sing their own material in order to win.
And while seeing a group of guys waiting for approval from a record company mangager isn't exactly the epitome of rock and roll, seeing the audience made up of kids standing up, drinking beer (like - gasp! A real gig!) is a nice exception.
Plus, it's quite a small show, so your average moron won't even have heard of it. All in all - good entertainment, and actually might make a decent band get a deal.
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Post by trashcanman on Nov 19, 2007 11:12:22 GMT 2
There was a show called (I think) "Band on the Run" a few years back that I was hooked on. It was 5 bands who had to tour and compete with each other and it was pretty damned good. It only went one season which was probably smart because very few reality shows are worth watching more than one season of. Fond memories, though.
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