Reality Doesn't Always Bite

When did reality television become so prevalent in everyday programming? Oh wait, I know; it was when writers ran out of original ideas. First a history lesson, reality television has been around since shocked, unsuspecting bystanders heard the words “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera” in 1948 and it became hip in 1992 when MTV followed seven strangers in a rather contained environment and called it “The Real World”. (Of course, there were the “bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?” on COPS which began in 1989 but that wasn’t hip until years later when you began seeing hip hop stars on it.) But reality TV absolutely exploded on May 31, 2000 when “Survivor” hit the airwaves. How ironic a show called “Survivor” should be the demise of original television.

I have been dismissive of reality TV for most of the 21^st century. I have never seen “Survivor” and do not understand why people are infatuated with no-talent, wanna-be singers making fools of themselves on American Idol. (I have to have several drinks before I will do that in my own living room.) Everything in reality has been a competition and I have not cared about who the “winners” are…until now.

It has got to be so easy to be a TV producer today. Don’t have a movie to make into a show? No tired sitcom that looks like every other one? Oh, maybe there is a drama that does not have a plot twist everyone sees coming each week? No? Than make a reality show. You no longer need a script and a set to produce a program; all you require is one or more people willing to put their lives out for public consumption and bam! you are on some cable channel’s lineup.

At some point in the last year, reality television has snuck onto my DVR. I am still not a fan of the competition shows but I have been sucked into the lives of those with psychological issues, work drama, hella skills and what they all have in common is they are unabashed train wrecks where you just cannot help but watch. I want a point to my reality but, I will be honest, it does not have to be well defined. As long as they are not chasing pigs through some bushes (Lady Hoggers? Really?), I am good to go.

Okay, so let’s get it out there. I am addicted to “Hoarders”. I watch it almost as soon as it is done recording. How can you not watch this show?! For those who are not familiar, it is about people who have “collected” too much stuff and their houses are overflowing to the detriment of their health and family relationships. It is often heart wrenching and almost always disgusting. BUT, it is fascinating to watch. It boggles my mind how these people can justify their lifestyle; some of them will fight for a pile of garbage. Psychologists and chronic disorganization experts are called in to help. These people usually end up frustrated and it is sometimes funny to watch them try not to throttle the homeowner. I know a lot of people cannot watch this show because it is so gross but, and this says a little something about me, it kind of makes me feel better about my own place. Hm, it suddenly does not seem so cluttered but maybe I will take the garbage out.

When I think I have had a tough day at work I watch “Ice Road Truckers”. Have you seen what these people do? They are crazy! One season they are driving semis across the frozen ocean in Canada; the next they are navigating 500 miles of treacherous icy highway in Alaska…in blizzards and other weather conditions that would send even the most experienced Iowa drivers back in front of the fireplace. It is insane and sounds a little like watching NASCAR but it is riveting. Right now a few of the IRTs are driving in the Andes and it is just fun to watch them use their extensive knowledge to navigate the “death roads”. These people are fearless or stupid; either way I am hooked.

I said I do not watch competition reality television but that is not entirely true. I LOVE many cooking reality shows. When they are having new seasons, I record “Top Chef” and “Hell’s Kitchen”. Mostly I enjoy watching these people create dishes at the drop of a knife. It takes me three days to decide which frozen dinner I am going to have. They present fabulous meals out of a piece of shoe leather, some banana peel and a pile of dirt. (I am watching “Top Chef: Texas” and I am almost positive that was one of the challenges.) And, well, if you have seen “Hell’s Kitchen” than you know Gordon Ramsey is mean and that is just fun to watch.

I watch a few other shows on television but there just is not a lot of originality anymore. I am embarrassed by most sitcoms. The dramas are predictable. Crime and suspense shows have copied each other and now you can barely tell them apart. Ironically, reality television is where originality can be found. Sure, a lot of the shows can be grouped together but that is just genres. Most are purely entertainment but there are some that have a message. I am mostly looking for entertainment so deliver your message elsewhere but I do appreciate the effort. I think the so-called talent shows should just die already but damn those are popular. Everyone likes a good freak show, I guess.

Soooo, “bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?”…probably turn up on “First 48 Hours” as a suspect or maybe trying to get rid of stolen items on “Pawn Stars”…