REALITY, IS IT THAT GREAT?

     Who doesn’t enjoy a good reality television program? There is such a smorgasbord to choose from. If romance is your thing, then ABC can meet your needs with the “Bachelor/ette”. Should you love drama, MTV has got your back with “Bad Girls Club”. Then there is always TLC, with their assortment of odd and disturbing reality programming. So much can be said about such television shows that we define as “entertainment.” Even more can be said about those who watch these programs.



     Personally, I am not a huge fan of reality television, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t watch them. I am guilty of tuning in weekly to my certain favorites. I prefer to watch The Food Network and their variety of cooking competitions. Honestly they intrigue me, primarily due to what cooking tips I learn from these competitors. I also love the DIY Network and their exterior/interior home renovation competitions. Who would have known that there are so many uses for PVC piping? I justify watching these reality shows by telling myself that I am gleaning a world of useful knowledge and practical tips for my future, however, I cannot deny the small part of me that feeds off of the anticipation of seeing the contestants complete their project on time or which chef will be chopped next.



     I feel that most reality shows have one important factor in common, DRAMA. Whether it is some sort of dating/matchmaking show or a competitive sports challenge like “Survivor,” it’s usually a level of competition that leads into arguments and underhanded moves by each contestant. Sometimes this tension masquerades behind “good intentions”. Either way it’s that drama that keeps us coming back.



     I believe that some reality shows are a little more unnerving than others. For instance “Too Fat for Fifteen,” is a show based on a group of severely overweight teenagers. Each week these obese children are pushed to their limits with exercise and strict eating regime. Sometimes they succeed, other times they pass out from exhaustion. Occasionally these kids break down emotionally because they are not losing weight, but in some cases, gaining weight. It sometimes makes me wonder how that is possible. Aren’t they in a fat camp? It is my opinion that in cases like these, people are being exploited. Of course no person can be exploited without signing some kind of contract with the network providing this show. What makes me sad with a show like “Too Fat for Fifteen” is that someday when these kids grow up, they might regret sharing such an intimate detail of their childhood. Perhaps their parents were the ones who influenced their decision? Another heartbreaker for me is the whole divorce scandal between Jon & Kate Gosselin. This family opened their home with intentions to share with the world about their “unique” story and complicated lifestyle. As time goes by, dad ends up having an affair. This probably would have happened any way, but for it to transpire in front of the world? What kind of impact will this have on the children? To accommodate this turn in events, the network then changes the show’s title from “Jon & Kate plus Eight,” to “Kate plus Eight.” It is almost as if he was never there at all and he was that easy to forget.



      I know we live in an era that is corrupt from the very top in society down to the lowliest of ghettos, but have we honestly gotten so hard heartened that we can call a family meltdown entertaining? Are we a people who get a quick thrill off of someone else’s pain? I believe in some cases, yes. Some people really enjoy other people’s misfortunes. In other cases, I think people just thrive on watching other people’s misery just to forget about their own.