Does anyone even remember that movie? I think that was the only movie I remember watching where Ben Stiller actually intended to be not funny. Well, I don't want to talk about that movie. I don't even remember anything about it except the cast. But I want to whine about something that I'm sure many of you will not agree with me. It is a very high profile topic, one that has caused many an argument and I am sure multitudes of divorces. So here is my stance; Reality TV shows are causing the intellectual decay of the masses!
What makes people so drawn to watching other "normal" people say and do the dumbest things on network television?! I am sure the origins are deep seeded, but I'm going to blame David "Puck" Rainey from The Real World San Francisco. His violent outbursts and antagonistic behavior made him an instant hit. Each year the producers of The Real World would try desperately to cast persons that will have the most conflict and drama. And when they could get a couple that were willing to fornicate on the show their wallets would just burst! When the drama and conflict of every day "real" lives was no longer enough to satiate the appetites of the worlds collective morons, the naked fat gay guy from season one of Survivor arrived to demonstrate that we have yet to see the limit of how far stupid people will go to get their 15 minutes. Richard Hatch flaunted his flabby birthday suit, and the whole world tuned in. Producers saw a whole new wave of possibilities, and their eyes turned into dollar signs. Now every dumb ass reality show has to have some drama, nudity, gimmick, hook, or other perversion to get people to watch.
Survivor, The Mole, Big Brother, Amazing Race, Fear Factor would fall under the category "game show" reality programs. I will admit that even I have been entertained for a few brief seconds watching the contests these individuals compete in, but as soon as the camera is on them and they open their pie holes I am quickly reminded why I prefer to have trained actors earn billions of dollars to entertain me.
But what really REALLY pisses me off is when a good program that I enjoy is canceled to replace it with another freaking reality show! How many damn Bachelor, Bachelorette, Nanny 911, Supernanny, Wife Swap, Take My Wife, Whomever and Whatever and their 20 thousand million children shows do we need?!
Ok the creme de la crap, the American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent group! Seriously?! It terrifies me to know that there are people freely roaming the streets that actually watch this garbage. Shouldn't these people be under 24 hour surveillance by the men in the nice white coats?
I could go on, but just thinking about this is giving me a mini stroke. To illustrate the severity of this problem I am going to include a list below. This list is just the reality shows I am familiar with and detest. So it will not be all inclusive, but I assure you it will be long and depressing.
So let's have it! Defend your your decision to waste your precious few remaining brain cells on these types of programs. =)
Cya in 7
The Real World
Road Rules
Making the Band
Project Greenlight
Sorority Life
Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
The Real Housewives of Orange County
Jon & Kate Plus 8
Blind Date
Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?
Farmer Wants a Wife
The Bachelor
Meet My Folks
Average Joe
The Bachelorette
Married by America
Room Raiders
Date My Mom
Who Wants to Marry My Dad?
Beauty and the Geek
Next
Parental Control
Age of Love
Momma's Boys
Dog The Bounty Hunter
What Not to Wear
Extreme Makeover
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
Dr. 90210
Wife Swap
Celebrity Fit Club
The Biggest Loser
Nanny 911
Supernanny
Shalom in the Home
Flavor of Love
The Anna Nicole Show
The Osbournes
Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica
The Simple Life
The Surreal Life
The Gastineau Girls
Growing Up Gotti
The Girls Next Door
Hogan Knows Best
Meet the Barkers
Tommy Lee Goes to College
Gene Simmons Family Jewels
The Hills
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Run's House
Cheaters
Survivor
The Mole
The Amazing Race
Fear Factor
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
13: Fear Is Real
American Idol
America's Next Top Model
The Apprentice
The Contender
Dancing with the Stars
Hell's Kitchen
Project Runway
The Ultimate Fighter
America's Got Talent
American Inventor ( ok, I did like this one)
Top Chef
Who Wants to be a Superhero?
The Singing Bee
Thanks Wikipedia!
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OK - I haven't heard of most of those - when you actually list them like that it is a little scary.
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint you - I'm sure your opinion of me will go down dramatically - but I watch the "bachelor" (I know my mom would not approve either) - oh and does "WIPEOUT" count - cause my family loves that one - other than that I could do without all the rest!
Oh I forgot one - "THE NEWLYWEDS" because it comes on right after the Bachelor! (I love that one) I feel like I'm confessing deep dark secrets - that I watch a few reality shows. DON'T HATE ME!
ReplyDeleteAlright, I was with you the whole way UNTIL you brought So You Think You Can Dance into the mix! That show Rocks! It's my favorite! They are at least real dancers and not like Dancing With The Stars! There's no way you can compare SYTYCD with Wife Swap or stuff like that! Not even in the same universe!
ReplyDeleteAnd while talking to my husband at lunch today - he informed me he could not live without "Deadliest Catch". (which isn't on your list)
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan and I'm not afraid to admit it! :)
ReplyDeleteA few of my guilty pleasures...
Most TLC
Most Discovery channel
Most Bravo
I heart reality tv and the movie reality bites.. it's in my top 100
I'm pretty sure this was directed at his wife. :) I like a good portion of this and he makes fun of me. But I have a hard time believing my brain cells are being sucked out any faster then those that spend hours on Farm Town! Weirdos. :)
ReplyDeletei know, right?! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big TV watcher but I did watch the first two seasons of the Apprentice. Who can forget Troy from Idaho? I've also seen three episodes of Supernanny and a season of Design Star (which is not on your list, btw) and I saw the first season of the Bachelor and then another season that just really pissed me off.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't mind watching a few minutes of a couple of these - but most of them are really dumb. I did really like Jon and Kate plus 8 when I watched.
ReplyDeleteOn your last "rant" I have to disagree - Life isn't always fair, but life is good. Many of the people and situations do suck though.
Can I get a high five for this post?
ReplyDelete