I will admit that I like Reality TV. There aren't many that I have seen all the episodes too but Jersey Shore, Teen Mom, is my secret addictions. I have watched American Idol, The Voice, The Osbournes, The Kardashians and many others. But, I soon get bored, or the reality is too ridiculous to watch anymore. I have many friends that watch Survivor, Big Brother, The Bachelor, and Bachelorette, but I never really was interested in those shows.
It's interesting how "reality' tv has become the accident that no one should be watching, but they can't stop staring. Marriages that started out as a united front such as The Hogans (Hulk Hogan), The Kardashians (Bruce and Kris Jenner) and The Newlyweds (Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey) are just a few of the families that have changed since their reality shows premiered. The Hogans are divorced, The Jenners are divorced and so is the Lacheys.
Reality TV was born on Jan. 11, 1973, when PBS launched the series "An American Family." There were three camera crews that moved into the Santa Barbara house of Bill and Pat Loud and their five children. Documentary producer Craig Gilbert "set out to capture the lives of a fairly typical middle-America household but instead recorded the drama of a family in the process of coming apart." The couple's 21-year marriage ended, Bill Loud suffered a business crisis and eldest son Lance, 20, came out to his parents at a time when homosexuality went unspoken, especially in primetime. The 12 one-hour weekly episodes drew an impressive 10 million viewers.
The fact that the term reality is used to describe these shows make it more appealing. The people become more real, and their situations more identifiable viewers feel like they are friends with these people and are invested in their lives. They become our friends, and we struggle with them and celebrate their successes. It's easier to connect with a friend on TV then a friend that is physically there. The viewers enjoy living vicariously through their experiences; it saves the viewer from risking their heart or their reputation. They experience the real adventures from their own homes.
There are currently over 300 reality television shows, 65% of Americans indicated that they would appear on a least one of the reality TVs many genres. Dating shows such as The Bachelor 58% of people believe that it's mostly scripted. Other shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and supernatural shows, such as Syfy's Ghost Hunters are also believed to be scripted. People were least likely to think competition (31%), cooking (31%), and hidden camera shows (26%) were scripted.
It's interesting how many reality shows that is on television; I don't believe anyone can say they have never seen one. There is a reality show for everyone, whether its swapping houses, swapping wives, dating, marrying at first site or hundreds of others. Everyone should be able to find a reality show that fits their personality, it's okay to enjoy them, but like everything, it should be watched in moderation.
