Admittedly, I am quite addicted to reality TV. It's true. I can't help it. It's so mindless and easy to watch. Well, unless you're me. Then you're reading all sorts of deep messages about the statements it makes on gender, sexuality, socio-economic status... Yes, that's the curse of being a social science geek.
Anyway, I'll skip that jazz for now. That's not what this is about.
Instead, in watching my reruns of all the VH1 "faves," I'm finding that there are several things I just expect when watching reality TV. This is NOT an exhaustive list, but just some of the things I tend to notice on these types of programs. Also welcome any other things you're used to seeing!
1. Exposure: Yes, you know what I'm talking about -- the person on TV trying to "promote" something, or "is just there for the cameras." They can sing, dance, whatever... But just need that "big break" to catapult them into the fame they deserve. Countless wannabe models make it onto Rock of Love, I Love New York, For the Love of Ray J... Yeah, it's the quest for fame. (My take? Why you would choose a show like THAT to launch your career? Something else entirely...)
2. Fakeness: Honestly, this is my personal favorite. It seems to be the easiest tactic -- accuse someone of not being "who they are," and it causes more cat fights than a back alley battle over the last scrap of food in the garbage. It works though -- the fights that blow up are SOOOO worth watching.
3. Keeping Walls Up: For some reason, "dating" someone for a few weeks on national television makes you an expert on the walls they are keeping up. Because, of course, in the middle of the booze and table dances, all these "celebs" want is love... Right? Um, yeah...
4. Having "Another One" on the side: This one is tried and true. As far as I can tell, on almost EVERY show I've seen, at least one contestant is hiding a secret -- they have a live in boyfriend, they're "separated," they're in a committed relationship. BUT -- things are SO bad with this partner (with whom they've been with for YEARS) that they need to come on a reality TV show to find love without finding closure with the other person in their lives.
5. Not Ready for Something Serious: This one cracks me UP. With the volumes of partying that happens at these houses, it's amusing that these people are talking about professing love and wanting others to do that in such a short window of time. It doesn't help that these things are greatly intensified on TV, and reason for which most of these relationships don't last.
These are just my take on it. Doesn't mean I'll stop watching though...
Labels: Reality TV
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such classic tv.