Reality, whut?

[silverthorne]

I don't like reality shows. I really don't. They're set up to make spectacles of people and what they do, reward the most cut-throat actions, and sets up the 'losers' for ridicule and embarrassment.



Gossip abounds. Popular opinion (if viewers are allowed to vote) holds sway over common sense and often the ability to remain neutral and true to the idea of the 'right' thing to vote for. Sanjaya(sp?) in American Idol is a good recent example of this. What kept him on the show so long was not based on his talent, but rather on how popular he was, and how popular it would make you to support him over other, more talented competitors. Or at least that's what seems to be the general consensus I got from listening to the news and hearing 'water cooler' talk. I do know I wasn't impressed by the few voice clips of his I gave the time of day to.

As is probably obvious, I don't watch American Idol, either. Even without ever having put eyes on it, I can tell by the stir it creates that this isn't the old shows that showcased talents and let them do their thing without the nitpicking and insults and mucked up voting.

This, though, means I have a dilemma. Because next week, Jon and Richie will be on, teaching the remaining contestants for this season how to sing like...well...Bon Jovi.

I want to see my boys. I would love to see how they look at their work by way of watching them coach others.

But I sure as fuck don't want to watch American Idol, both for my original reason...and because I don't want to risk watching someone possibly butcher one of the songs. Put it this way--I sing to the songs myself. As long as no one is listening. And I shut up as soon as I hit a sour note until I find the right note again.

Trust me, if you sing, you know that makes sense.

Anyhow...woe.

Comments

[cluegirl.livejournal.com]

Right there with ya. I loathe reality TV, because I never want to stand around and watch someone be humiliated, even figuratively. That's why I can't watch most Gary Shandling and Jim Carey movies, or the Three Stooges (eye pokes notwithstanding.) Because I feel too much empathy with the person getting screwed, and I just start wanting to step in and stick up for them.

Why would I do that to myself in the name of recreation?

Although there is one reality tv show I would like to not only watch, but to produce: Celebrity Survivor NYC!

Teams would be made up of the likes of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, Alec Baldwin and Carrot Top, and Phil Spector and so on. The rules of the game are thus: They are stripped of all access to their own cash and credit, they are taken to a salvation army store and told to outfit themselves on a budget of ten bucks, they are registered with the city as a panhandler, and with the local free clinics in case of emergencies, and then they are turned out onto the streets of New York City, to see if they can make it. Anyone caught trading on their fame is stripped to their underwear, and made to panhandle rush hour in Grand Central station.

Challenges would be things like the pigeon chase, free clothes-bin wrestling, newspaper fashion design, store security evasion, and dental hygiene improvisation.

Now THAT, I'd watch!

[skywardprodigal.livejournal.com]

May I quote you?

Because, wow, if that isn't the best image I've got in my head?

Wow.

[silverthorne.livejournal.com]

Okay, yeah, gotta agree with that one. *g*

Heh. Maybe when we all get some 'street cred' (IE: a name for ourselves), we could start it up. *eg*