Wednesday, May 19, 2004
I Like SURVIVOR
A friend of mine sent me an article from VARIETY about reality shows. The article states initially TV executives respected the participants, but are now feeling nothing but contempt for the participants as they try to figure out new ways to portray them as morons. As a borderline reality junkie, I have to agree with this.
I was a big fan of REAL WORLD and ROAD RULES on MTV for their first 5 or so seasons. It was interesting to see how strangers dealt with different situations. After a while it became boring since it seems every 18-24 year old reacts identically to free rent, free booze, free trips,..... Now I watch the REAL WORLD / ROAD RULES CHALLENGE. I'm a competitive person and its fun to "root" for may "favorite" cast member to win the challenge put before them. I get to see them react to free rent, free booze, free trips.... also, but thanks to TIVO I can fast forward through that if I want.
Most of the new reality tv shows are boring or rise my ire. BACHELOR, BACHELORETTE, AVERAGE JOE, JOE MILLIONARE, MY BIG FAT OBNOXIOUS FIANCE, et all, aren't worth watching. Although JOE MILLIONARE 2 did have a cute Joe, especially in a gladiator outfit. The producers of BOY MEETS BOY peeved me off big time. The underhanded lying and stacking the deck that went on with that show made me yell. Good thing they're in California.
Competition shows seem to fair better with me. AMAZING RACE, THE MOLE, and SURVIVOR are fun and enjoyable.
SURVIVOR is probably my favorite. Mentioned in the VARIETY article was reference to Jeri Manthey's comment during the ALL STARS REUNION show that the contestants are people and not just made up characters. When people say mean things about the contestants, it does have an impact on them. I understand her point. The producers / editors of reality series have a tendancy to "cast" certain participants into stereotypical roles. Every show needs its hero and villian. Without them fighting, why watch? Jeri has commented on that she's not a bitch and was inacurrately portrayed as one because of how the show was edited. As a cast member from REAL WORLD LOS ANGELES once said "If they showed me as a bitch, its because I gave them the footage of me being a bitch. If I didn't provide the material, they couldn't have edited it as such."
I think this is a very insightful outlook on the whole reality experience. While the producers are looking for new ways to protray people as morons, its only going to happen if people give them the footage of moronic behavior. The producers are not solely to blame, the participants willingly signed on for their 15 minutes, and we've chosen to watch. Vicious circle, but no one gets 100% of the blame.
A friend of mine sent me an article from VARIETY about reality shows. The article states initially TV executives respected the participants, but are now feeling nothing but contempt for the participants as they try to figure out new ways to portray them as morons. As a borderline reality junkie, I have to agree with this.
I was a big fan of REAL WORLD and ROAD RULES on MTV for their first 5 or so seasons. It was interesting to see how strangers dealt with different situations. After a while it became boring since it seems every 18-24 year old reacts identically to free rent, free booze, free trips,..... Now I watch the REAL WORLD / ROAD RULES CHALLENGE. I'm a competitive person and its fun to "root" for may "favorite" cast member to win the challenge put before them. I get to see them react to free rent, free booze, free trips.... also, but thanks to TIVO I can fast forward through that if I want.
Most of the new reality tv shows are boring or rise my ire. BACHELOR, BACHELORETTE, AVERAGE JOE, JOE MILLIONARE, MY BIG FAT OBNOXIOUS FIANCE, et all, aren't worth watching. Although JOE MILLIONARE 2 did have a cute Joe, especially in a gladiator outfit. The producers of BOY MEETS BOY peeved me off big time. The underhanded lying and stacking the deck that went on with that show made me yell. Good thing they're in California.
Competition shows seem to fair better with me. AMAZING RACE, THE MOLE, and SURVIVOR are fun and enjoyable.
SURVIVOR is probably my favorite. Mentioned in the VARIETY article was reference to Jeri Manthey's comment during the ALL STARS REUNION show that the contestants are people and not just made up characters. When people say mean things about the contestants, it does have an impact on them. I understand her point. The producers / editors of reality series have a tendancy to "cast" certain participants into stereotypical roles. Every show needs its hero and villian. Without them fighting, why watch? Jeri has commented on that she's not a bitch and was inacurrately portrayed as one because of how the show was edited. As a cast member from REAL WORLD LOS ANGELES once said "If they showed me as a bitch, its because I gave them the footage of me being a bitch. If I didn't provide the material, they couldn't have edited it as such."
I think this is a very insightful outlook on the whole reality experience. While the producers are looking for new ways to protray people as morons, its only going to happen if people give them the footage of moronic behavior. The producers are not solely to blame, the participants willingly signed on for their 15 minutes, and we've chosen to watch. Vicious circle, but no one gets 100% of the blame.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Misc Ramblings
It's been a while since I've written anything. Well actually I tried to write something last week, but it didn't save, which is probably just as well. In any event, I've decided I'm going to try and write something at least once a week and gradually increase from there. Here's today's Misc Ramblings.
Cabins in the woods are very restful places. While I've grown up with a summer home in northern Wisconsin, it is 5 1/2hours away from home. Not really suitable for the quick weekend getaway for most people. Since I don't have a car, not suitable for me either. This past weekend a friend invited up to a place he got from his job at the Art Institute. It used to belong to a former student / artist who willed it to the school for mini-retreats. It was an amazing, art filled house and guest house. Didn't do much but sit outside, talk and read. A perfect weekend.
Budgets stink. My biggest excuse for not writing the past few weeks, other than I lead a boring life, is I've been working on budgets for my job. These are the bane of my existance. Thankfully they only come once a year. Unfortunately, they cram 12 months of torture into 6 weeks. Not fun.
People are cruel. My missing post was my thoughts on David Berg and the Iraqi Prison torture pictures. I've scene screen captures from the David Berg video. Even scrolling really fast through them, it still shook me up for a couple of days. I don't think I'll ever be able to watch a Freddy/Jason/Michael movie again. While I have seen very few Iraqi Prison torture pictures, there is absolutely no excuse for what members of our armed forces did. We are supposed to be "helping" the country, not inflicting unprovoked harm on its citizens. Both occurances have reinforced my desire to end the war and say goodbye to Bush in November.
Not too bad for ramblings. I'm just hoping I can keep up a weekly posting.
It's been a while since I've written anything. Well actually I tried to write something last week, but it didn't save, which is probably just as well. In any event, I've decided I'm going to try and write something at least once a week and gradually increase from there. Here's today's Misc Ramblings.
Cabins in the woods are very restful places. While I've grown up with a summer home in northern Wisconsin, it is 5 1/2hours away from home. Not really suitable for the quick weekend getaway for most people. Since I don't have a car, not suitable for me either. This past weekend a friend invited up to a place he got from his job at the Art Institute. It used to belong to a former student / artist who willed it to the school for mini-retreats. It was an amazing, art filled house and guest house. Didn't do much but sit outside, talk and read. A perfect weekend.
Budgets stink. My biggest excuse for not writing the past few weeks, other than I lead a boring life, is I've been working on budgets for my job. These are the bane of my existance. Thankfully they only come once a year. Unfortunately, they cram 12 months of torture into 6 weeks. Not fun.
People are cruel. My missing post was my thoughts on David Berg and the Iraqi Prison torture pictures. I've scene screen captures from the David Berg video. Even scrolling really fast through them, it still shook me up for a couple of days. I don't think I'll ever be able to watch a Freddy/Jason/Michael movie again. While I have seen very few Iraqi Prison torture pictures, there is absolutely no excuse for what members of our armed forces did. We are supposed to be "helping" the country, not inflicting unprovoked harm on its citizens. Both occurances have reinforced my desire to end the war and say goodbye to Bush in November.
Not too bad for ramblings. I'm just hoping I can keep up a weekly posting.
