1 of 87

No

Write now Article Tools

My answer to this question would have to be a resounding NO! The majority of the shows that are referred to as "Reality Television" are about as far removed from reality as the east is from the west. Shows such as "Big Brother" and "Survivor" are just sensationalism as far as I'm concerned - and I feel sure there are a significant number of other people who would feel the same way. Why anybody would want to go on a program like "Big Brother" and have a film camera on them every minute of every day for several weeks, while trying to live with a group of people they don't know in close quarters is totally beyond me. Such exhibitionist behaviour could not be more opposite to my nature.

I have never had any desire at all to watch this show. Just hearing about it all the time in the media is bad enough. I can't understand the people who find anything attractive about it to ogle at for a large portion of an evening either. I can only say they must not have much of value to do with their time.

Not long ago there was great outrage over the way certain members of the household had been behaving on the Australian series and there was a call for the show to be banned. Of course that didn't happen, but the issue served to reinforce my evaluation of the show as trash. Why would most people want to watch sordid behaviour like that? Or why would those involved be so unguarded as to behave badly when they know full well that the cameras are filming everything they do, for goodness sake!

Then there's the stories you hear of the way they are treated by the producers of the program. Leo Sayer apparently left the British version of the show because, amongst other things, they wouldn't allow him to have any clean underwear for the duration of the series. I mean, just how demoralising is that!

Then there was the recent news item about one of the women on the Australian series whose father had died but the producers didn't even let her know. That is just unethical to my way of thinking.

I've never watched "Survivor" either - but again the publicity it receives is bad enough and puts me off any thought of watching it. These programs are all so totally contrived and lacking in dignity. As for the whole concept of the participants voting each other off - why don't they just give them each a knife and have a game to see who can stab someone else in the back first?

There are, of course, other shows that I've seen snippets of which belong in this category too. The one where two couples who

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Has the trend toward Reality TV improved the quality of television shows??
We want to hear your view. Write now!