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Reflections: Why I hate reality TV shows

While I try to avoid using the word "hate", reality shows are close to deserving of that verb. In a nutshell, reality TV is not real, but being marketed as real. That type of illusion is what bothers me more than drama, so-called comedy and fantasy. At least in those cases we are not trying to be fooled into thinking that those are real people in real surroundings.

I found out when they did a documentary on Donald Trump's show "The Apprentice" that reality shows are staged. Once I got past the irony of a documentary on a reality show, it was interesting to see that they still stage the surroundings to be "viewer friendly".

While the participating members of shows like Survivor, The Apprentice, or Big Brother aren't necessarily actors, I am always left wondering: What kind of "real" people can simply give up their daily lives for weeks and months on end to appear on TV with the chance of walking away with nothing? While I applaud people who don't have the financial constraints or other obligations to keep them tied to "real" life, I can't help but wonder why they would waste their time starring in idiotic scenarios scripted by a third party.

What's worse though is the type of reality show that follows celebrities, such as the Kardashians. Who are they anyway, and what's more - should I even care? Judging the size of their implants and by the amount of their hair extensions, they already have enough money, without being paid to have cameras following them around. The few snippets that you can't help but see while channel surfing pretty much say it all.

Then there is the show "The Girls Next Door". I don't know about you, but my people next door don't look like that. What bothers me about these types of shows is that people could get sucked into believing that a reality show means that those people starring in them roll out of bed looking like that. If you don't have a grip on yourself, you could end up with a low self-esteem. All these people still have stylists and make-up artists making them ready for TV. If it was truly "real" TV, there would not be any stylists and make up artists, but people would simply be shown as they are.

Another category of reality TV is the competition type. Everything from buying houses to cooking food is turned into a competition. Even weddings and rehab aren't sacred. If some of these shows don't pit competitors against each other, they still follow one individual around.

In the latter case, I simply think this exists to create envy and


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