The real reason is that reality shows are cheap to make. And as H.L.Mencken wrote, nobody went broke by underestimating the taste of the American public.
So-called “reality shows” feature people who can’t act trying futilely to act, people who can’t write, the same, people who can’t direct, the same, and people who can’t produce, the same. FUTILE. And watched by people who can’t think …..
That’s how I assume David Zaslav got his position. Still wonder what dirt he has on the board members because nobody that incompetent should have that job otherwise.
Reality TV came about when networks needed to fill airtime during a writers strike, so they needed unscripted shows. Unfortunately, it showed how much cheaper it was to make dreck like that and we haven’t been able to get rid of them.
I’ve only seen the commercials for those shows. Seems they have gone out of their way to include the ‘less well’ equipped. They remind me of Candid Camera, but include more people with hat sized IQ’s
I trace it back to supermarket tabloids. Clever to put them in supermarkets, near checkout stands. The supermarket/grocery story is a place that people rely on and generally feel good about — the products are safe, the environment clean, etc. They provide seasonal items in time for the seasons. They have things you need, when you need them. And, while you may grip about the costs, you trust the products. If the ground beef package says 94%, you know it only has 6% fat. Packaged products show ingredients, calories, ‘use by’ dates, etc. You can feel [please don’t squeeze] produce and select what you want. The store provides [well, until recently] a lot of service — carts to put your purchases in, bags for your purchases and people to pack them and even help you load your car. So, a ‘newspaper’ at the check-out stand seems like something you should be able to trust.
Ergo, “reality” shows, shown during family-friendly time [7-9 pm], on your friendly local station [following its coverage of state and ‘local’ news, school football scores [and featuring high school football or basketball game every Friday night], should be just as trustworthy. . . [Yes, I know that family-friendly time was not made a policy until ’75, but it was a common practice before that.]
You don’t “fact check” the Reality Show Con Artist. You don’t disseminate the lie in the first place. A responsible media would tell the TRUTH first and then say these people are telling a story that isn’t true. All the media is doing by “fact checking” is repeating the lie, which, studies have shown, makes it more plausible to people. That is all the Grifter in Chief wants. That is why he told the Georgia election commission, just say it and we will do the rest. You absolutely don’t repeat the lie and then “fact checking it”.
I’ll agree, reality TV is braindead, what makes you think the 3 major networks coming out of NYC care about anything other than Don Draper selling soap anyway???
I have never understood why it’s referred to as “reality” television since it has NO relation to “reality” at all…
My wife was “briefly” addicted to " the biggest Loser" which supposedly was about people losing weight, but I referred her to various articles about the show and now there was nothing “real” about the living nor their weight loss and how most regained all their weight over time and point out that most people can accomplish weight loss if constantly monitored – but that “reality” doesn’t work that way over time- and as a registered nurse she should know that – she admitted I was right but the fantasy is fun.
There is a reason that all “successful” women’s magazines are an equal mix of diet plans and dessert recipes and that every “successful” male program has virile males attracting beautiful females and every successful “reality” program has vieerings that think that "I could do that, too…
We live in a fake world of UNREALITY where unreality is not ONLY possible, but probable – Trump is not a fake in most people’s world he is how his minions would LIKE their world to work – with all the money in the world and NONE of the “nasty” realities of reality – Donnie John is not reality, he is the antithesis of reality…
Hello Everyone 15 days ago
There’s no “fact checking” anymore anyway…
just-passing-by 15 days ago
And canceled Firefly.
chassimmons Premium Member 15 days ago
The real reason is that reality shows are cheap to make. And as H.L.Mencken wrote, nobody went broke by underestimating the taste of the American public.
Bilan 15 days ago
To be fair, AI would probably come up with the same conclusion. Whatever makes money without taking any chances.
Godfreydaniel 15 days ago
So-called “reality shows” feature people who can’t act trying futilely to act, people who can’t write, the same, people who can’t direct, the same, and people who can’t produce, the same. FUTILE. And watched by people who can’t think …..
MY DOG IS MY CO PILOT 15 days ago
Actually, this makes perfect sense.
Arbitrary 15 days ago
That’s how I assume David Zaslav got his position. Still wonder what dirt he has on the board members because nobody that incompetent should have that job otherwise.
Superfrog 15 days ago
If it wasn’t true then it should be.
Scorpio Premium Member 15 days ago
I believe that – explains so much
The dude from FL Premium Member 15 days ago
Both Meta and X are trump friendly now
Can't Sleep 15 days ago
Yeah. Whoever thought of following the Kardashians around with a camera didn’t have a brain, but sure made money.
blunebottle 15 days ago
I’ll believe it. My son was in one…the director told him: “Stand here and look like you’re doing this.”
crosscompiler Premium Member 15 days ago
TV free since ’82; pray tell, has humanity destroyed TV, or has TV destroyed humanity? My working theory has been “yes”.
boneroller42 15 days ago
Ummm actually, that explains a whole lot about “reality” television.
breathfreshair Premium Member 15 days ago
Sounds about right.
danielmkimmel 15 days ago
Is Zuckerberg an alien looking to conquer Earth? Gosh, I don’t know. If only there was a way to fact check such claims.
Hidden-in-the-Trees Premium Member 15 days ago
TBH, I don’t think Wiley is wrong.
Egrayjames 15 days ago
Reality shows are just modern Village Idiot Parades.
zmech13 Premium Member 15 days ago
Reality TV came about when networks needed to fill airtime during a writers strike, so they needed unscripted shows. Unfortunately, it showed how much cheaper it was to make dreck like that and we haven’t been able to get rid of them.
No 6 15 days ago
Now who else do we know who wears a blue suit and a red tie?
Hmmmmm…
dflak 15 days ago
Reality TV is like spam: cheap to produce and there are people gullible enough to fall for it.
CountOlaf2.0 Premium Member 15 days ago
Perfectly explains all those baking and cooking shows.
Tresix 15 days ago
Probably heartless as well.
Hogryder 15 days ago
I wondered how they came up with ‘Survivor’ and all the dreck that has followed!
sandpiper 15 days ago
I’ve only seen the commercials for those shows. Seems they have gone out of their way to include the ‘less well’ equipped. They remind me of Candid Camera, but include more people with hat sized IQ’s
rickseg 15 days ago
Our TV broke down 5 years ago. We didn’t bother to replace it. From the comments here it looks like we didn’t miss much.
baskate_2000 15 days ago
Sadly, this fits.
Redd Panda 15 days ago
We have a TV. There are some great programs, if you look for them. Sadly the ratio of crap to good is 95/5. Oh well.
Anything with Richard Attenborough, always top shelf.
Kilrwat Premium Member 15 days ago
“Reality” shows are nauseating.
GreenT267 15 days ago
I trace it back to supermarket tabloids. Clever to put them in supermarkets, near checkout stands. The supermarket/grocery story is a place that people rely on and generally feel good about — the products are safe, the environment clean, etc. They provide seasonal items in time for the seasons. They have things you need, when you need them. And, while you may grip about the costs, you trust the products. If the ground beef package says 94%, you know it only has 6% fat. Packaged products show ingredients, calories, ‘use by’ dates, etc. You can feel [please don’t squeeze] produce and select what you want. The store provides [well, until recently] a lot of service — carts to put your purchases in, bags for your purchases and people to pack them and even help you load your car. So, a ‘newspaper’ at the check-out stand seems like something you should be able to trust.
Ergo, “reality” shows, shown during family-friendly time [7-9 pm], on your friendly local station [following its coverage of state and ‘local’ news, school football scores [and featuring high school football or basketball game every Friday night], should be just as trustworthy. . . [Yes, I know that family-friendly time was not made a policy until ’75, but it was a common practice before that.]
tee929 14 days ago
I would just change the last line by Captain Eddie to “Reality Politician’s” …..
JosephShriver 14 days ago
I would agree. The only “reality” shows I watch are “Who do you think you are”, “Relative Race” and “Finding Your Roots”
hawkeye1201 14 days ago
I have only one channel…Fox News!
Cerabooge 14 days ago
When I see a misreality show, I miss reality.
dabishton Premium Member 14 days ago
From the first program to the present day, I have never watch one minute of a reality show. Brainless indeed.
leemorse9777 14 days ago
Facts? We don’t need no stinking facts. Beliefs are much better.
mindjob 14 days ago
What else are you going to have on TV 24/7? There’s weather and the yule log burning in the fireplace.
ira.crank 14 days ago
Facts are now defined by belief, not by reality.
christelisbetty 14 days ago
…and kiddies,this how we ended up with a “reality” star as President of the Disunited States.
MemaJean 14 days ago
Now it makes complete sense.
diegot 14 days ago
The newest “Reality” show begins this January 20th. The entire world will be watching.
FireAnt_Hater 14 days ago
I watched about 10 seconds of ‘naked and afraid’ one time. That was enough reality show for me…
mistercatworks 14 days ago
Just enough brains to realize they are the cheapest form of serial entertainment to produce.
Woodstock Generation Premium Member 14 days ago
That explains the Apprentice show!
Buoy 14 days ago
Forget fact checking. We need a reality check!
62kathleenhicks 14 days ago
That has to be %100 true!
BeBadenov Premium Member 14 days ago
By George, he’s got it!
Govi Premium Member 14 days ago
And thus was the “vast wasteland” of TV renewed and reinvigorated, taking us to new depths of stupidity.
keenanthelibrarian 14 days ago
.. and they’ve tied him down so he can’t get away -looks like we’re stuck with him for at least the next 4 years.
Moore 1 14 days ago
I just thought that the way the USA got a leader. Most county leaders fit that mould too.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation 14 days ago
I thought this would be danea in school again.
M.K.Staffeld 14 days ago
Explains things right there…
richardclayton1000 14 days ago
Looks like a perfect candidate for Demented Donnie’s cabinet.
Eric Thom Premium Member 14 days ago
This is the only thing that makes sense.
David Rickard Premium Member 14 days ago
Yeah, gotta say… this sounds entirely believable to me.
caztah 14 days ago
no lies detected
eddi-TBH 14 days ago
True story bro!
eddi-TBH 14 days ago
True Hollywood management is built to spec. Brains are an expensive option.
Outrageous.Tom 14 days ago
Eddie is absolutely correct about reality shows.
vlad8601 14 days ago
Mike Rowe invented reality TV
cracker65 14 days ago
You have to be brainless to watch them too. The Kardashians proved that.
1wyldkingdom 14 days ago
Love this one!
Hollymartins2 14 days ago
You don’t “fact check” the Reality Show Con Artist. You don’t disseminate the lie in the first place. A responsible media would tell the TRUTH first and then say these people are telling a story that isn’t true. All the media is doing by “fact checking” is repeating the lie, which, studies have shown, makes it more plausible to people. That is all the Grifter in Chief wants. That is why he told the Georgia election commission, just say it and we will do the rest. You absolutely don’t repeat the lie and then “fact checking it”.
calliarcale 13 days ago
It would explain a lot, really.
lnrokr55 13 days ago
I’ll agree, reality TV is braindead, what makes you think the 3 major networks coming out of NYC care about anything other than Don Draper selling soap anyway???
Another Take 13 days ago
Who took the brains of the people who watch them?
unfair.de 13 days ago
Well, has a MAGA-cap. And an orange blob on his shoulders. Makes up stories for which others bear the price. Hmmmm…
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 12 days ago
Specifically THE APPRENTICE
wellis1947 Premium Member 11 days ago
I have never understood why it’s referred to as “reality” television since it has NO relation to “reality” at all…
My wife was “briefly” addicted to " the biggest Loser" which supposedly was about people losing weight, but I referred her to various articles about the show and now there was nothing “real” about the living nor their weight loss and how most regained all their weight over time and point out that most people can accomplish weight loss if constantly monitored – but that “reality” doesn’t work that way over time- and as a registered nurse she should know that – she admitted I was right but the fantasy is fun.
There is a reason that all “successful” women’s magazines are an equal mix of diet plans and dessert recipes and that every “successful” male program has virile males attracting beautiful females and every successful “reality” program has vieerings that think that "I could do that, too…
We live in a fake world of UNREALITY where unreality is not ONLY possible, but probable – Trump is not a fake in most people’s world he is how his minions would LIKE their world to work – with all the money in the world and NONE of the “nasty” realities of reality – Donnie John is not reality, he is the antithesis of reality…