Un Reality.. oh the pain

Are you a reality tv fan? Whose reality is it? Do people behave/talk/dress/… like that in real real life?

I’m pretty certain anyone who watches tv (at SOME point of time in the DISTANT past) found themselves a bit more involved with one of these shows than they choose to admit. I mean, who wasn’t? Today, it’s just too much. I mean a network can come up with only so many “shocking twists” before they aren’t shocking or awing any more, just awful. Things are getting downright predictable, not to mention dumb (not that they were ever too bright, but that is besides the point). The worst part is, they don’t feel real. Never did.

Who really watches these shows? Why do they show up on prime tv slots just to make me switch the channel? Don’t the advertisers know this? Why are they funded and still on the air?

And the shows themselves. Let’s look at the highly original ones with radically different ideas and concepts – who wants to marry a millionaire? who wants to marry a guy pretending to be a millionaire? who wants to marry an eligible bachelor? an eligible bachelorette perhaps? What would you do if you had to choose between the hot dude/dudette and a million (or two?) dollars? who wants to marry my dad/mom? And it goes on and on like that. For straight people, gays and lesbians too I suppose. You name it, it’s there.

While we’re on the topic of marriage related reality shows, for “For Love or Money” fans, <Nelson’s voice> haahaa </Nelson’s voice> Rob. When will he ever learn?

Anyway, back to the other class of stuff, the only one I like(d) is the amazing race. But that too, four or five seasons later, hmm.. not so much fun any more. How about some more back stabbing in survivor? or in the big brother house perhaps? or how about eating an animal’s genitalia for fifty grand?

GOOD LORD! Give these network geniuses half a brain, please.

If that doesn’t work, I know what will. Just make it a point not to support any of their sponsors by not buying their products. (Hmm.. this is hard, since you need to watch the show to see what’s being advertised so you don’t buy it hmmm..). Ok, share the responsibility with a group, one super lucky one per day being the dude(tte) who gets to watch the show and not gouge their eyes out.

It has GOT to stop. I neeeed sitcoms when I watch. I don’t get too much time (If you doubt that, just sneak a peek at your neighborhood grad student juggling PhDs in a couple of areas. Don’t see her? I rest my case.) to, but when I do, I’d rather not see some arbitrary person conning some other arbitrary person into marrying her mom who is actually her dad in drag whose ulterior motive is to get the unsuspecting soul’s liquor license to forward his just started restaurant in which two fires or so per episode is reality.

Sheesh.