Your Own Reality Show

It's amazing, every day (if you are like me) you hear or read of a new reality show. This past week you may have heard that a new socialite, a model, a rapper or a celebrity from past, just signed a deal to star in their own reality show.

Of course since it is my job to know, I hear many, many, many ideas for shows. Some good, some with potential and others WAY out there. On occasion I even wonder who, why and how a particular show is going to get made. More on the "how" as I wonder the dynamics of the story to be told.

15 Minutes of Fame
As a paraphrase of the late Pop Culture Artist Andy Warhol, "In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes". The original 1968 quote was more specific, however most associate a variation of the phrase as "Everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame".

You may have seen the movie Network or The Truman Show and some believe (Myself included) these movies are very prolific to the state of society as it relates to trivialized self-awareness for the consequence of perceived entertainment value.

It's All About Me
In this reality conscious driven society, many have noticed that something unusual is happening...Everyone has become acutely aware of the events of their life being equivalent to a reality show. Not only does everyone (Well, a great number of people) believe they should be in a reality show, they also believe with sincerity that they should be the STAR of their own show.

Quite frankly, there has never been a greater time in television history when so many 'non-actors' have appeared on television (As an active part of the show). Granted, many of the roles are of contestant quality, however in the mind of the participant it is still a valid opportunity to be seen on TV.

Not to discourage anyone contemplating the aspiration of competing on a reality show as a path to stardom, a more realistic thought, how many (aside from American Idol contestants), continue beyond the show and into the life of international celebrity status? Perhaps this will be the subject of a future reality show (Again, you read it here first).

The Big Pitch
No matter where I may be or to whom I am speaking (generally), once my occupation has been revealed, the conversation suddenly becomes an informal pitch session of the reasons why they (person in question) should have their own reality show.

The topic always begins with something like, "You should..."and then it's all downhill from there. Just like the play-by-play calls of a game, I know exactly how the conversation is going to progress and upon hearing the set-up, I will often take a deep breath and smile.

The funny thing is that I am constantly being solicited at the most unusual places (Grocery store, gym, gas station, restaurant...).

Although I am grateful and always intently listen as I am genuinely interested in other people, I often wonder do you think the reaction would be same if I were a Computer Scientist? Would people suddenly begin discussing their computer hardware with me in such an obliging manner? Ah, just being conversational.

More Than Ideas
So, just where do ideas for reality shows come from, you ask? Anywhere and Everywhere. There is not a secret 'think tank' tucked away in the back of the studio lot where all of the ideas are created and implemented.

Creative storytelling...The point of any movie, television program, or even reality show is all about having a compelling story to tell. For example, if you believe that your life would make a good reality show, well guess what - you are not alone. The good news is that there are thousands of others who have lived through similar events within their own lives at one point or another.

Show us something we have never seen...
Tell us what is it about you, your job or life that most people do not know, have experience or have seen (it is the uncommon that is the most interesting).

Further, a great example would be the show, Ice Road Truckers (History Channel). Not many people know (At least I was not aware) of the incredible dangers of such a hazardous job and what it requires. At the heart of the program it is about truck drivers, however the show highlights a unique aspect of the occupation that is relatively not known or seen.

The objective of a reality show (non-competition), shares insight into the commonly unknown. Whether that be a famous (or once famous) celebrity's life, a unique or unusual job, a particular past-time, remember the purpose should always be interesting and insightful.

Now if you are a former model, state beauty pageant winner and professional female wrestler who packs up her Versace dresses because you just got a job as a local TV news anchor at a small town station in the middle of nowhere, without any prior industry experience, in hopes of turning around the station's ailing ratings - You may just have something....