Is Reality TV Real?

Hey, hey!

Over the past few months there has been quite a bit of talk around the validity of a few reality shows. As of late: Man vs. Wild (Discovery), Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), Kid Nation (CBS) and most recently, The Hills (MTV).

Let's discuss....

A Case Of Reality Fakery

My inbox has once again reached record storage limits from a volume of emails that I have received this past week about MTV's hit show, The Hills.

According to the press, 'Hills' Executive Producer Adam DiVello made a comment after being questioned about a scene in the show that had appeared to have been previously filmed at a nightclub, "It wasn't planned on our behalf, but it is a little fake", he said to a TV Guide reporter.

Apparently, these few comments were even more fodder in a barrage of skeptical press clippings fueled by critics concerning the validity of reality TV, which in turn left many viewers reeling, "You mean it's not real?"

Well on the surface, to quote one of my best friends in the 4Th grade, "No Duh".

Real vs. Not Real
Now, before I provide a more intelligible response, let me say that it is important to define what is reality. Furthermore and for the sake of argument (Because I am presently in that kind of visceral mood), is reality real?

If you think about it, does any one's life consist of a blatant competition (with 13 other people) from obviously different and dramatically contrast backgrounds (The more over the top, the better), for a single objective (a job, a date, an opportunity or a financial payday) while living together in a mansion (For 13 weeks)?

Is real life that interesting and compressed into a nice and neat story that resolves in 13 weeks? Probably not...

On a side note, if your life DOES indeed truly resemble or consist of the above - straightaway call me.

The Reality Show Examined

So what exactly is a reality show you ask? Proper definition would resemble something like: A reality TV show has real world people instead of paid actors and actresses. Reality shows portray real life situations and events that affect people's lives.

However admittedly, participants of reality TV shows are sometimes willing (and often) venture outside of the what could be considered supernatural boundaries and do things that they would not necessarily do in their normal lives, without the cameras following the participants every move.

Oh sure, it is all well and fine entertainment when reality TV participants eat really 'unusual' or strange things (To some) and perform potentially life threatening stunts (Which to some could be considered weekend fun) in pursuit of monetary gain (Personally, I do this for next to nothing).

Further, let's not forget my favorite mandatory scenario of placing participants in a house (Usually a mansion - I know, I am obsessed) and expect them to live in harmony with total relentless strangers. These participants are usually under a lot of pressure when their characters clash (Some call it DRAMA - I call it Good Television). Let the games begin!

Millions of Viewers Cannot Be Wrong...Or, can they?

I read somewhere that a poll by CNN, said 57% of over 1,000 adults believe that Reality TV shows provide a distorted picture of events while another 23% say the shows are "totally phony".

With such an astute observation, is there any reason to continue to question the motives of your favorite shows?

Compare this analogy, when watching a movie you are fully aware of the fact that the story is largely based on fiction - you enjoy the suspension of disbelief. It is not until the very end, when you may see the words "Based on Actual Events" - you accept that what you had seen was for the most part true. Why should a reality TV show be perceived differently?

Reality TV shows are designed to tell you a story (Just as my Blog). The stories are about people. Just like the characters in a movie, someone is good, someone is bad and they are all trying to do the same thing. What we see on the screen is an amplification or microcosm of events and situations that happen in real life.

The good news is that literally millions of Americans are watching reality TV shows every day. Perhaps, again for some, these shows help many realize that their lives are not all that bad after all.

Perhaps, it may allow them to realize that they are not the only ones with challenging issues, unfulfilled hopes and dreams, and dysfunctional families filled with colorful characters. They live vicariously through the characters of reality TV as they are much more like them.

Is That Your Final Answer?
The bottom line is that the overall concept of a show may be somewhat unnaturally derivative, the characters carefully assembled, scenes may be"Enhanced" or "Planned", and dramatics amplified for your viewing pleasure, but the actual events that transpire within said circumstances are certainly not unreal - so, "Based on Actual Events" the answer is YES!