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!

The Week In Review

Tons of stuff has happen over the past week (My weeks are 7 days - yeah, a little unconventional, go with me on this one), so let's take a look back at the major events in Reality:

The highly controversial show Kid Nation debuted with fairly decent ratings on CBS. Really, it is great news to hear that all of the miscellaneous publicity, pre-judgment, flagrant criticism and overly concerned speculation may have actually helped viewership of the show. We just love watching the kids as they attempt to build and manage their own little town without supervision!

It's Time to Get Fierce
Of course, I was way too busy watching America's Next Top Model on CW (No TIVO for my top show) to view any of the other shows that had also aired on the same night - I have my priorities. Quite frankly, I was not able to get through the first 30 minutes of the show without dislodgement - my various phones are always on and within easy reach.

Hell In The Kitchen
Fox also gave us Nightmares...I mean, Kitchen Nightmares last week with Chef Gordon Ramsay. What I would like to know: WHO is running this guy's restaurants while he is away telling everyone else how to run their restaurant?

In other news, the two-hour season finale of Last Comic Standing aired on NBC - Although Bill B is a friend of mine, I could not tell you who won the laughfest or what it was they had won.

On that joke (?), it is safe to conclude that perhaps my 'Comic burn-out' happened somewhere along an episode of Kathy Griffin's "My Life on The D-List" - congratulations on the Emmy. It only hurts when I laugh...

Beauty & the Geek also had a big debut in it's encore presentation on Fox and there appears to be a new twist -- Ashton Kutcher, you continue to impress -- a hunky guy and one nerdy girl. I am good with the recent induction....

Surviving Survivor?
The 15th installment of Survivor (CBS): This time in China, met a great opening week with nearly 15 million viewers according to the ratings report. Good news considering that show is the first American reality program to be filmed in the country.

Every Battle is Won, Before it is Ever Fought
Right, I admire the fact that the group was instructed to leave behind 'worldly possessions' and then subsequently given a copy of Sun Tzu's The Art of War...An orchestrated gesture that seemed somewhat overdone for your benefit.

Anyway, I read The Art of War when I was just a kid, around about the same time I had read Donald Trump's book The Art of The Deal.

Who knew that being in world's oldest civilization and the teaching of Bing Fa on a modern day reality show for a month is much like the battle of corporate, conglomerate business warfare (?).

Alright Grasshopper, so it is quite possible that I am missing the point (if one exists), however would the experience be considered valuable on a resume when it is time to apply for a real job?

Good Riddance...
Last and very, very least, Evel (Not a misspelling) Dick (Again, not a misspelling) won Big Brother 8 (CBS).

Ah, with all of the bandannas, tatts, piercings, wild hair and the overall general appearance of poor hygiene, I thought the guy was a member of the band Motley Crew - not quite and not that cool.

Get Ready For This Week
The good news is that we are into a new week, and we have Dancing with the Stars (ABC), the finale of the Pick-up Artist (Vh1), the premiere of The Bachelor (ABC), Ultimate Fighter 6 (Spike), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC).

...and most important, the re-imagined Bionic Woman (NBC) - hardly a reality show I know, but I am excited about this one and had to find a way to mention the show in this post...

What Will You Be Watching?

This is my favorite part of the fall season -

Ah, there is the beginning of a slight crisp in the air, the leaves are beginning to change color, and all of the new shows are fiercely competing for your viewing time!

Let The Network Battle Begin

After a summer of endless fall show promos, things are about to get heated on the small screen....

America's Next Top Model (CW): Tonight we have scheduled the HIGHLY ANTICIPATED (well, at least by some of us) 9th season return of the Tyra Bank's beauty vehicle, America's Next Top Model: Cycle 9 - where aspiring model hopefuls become hopeful models.

Kid Nation (CBS): Meanwhile simultaneously, we also have the debut of the highly controversial Kid Nation - where some kids pony up Bonanza City and try to have a go at managing their own town - get ready for kiddie laws. Isn't it past your bedtime?

Kitchen Nightmares (Fox): Last, but not least is the always pragmatic and charming Gordon "I never lose my cool" Ramsay's season opener of Kitchen Nightmares. Chef Gordon follows his hit BBC show with a U.S. version where he provides diagnosis and prescription for ailing eateries - it is safe to presume that you might say the word "GROSS" more than once during this program.

So Many Choices, So Little Time

Traditionally, I try to watch at least the first episode of every new reality program as a show of support for my fellow producers. However this evening it simply will not be possible and I have even cleared my schedule for the evening from 8 PM well into the night.

Of course, there are other non-reality choices if neither show invokes your interest - but, are those other shows as much fun?

Although, yes I do admit to having an interest in Animal Planet's Blue Planet: Seas of Life and yes, I do enjoy watching football (I began my former career in news broadcasting as a sports reporter - guys love the fact that I know so much about sports and every once and a while, I will catch SportsCenter).

My conclusion: It is going to be a busy night for my TIVO device - and probably for yours as well...

It's Getting Hot In Here

Is it just me or does it strangely feel as if the networks are a little on edge this season?

With the proliferation of YouTube, BitTorrent, iPod Nano, iPhones, iTunes, media enabled mobile phones and a host of video sharing sites (Disclaimer: My Internet company owns a few of these sites, as well), we are on the verge of witnessing some amazing things with what I refer to as "Jurassic" media.

What this means is that we are going to continue to see producers (content providers) and the networks working furiously to deliver quality 'product' even faster to your prime time schedules.

More important, in the future we will not have to wait for the networks to schedule programming all the same night or clear our schedules just to watch television - for this will soon become a thing of the past.

Soon, we will not have to sit through a summer of never ending fall season promos - we will just watch the shows as the producers make them available on the device of our choice. We will watch what we want, when and where we want (How's that for a liberal use of the letter "W" -?).

Is it the 25th century yet? I feel as if we have been stuck in the 21st century forever!

Anyway, let me know which show you decided to watch...

Bad, Bad Kitchen

There is a new reality project in the works called, Kitchen Nightmares (Fox) starring 'celebrity' chef Gordon Ramsay. Right, the guy who turns 3 shades of red when he yells expletives at aspiring 'chef-testants' on the show Hell's Kitchen - it is possible one could easily conclude the guy needs some serious anger management therapy.

Ah, but wait there's more...

The U.S. version, inspired by the hit show airing in the U.K. on BBC, not only will most likely involve 'colorful' language, but will also feature Ramsey going to failing restaurants all over the country (aka California) to revamp their menu and business practices within a week.

Surprisingly, I do not know much about the 'Food' industry, other than one of my great past-time activities happens to be dining out. I have been apprised by a number of friends that it is a very tough business. Something like, "90% of new restaurants fail within the first year". The odds are somewhat daunting, however, what new business does not face the constant and looming brink of disaster?

Hell hath no fury, like a kitchen scorned

The rule is that when visiting a restaurant, if there are not any people they must either be A) Not very good, or B) Going out of business.

Now, I am really particular about food - I like things to be simple and not too overwhelming. I have eaten in some of the finest restaurants in the world and some wonderful, small family owned places with not much fanfare. The point being, good food is good food and if you do not have good food - you 'got' nothing, babe.

So, what do you do?

Enter Chef Ramsay...The Troubleshooter

If you have watched Hell's Kitchen, you are more than aware of how utterly 'charming' Chef Gordon can be...NOT. I believe they call explosive volatility, temperamental tantrums, tyrannical rage and obsessive compulsion, "Passion" - are we acting like grown-ups now?

According to Fox: There’s no time for polite small talk as Ramsay embarks on his mission to turn things around. If the wine waiter’s service isn’t up to par, he’ll be out the door before he can say “Merlot.” If the head chef doesn’t match up to Ramsay’s expectations, Ramsay will hammer him into shape, and if he can’t stand the heat, he may quit the kitchen.

Restaurant 911

The above endearing statement is a polite warning of things to come. The show will be disgusting, nerve-racking and most likely hilarious...Unless you are the owner of said restaurant in question.

I am fairly certain that if you were the owner of a restaurant and you did not have any customers, you would probably have a few ideas as what could be the reason. You know, basic things such as making sure that you do not have spoiled meat or shoddy chairs in your establishment, those will be the obvious catastrophic foibles.

However, what if you passed department inspections, had nice decor, and a decent menu - what else could be it be? BAD WAIT STAFF. Restaurant owners/managers do not realize that bad wait staff can break a restaurant, regardless of the above. Believe me if you have a bad experience with a restaurant, you have told others, and others have told others.

Today's Specials

The good news is that Chef Gordon is on a mission (or tirade depending on how you look at it) to turn these failing eateries around in record time and will get to the bottom of the disaster. Aside from the apparent, it will be inspiring(-?) to see the "Makeover" process in general, as very few of us have never seen how a restaurant becomes a sought after venue, in as little as a week.

The show is scheduled to premiere this September on Fox.