Reality TV
What is it about Reality TV that draws so many people into its endless clutches of viewership? From the college kids gathered around their makeshift living rooms to the 40-year-old wine moms and their reluctant (yet secretly obsessed) partners, it seems as if Reality Television attracts people from every walk of life, from every generation, to tune in to its weekly accounts of twisted reality. But what is it that draws so many people into this seemingly trashy genre of television?
As someone who grew up as a dedicated fan of shows like The Amazing Race, The Voice, and The Bachelor, in recent years I’ve found myself less enthused by reality TV- finding that in the time I have to watch shows or movies, I would much rather escape into a world of complete fiction rather than a crafted version of reality. I’ve always struggled to see Reality TV as an objective way of telling the stories of our world. To me, it’s always seemed to be a distorted creation of a particular set of real-life scenarios – events that may not occur in everyday life but pose enough resemblance to reality that no one questions their validity.
The genre of reality TV has the astounding ability to transform to meet just about every niche and interest that anyone could ever have. The possibilities are quite literally endless. If you want to watch a group fight for a grand prize and evaluate strategic approaches to games and competitions – tune into Big Brother or Survivor. If you’re interested in cooking or baking – well there's an entire network of shows for your viewing pleasure. Or maybe you’re interested in watching other people try to find love (and oftentimes fail) so that you can feel better about your own love life – The Bachelor has definitely got you covered there. In today’s ever-growing media landscape, one of the greatest challenges in creating original entertainment pieces comes in generating an audience. Then an even harder challenge comes with keeping that audience sustained. Reality TV seems to have cracked this code by offering just about any kind of television within its genre.
Beyond the scenarios depicted in these shows, the stars of Reality TV are who I think truly make this genre of entertainment so mesmerizing. Like the committed actor whose performance captivates audiences to a point where it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing their character, or the lead singer of your favourite band – any piece of entertainment is lost without the stars who propel it forward. There are even reality TV shows where the only premise is watching people. There’s no competition, stakes, or even a prize to be won. The appeal instead comes at face value, literally. The Kardashians for one, have built an empire on people’s desire to watch their daily lives. Or take as an example, the Daily Housewives franchise or Vanderpump Rules, none of these shows would be possible if it wasn’t for the enigmatic stars that keep the drama coming.
These qualities sound fairly unique, but it still makes me wonder how people can be so drawn into a world characterized as a depiction of reality that is often so unlike their own. Recently, I was invited to watch the season premier of Dancing with the Stars with a few friends, and despite my initial reluctance and susceptibility that there could be quality in a show about celebrities who can’t dance, trying to keep up with professionals to whom dance is their entire career, I had a blast that evening. I found myself laughing at their performances, grooving along to the ones who surprisingly could dance, and contemplating just how rigged the judging system was. Surrounded by friends, I finally realized what the true appeal of reality TV is. It’s not the competitions or the drama or even the stars; the true joy of Reality TV comes with sitting around a pizza, snacking on some popcorn, and sharing time with those you love.
Thinking back, it was never the Reality TV itself that encompassed my memories of watching The Amazing Race as a kid, but the time I got to spend with my family each and every week, picking our favorite teams and debating how we would have crushed all the challenges (we most certainly would not have). So next time you stick up your nose and declare Reality TV as nothing more then a trashy depiction of ordinary people in unordinary circumstances, remember that it is most certainly all of those things.
But it’s also a way of bringing people together.
