CAUSE OF REALITY TV

Of course, I know as well as anyone that reality television generally has no more than a glimmer of reality in it. It is pretty difficult to claim that something is real when its cast are surrounded by cameras with millions of viewers watching every episode. Would those Malaysian Idol contestants act the same if there were no cameras? I strongly doubt it but I suppose without them we wouldn't know so you can't really win. No reality show can even come close to the layered and intelligent comedy that is shown with the likes of The Simpsons or Family Guy but both genres certainly seem to have a role in the televisual marketplace.

The beauty of the reality show is that it leaves the viewer feeling like a part of the experience, something that the intelligent comedy' shows cannot provide. I'm sure everybody has found themselves willing on their favourite American Idol contestant at some point and being distraught when they get eliminated. The sitcom and drama writers must be praying for a reality bust or perhaps they are planning a real' version of CSI which would be interesting.
The problem that we have, is that the reality show viewing generation have grown up watching the likes of The Real World and consider it to be as, if not more, legitimate than any drama or sitcom that is on the screen. It has meant that TV is entering an overkill mode with the huge number of dating and talent shows springing up from all over the place. Personally I think hey should do celebrity bear wrestling, that would be great but I can't really see it getting aired. One day perhaps.

To be honest, I don't really blame them for giving reality the preference. Reality TV took advantage whilst drama was in a rut and has been able to maintain its position by capturing that young audience. Some of the reality concepts are absolutely ridiculous but they get people to sit up and pay attention. Just look at the comments of Mike Fleiss, creator of The Bachelor franchise who said, "I like to make a show where people say, you can't put that on TV, then I put it on TV."

The case against reality TV is of course mainly about morals and ethics. It is very difficult to defend against the outright deception of shows like Joe Millionaire. On top of that much of it involves women degrading themselves in the process, doing anything they can to hook up with the rich men as the old stereotype goes. I'm not sure that this gives a very good impression of our Western society. Romance and feminism say that a man's money shouldn't matter. Joe Millionaire puts up a $50 million that you're wrong. In the same way, everybody thinks they are talented until they come face to face with Simon Cowell. Isn't there just something a bit wrong with the fact that so many people are enjoying watching others get their heart broken, being told they have nothing going for them and breaking down into tears?

What reality TV brings are quintessential stories of ambition and desperation. It can be unsettling and heartbreaking but gives a much better perspective on life than anything you might see coming out of ER where it is difficult to empathise with a story that has been imaginatively created by a bunch of writers. If anyone remembers the story of Lady Tiger on American Idol who had taken up a second job as a boxer after her husband was killed leaving her as a single parent. Her story showed defiance, despair and dignified resolve all in the space of two minutes. It gives a haunting slice of life and although we might not like it, that is reality TV.