I’ve never watched 1900 House, Survivor, The Real World, and don’t want to watch Big Brother. When I tell people this, they don’t seem to believe me. I get a wink, wink nudge, nudge*, suuuure you don’t. I have nothing against those shows at all. I simply don’t want to watch them and I don’t care if anybody else does. Just like if some people don’t like soaps, some don’t like sci-fi, some don’t like sitcoms, some don’t like reality shows.
I just want to know if I’m alone. Anybody else not watch those?
Never have seen a minute of any of those shows – except Real World, which I was forced to watch against my will by others on occasion, forcing back the gag reflex. If I want to watch pampered, out-of-touch, self-centered 20-somethings whine, I’ll take a stroll on the campus of the local community college, thanks.
How ironic that they are referred to as “reality TV.” They’re all as fake and contrived as anything else on the air.
All of the current shows claiming to be reality are just about as real as professional wrestling. Same for the news. The stuff they spoonfeed the public every night is worthless. It’s just a phase brought on by The Truman Show and ED TV. It will be over before we know it and we can get back to really bad sitcoms. (OK, technically, The Real World predates Truman and ED, but come on, how real world can it be if they have to audition the cast?) Personally, I watch South Park. It’s real enough for me.
Hey, whaddya mean you don’t watch any TV at all?? What are you, some kinda nut??? Except for 1900 House, I HATE reality shows!!! Especially “Survivor”…that piece of crap should be nuked. What’s so entertaining about watching a bunch of money-hungry morons look for reasons to stab each other in the back when they’re not constantly bickering?? And this new show, “Big Brother”…am I the only person who thinks that this thing is actually a dry run for the real thing, a world where we’re under surveillance constantly, even in the privacy of our own homes? At least 1900 House is trying to accomplish something, namely to remind us that our love affair with nostalgia has blinded us to the fact that THESE are the good old days, and we should appreciate everything we’ve got.
It’s so easy to criticize television and garner kneejerk applause. I disagree. I love TV and think it’s a more positive influence then negative.
Moreover, I think TV has improved spectacularly over the past 10 - 15 years to the point where it’s arguably the highest quality mass media out there. For those of you who disagree with me, intending to throw WWF, Jerry Springer and Bevis & Butthead in my face, be prepared to defend Howard Stern (not NPR), Cats (not Hamlet), the National Enquirer (not the Washington Post), Rocky & Bullwinkle (not Citizen Kane), and 10 Days to Thinner Thighs (not Moby Dick).
I always want to ask people who criticize television, what they want on the air that isn’t there now.
I have watched Real World in the past, but found it immensely irritating. I hate all the people on it; I would never want to spend any time with any of them. I have never watched any of these other Reality (ha!) Shows, neither do I have any desire to. Watching other peoples’ lives? Why not just get one of your own?
I can’t watch these shows. All of the characters are the same – always full of spunk, always giddy, full of spirit – I hate that shit. How about some angst-ridden, antisocial, government hating, characters? I’d probably tune in for that.
I rarely watch tv unfortunately my brothers hooked me on Big Brother… well some of it… I watch a few minutes here and there but not the whole show… and I have to tape it all this summer for him cuz he’s away at camp sighs I usually prefer to watch stuff like “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” and “Just For Laughs”… most of the time I even forget they’re on anyway…
I don’t watch a lot of TV anyway, but I really dislike those “reality” shows. I occasionally channel-surf into Real World and catch myself watching it, like a car crash, and hating myself for it. I have successfully avoided the others thus far and intend to keep doing so. The people on RW are incredibly self-absorbed and obnoxious and I’m sure they’re no better on the other shows.
Does baseball count as a reality show? Because baseball is the only thing I watch on tv, when X-Files isn’t in season.
I cannot watch shows like Real World or Survivor, or even game shows, because they embarrass the hell out of me. I’m always putting myself in the other people’s places, and suffering along with them. It’s for that same reason that I can’t listen to radio talk shows; if the caller mispronounces a word or says something stupid, I feel worse than they do.
I can’t watch reality TV either. Eww Eww EWWWWWWWWW YUCK!
I don’t watch a lot of TV anyway (I’m always posting) but I make time for certain shows, and crap like “Real World” and “Survivor” is not worth my time.
I find them incredibly annoying.
“Reality TV” is an oxymoron. I see reality when I go to work, and when I go out at lunchtime. There’s a street musician in front of a cafe, a courtyard where people congregate, street fairs, sidewalk preachers, and what-all. I don’t need a TV.
OK, I admit it, i love Survivor, mainly because I love reading all those survival stories. But I loath the rest of “reality” TV. I do like West Wing and Law & order, tho, making that my TV nite, except when it is crappy reruns.
Except for 1900 House, I HATE reality shows!!! Especially “Survivor”…that piece of crap should be nuked. What’s so entertaining about watching a bunch of money-hungry morons look for reasons to stab each other in the back when they’re not constantly bickering?? And this new show, “Big Brother”…am I the only person who thinks that this thing is actually a dry run for the real thing, a world where we’re under surveillance constantly, even in the privacy of our own homes? At least 1900 House is trying to accomplish something, namely to remind us that our love affair with nostalgia has blinded us to the fact that THESE are the good old days, and we should appreciate everything we’ve got.