I wonder if MTV isn’t killing the monster they’ve created with reality shows.
They’ve broken the sacred pact upon which reality shows are built. “edited, but not staged” “the audience always knows more than the subjects”
it’s been unspoken, so I’m just trying out some of the ways in which they got us to fall for the gag.
anyway, Ozzy’s outtakes at the end, I think, ruined my ability to watch the show anymore. I had to call into question the past couple of years worth of the show, “were they staging this stuff the whole time?”
anyway, I’d like to hear other perspectives on this. Maybe MTV is once again on the cutting edge and killing off reality TV in at a time when it’s about to die anyway.
Kelly and boyfriend broke up, kelly blamed it on everyone, bit jack, had a hissyfit and moved out
Jack was sleepwalking, got angry and violent when someone woke him up, later in the show, he killed minne the dog in his sleep, and we were all really broken up about it, most of all Sharon who went away to the malibu house,
meanwhile Jack also goes away somewhere to be ashamed and Ozzy is left in the house alone and can’t get the TV off the weather channel, he’s stuck there yelling “JACK!, KELLY! SHA-RON!” Then they pan out and reveal that everyone is there including kellys boyfriend and the not dead dog.
Then, they show outtakes of Ozzy screwing up the line “I love you all, but you’re all fucking mad” doing takes over and over again.
But now, was he restaging the “Fucking mad” outtakes? Just to screw with us? That’s what has me wondering. I wish I had the first season on tape to see if it’s exactly the same.
Well, I’ve read for a long time how many of the Osbournes scenes are scripted, staged, or at least enhanced by creative editing. Knowing that, dramatically reduced my enthusiam for the show, especially the third season.
But man, that ending was CLASSIC. Because, by admitting that the last episode was entirely staged, and alluding that other moments were been staged as well, left me with the feeling of, “WHAT THE BLOODY HELL??” Kind of like the ending of “Usual Suspects” – how much was truth, and how much was phony? We will never know for sure.
I was/am confused also. I thought the “fucking mad” outtakes were legit, which makes me think it’s all been scripted, although they’ve probably thrown in legitimate stuff. At the same time, it doesn’t seem possible that Ozzy could learn enough script to carry the whole thing off.
So, the short answer is, I’m as confused as anyone and doubt I’ll watch in the future…
so then maybe it evolves the way panel discussion shows have?
Like there will be staged Springeresque ones, one or two will teeter and find a market although will remain crap (like jenny jones and maury povich), and maybe the real world or Survivor endures as the lone quality standout.
I personally think MTV is selling the genre out. Realizing that it’s gone beyond peak, and kind of said “screw it, the genre’s gonna die, let’s have some fun and push the envelope.”
I predict there will be now a mild rash of reality gag shows like contest searchlight was, but more appealing and more obvious. Then, we will see much less reality tv type shows.