# Will this war mean the end of reality shows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536 "2003-03-23T08:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/1 "2003-03-23T08:58:59Z")
Yeah, I know the accurate term is “unscripted”, but everyone calls them “reality shows”. Whatever you call them, I’m always eager for any glimmer of hope that they might be on their way out. I don’t watch them (except for this seasons **AmericanIdol** , before Frenchie was booted off); I just despise them. But right now, Mr. Rilch is downstairs, waiting to see if an Iraqi aircraft is going to be shot down, and there’s a level of tension in the room that I can’t imagine **Survivor** or **Married by America** has ever engendered. Do you think that, after this, people will be completely soured on the idea of “reality” TV, having been subjected to the real deal Holyfield? ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/2 "2003-03-23T09:23:28Z")
Let’s hope so. They’re such a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/3 "2003-03-23T10:23:12Z")
Or, conversely, this could fuel a desire for _more_ reality shows! Here’s a possible pitch: Let’s take ordinary Americans and ‘embed’ them with US military forces! Let’s see how they handle combat, what kinds of things they say about the US military, and how long before they request to be evacuted! Whomever stays the longest gets a million dollars and a street named after them in Baghdad! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/4 "2003-03-23T15:48:55Z")
I hope not. I like reality shows. I’ve just started watching them, and they’re hella fun. I’m wondering why folks like **Joe K** say that they’re a waste of time. How are they more of a waste of time than any other pure-entertainment teevee shows? They’re just entertainment, just like Seinfeld or Law & Order. I think your point about the real reality show is well-taken, but in an era of war, I only have MORE of an appetite to see what the latest exploits of Heidious and Jennatalia are. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/5 "2003-03-23T15:57:41Z")
Two cent-worth question here - how much of realtiy show is reality? Usually, I prefer my entertainment to have little do with this reality. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/6 "2003-03-23T17:06:34Z")
Didn’t they say that 9/11 would drive all the reality shows off tv? This will work just as well to get rid of this plague on television. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/7 "2003-03-23T19:07:58Z")
The war is the ultimate reality show. At least that’s how the networks seem to be treating it. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/8 "2003-03-23T19:28:41Z")
Gawd, we can only hope. I watch television for _entertainment_ and _education_, neither of which these “reality” shows provide. Obviously, I’m not in the majority because the only thing that drives what we watch on TV is viewers. If you and millions of other Americans watch them, then they will stay. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/9 "2003-03-23T20:45:00Z")
Reality TV already has a whole set of sub-genres. I don’t think this war will have a big impact on the “lets fix random people up” genre at all. Also I doubt the ‘lets see if random people can sing’ ones (which are nothing new at all) will be affected. Perhaps the 'lets put some random people in a rough place" genre may hurt. I mean how can someone’s struggle over whether or not to eat a worm be compelling when a channel away, marines are fighting in Basra in real-time. As for the “lets judge random people as hot or not” genre - it’s pretty much lame in times of war or times of piece…er…peace. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/10 "2003-03-24T00:09:15Z")
**Exapno** got here first with the comment I was going to make, which is that 9/11 didn’t change anything – if anything, the demand has been greater since then. I think “reality” tv [which I watch to excess, by the way] is mostly about human relationships (with the notable exception of _Fear Factor_, and so it will continue to be popular for some time to come. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/11 "2003-03-24T00:28:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*Yeah, I know the accurate term is “unscripted”, but everyone calls them “reality shows”. Whatever you call them, I’m always eager for any glimmer of hope that they might be on their way out. > \*\* Me too! I hope that an end is in sight, but I doubt it. They are cheap to make and still get ratings. Still, we can keep on hoping. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/12 "2003-03-24T02:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by syncrolecyne \* > \*\*Perhaps the 'lets put some random people in a rough place" genre may hurt. I mean how can someone’s struggle over whether or not to eat a worm be compelling when a channel away, marines are fighting in Basra in real-time. \*\* That’s really what I was getting at. Who’s going to tune in to “Survivor: The Bronx” or whatever their next locale was going to be, after this? ---
**Author:** ![Witch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Witch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Witch)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/13 "2003-03-24T03:27:52Z")
I getcha. A little hard to beat the “drama” of the the frontlines. It makes shows like “Survivor” look tame and lame. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/14 "2003-03-24T03:34:21Z")
Just like the First World War was the “War to End All Wars”. Nah, I suspect “reality” shows will stick around. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Tradnor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@Tradnor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tradnor)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/15 "2003-03-24T05:14:40Z")
Please, like all sitcoms and dramas are quality entertainment? > [@](#): > > They’re such a waste of time. > [@](#): > > Usually, I prefer my entertainment to have little do with this reality. I would say the same thing about _Friends_ or _Will & Grace_. > [@](#): > > A little hard to beat the “drama” of the the frontlines. But somehow _Alias_ and _CSI_ manage to do it? I just don’t understand this belief that somehow reality shows are inherently worse than all the other crap on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/16 "2003-03-24T06:43:45Z")
I hate them because they take work away from writers. They’re not creative. And I get the message already: people are dumb, they’ll do anything for money and to get on TV, and they’re easily manipulated once they’ve been given a chance at those goals. I’m not entertained by people with poor diction stumbling around situations that are unfamiliar to them, and being goaded into behaving badly. The novelty is over. Let’s give real actors a chance again. And writers, and directors, and DPs/lighting crews, and editors… ---
**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/17 "2003-03-24T07:10:34Z")
I dunno. There isn’t a lot of reality in “reality TV”, as many have pointed out. So I guess it’ll still work as escapist entertainment for people who need a break from serious current events. But I don’t think it’d be a good time to plug “Survivor XIII: Paintball in the Desert.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c2a13f/32.png) [@The\_Man\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_Who)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/18 "2003-03-24T07:13:02Z")
We’ll let’s have a cautious “We’ll See.” “The Bachelor 2” premieres Wednesday, I think. But will anyone give a Tinker’s Dam? Only Time Will Tell. /Kent Brockman ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/19 "2003-03-24T07:29:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*I hate them because they take work away from writers. They’re not creative. \*\* You’re kidding! _TV_ writers? Have you _seen_ the utter dreck that passes for “writing” on TV these days? Not one show in twenty has any decent writing at all. Probably less. Thinning their ranks a bit is a point in _favor_ of reality shows, if you ask me. Hey, I just had an idea! Let’s take all the TV writers who are (supposedly) out of work because of reality shows, put them on an island, and have them compete against each other for a fat writing contract! ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536/20 "2003-03-24T08:30:18Z")
One may argue that “reality” TV shows are as much a product of deliberate writing and studied production as any sitcom or drama. Sure, certain outcomes are unpredicated, but the set-ups and writers’ macchinations are as “creative” as the devices employed by truly fictional works. More, the deliberate and calculated development of “characters” in decent reality shows is as structured as in any drama or comedy. Some would argue, therefore, that they are as valid and worthy of discussion as any piece of television. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-war-mean-the-end-of-reality-shows/163536.md?page=2)