In the UK, almost anything is fodder for reality television. Sample this -
1. People in their twenties and thirties who cannot handle money and are heavily in debt, usually about 30,000 Pounds. Special “Personal Finance Gods” are flown in, and these guys tell the deep-in-debt people how to run their lives. Including “Surely you can buy a cheaper shower gel.” and “You have 45 pairs of shoes already, I really think you need to stop buying more footwear. And I say this from experience.”.
2. Parents who have obese children. This is a real horror show. You are shown children with appalling habits, obviously picked up from their parents, and the parents are regularly shocked every twenty minutes with images of “What your kids will look like twenty years from now.”. The parents then are given specific tasks. From the painfully obvious to some slightly insightful suggestions.
3. People with bad pets.
4. People with VERY filthy houses. And I mean, FILTHY. You cannot see the floor in any part of the house. There’s mould, and other life form in the fridge. And a team comes in and cleans the house, all the while showing you how to clean a house.
So let me come to the two specific reasons why I watch reality television. First of all, watching other people screw up their lives to that degree makes me feel much better about myself. Secondly, there’s hardly anything else on UK television.
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but this is true of Indian tv too, neha – watching the scheming saas-bahus makes the viewer 1. better about herself and 2. grateful for what she has and does not have in her life – ditto for all the men who watch it too…
“the more I force Sri to watch reality television”
Hate it when wives force husbands to do stuff ..have fun
The only thing worse than reality TV is British reality TV…
Presenting Reality tv for bloggers – Blogger with the most unreadable blog, most non-working links, annoying ad-words.Help from therapists on dealing with trolls and other annoyances, tips from Trump on blogpromotion and from a dating guru on how to find soulmate via your blog (ok I’ll stop).
Ah, more reassurance.
Surely he doesn’t have to watch reality tv to know what a great wife he has!
Charu: I admit Indian TV has its share of bad programming, but the bulk of television shows here are reality shows. And it’s so bad that it hurts.
ace: Well, so long as your spouse doesn’t do it.
Suchi: So well put. :) Sometimes I am glued to the television just to see if it’s possible for it to get worse. They don’t let me down.
Vidya: Haha! And much as this sounds funny, I am quite sure if some guy producing for British TV read it – he would jump with joy because he’d just found a new idea!
AQC: Ummm..
mumbaigirl: Well he knows. But the look on his face is so worth it. It’s just a …. gentle nudge.
Wonderful strategy regarding raising your own ratings:)
true, reality tv is as painful as it gets. but what I meant was – the reasons why people watch bad tv is the same everywhere – it was not so much about the quality of programing.
Hahaha! I also watch these TV shows sometimes to feel better about myself. :p. But I really don’t have a stomach for those filthy houses broadcast. I have always wondered how much is true and how much is made up in Jerry Springer shows, for eg. But either ways, it’s horrifying.
reasons sounds valid enough… BUT still is watching other screwing up and unable to do anything about it– is very sad and sicking. and ofcourse, not to ignore the validity of such show.
British television lot more to offer.. surf your channels you will find it. if not drop by my documentary collection and choice your pick. iam sure you will enjoy it.
dipali: Thank you!
Charu: That’s probably true. I wouldn’t dispute that at all. But since I get only Brit TV – I can only speak from my perspective no? (I also get Star Plus etc – but only watch Koffee with Karan.) :)
the girl from ipanema: I just make sure the that the filthy houses bit isn’t on air when I am getting my dinner. It just kills your appetite. I think I watch it with a bit of awe too. And keep muttering “How is that even possible?”.
Yuva: Even I don’t take this blog that seriously. I get enough of documentaries thank you.
This part of the world is also thriving on the reality TV imports from UK and Europe.
Reality television, which was scandalous and fresh at the onset, has now become as drab and mindnumbing as the soaps churned out on Indian television. They have run out of ideas, and are preprocessing the same old stale ideas.
Wish we get to see something more wholesome on television!