I have despised those shows from the moment they appeared. But they had very little effect. I quit cable in 1992 and have not had it since. Our children grew up not watching TV and are pretty darn happy and cool adults.
The question is actually as old as AN AMERICAN FAMILY, one of the first widely popular reality shows… back when the idea was a novelty. The show ran briefly in the early 70s, but made a big splash. Yet right away, some people were asking if it it was, in fact, reality. If the cameras and production crew altered the reality.
Albert Brooks explored that question in his movie spoof REAL LIFE, which was all actors (including Charles Grodin) pretending to be a real family, and Brooks pretending to be a clueless producer who keeps ruining the experiment by inserting himself into their lives.
A “reality show” is an oxymoron. Only morons watch and believe it. They are the cheapest show to produce. Look at how many “Gold Fever” shows there are. The only real “Reality Show” was “The Kardashians”. It showed just how dumb they are “in reality”. Shows how rich you can become without having a brain.
After the actors and writers strikes in the late 1980s producers looked for ways to make programmes without those two groups and “reality” programming began and soon took over the TV schedules with no end in sight.
Good points, all. I watch those things very rarely and by accident, but it really cracks me up when a character in some sort of jam wonders aloud “what do we do now?” when the obvious answer is “ask a cameraman and the sound guy”.
dja1701 over 2 years ago
Anyone watching those so-called reality shows suffers from brain damage. The only question is which came first, the show or the damage?
79nysv over 2 years ago
Reality shows are a new low for the Television industry. Which is why I haven’t watched TV in 7 years.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 2 years ago
Are you sure Sal is still alive and breathing? He looks sort of blue.
cdward over 2 years ago
I have despised those shows from the moment they appeared. But they had very little effect. I quit cable in 1992 and have not had it since. Our children grew up not watching TV and are pretty darn happy and cool adults.
Aladar30 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Sal can’t believe that. They lied to him for years!!!
scottartist creator over 2 years ago
The question is actually as old as AN AMERICAN FAMILY, one of the first widely popular reality shows… back when the idea was a novelty. The show ran briefly in the early 70s, but made a big splash. Yet right away, some people were asking if it it was, in fact, reality. If the cameras and production crew altered the reality.
Albert Brooks explored that question in his movie spoof REAL LIFE, which was all actors (including Charles Grodin) pretending to be a real family, and Brooks pretending to be a clueless producer who keeps ruining the experiment by inserting himself into their lives.
davanden over 2 years ago
I won’t think that Sal would be the kind of person who was much concerned about TV shows.
DawnQuinn1 over 2 years ago
A “reality show” is an oxymoron. Only morons watch and believe it. They are the cheapest show to produce. Look at how many “Gold Fever” shows there are. The only real “Reality Show” was “The Kardashians”. It showed just how dumb they are “in reality”. Shows how rich you can become without having a brain.
azhoosier41 over 2 years ago
Reality is not scripted like the shows.
raybarb44 over 2 years ago
It’s all tripe…..
Teto85 Premium Member over 2 years ago
After the actors and writers strikes in the late 1980s producers looked for ways to make programmes without those two groups and “reality” programming began and soon took over the TV schedules with no end in sight.
PoodleGroomer over 2 years ago
The first clue is when the camera crew is inside to show the victim’s surprise at seeing the show’s stars at the door.
Ken Norris Premium Member over 2 years ago
I think the first true (and entertaining) reality show was Candid Camera.
AndrewSihler over 2 years ago
Good points, all. I watch those things very rarely and by accident, but it really cracks me up when a character in some sort of jam wonders aloud “what do we do now?” when the obvious answer is “ask a cameraman and the sound guy”.
William Bludworth Premium Member over 2 years ago
The best reality show is when a “60 Minutes” reporter shows up at the suspect’s, I mean subject’s home or office for an interview.
weirdme Premium Member over 2 years ago
Sal look like a zombie!
aussie399 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Anything calling itself a reality show should be sued for false advertising.