Low-quality reality TV works for me
Shows with B-rate stars are guilty pleasures to pretentious students.
Katie McIntire
Issue date: 3/5/07 Section: Opinion
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Reality TV is trashy, mindless, self-indulgent garbage that sucks up hours of productive time and replaces them with a never-ending amount of shock-value and stupidity.
I'm a huge fan.
Much to the chagrin of friends, I am completely captivated by reality television.
There is nothing finer than a marathon of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," "Top Chef" or "America's Next Top Model," and I cannot even describe in words the elation I feel on Monday nights when I realize it is time for yet another delightful episode of "I Love New York."
In the past, I have refused to identify myself as a true reality-TV junkie, thinking, "I draw the line somewhere; I'm sure there are reality shows out there I definitely would not watch."
As it turns out, I was wrong. I am a fair-game fan of reality TV, and it took a little show called "The Surreal Life: Fame Games," a program featuring decidedly washed-up celebrities competing in a "fight to the famousest," to help me realize this.
If there is any doubt as to the quality of this show, just look to some of its headliners: Verne Troyer (Mini-me in the "Austin Powers" movies), Joanie Laurer (known as Chyna in her wrestling days) and Traci Bingham (former Playboy Playmate and castmate on "Baywatch"). It has become all too clear that I will literally watch anything.
My initial reaction to reality TV (before discovering my status as possibly the person single-handedly responsible for keeping it on the air) was one of disgust. After all, it is an art form that focuses mainly on the strange and often shockingly dumb antics of others.
There are more important things out there - real stories of triumph, success, failure, heartbreak. I think of myself as an intelligent, caring, educated young woman. I should be reading copies of The New Yorker and discussing alternative-fuel sources, not inundating myself with trashy TV.
The truth, though, is I think I can still be that girl, despite my addiction. Perhaps there is a certain element of societal decline in the nature of reality shows, but it is only television. It is too easy to blame our problems on what we are watching and much harder to actually look at the world around us and look for the true cause. Despite what some may say, I think we need reality TV, especially in the uncertain world of today.
Reality TV has provided an escapist outlet available to the masses at the touch of a button, and despite what implications it may or may not have about our society, I feel more than ready and willing to take advantage of it.
Some choose to read romance novels or play video games; I merely choose to park it in front of "The Girls Next Door" and enjoy the glamorous glow of the Playboy Mansion.
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Katie McIntire is a cinema-television critical studies freshman from Manhattan Beach.
I'm a huge fan.
Much to the chagrin of friends, I am completely captivated by reality television.
There is nothing finer than a marathon of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," "Top Chef" or "America's Next Top Model," and I cannot even describe in words the elation I feel on Monday nights when I realize it is time for yet another delightful episode of "I Love New York."
In the past, I have refused to identify myself as a true reality-TV junkie, thinking, "I draw the line somewhere; I'm sure there are reality shows out there I definitely would not watch."
As it turns out, I was wrong. I am a fair-game fan of reality TV, and it took a little show called "The Surreal Life: Fame Games," a program featuring decidedly washed-up celebrities competing in a "fight to the famousest," to help me realize this.
If there is any doubt as to the quality of this show, just look to some of its headliners: Verne Troyer (Mini-me in the "Austin Powers" movies), Joanie Laurer (known as Chyna in her wrestling days) and Traci Bingham (former Playboy Playmate and castmate on "Baywatch"). It has become all too clear that I will literally watch anything.
My initial reaction to reality TV (before discovering my status as possibly the person single-handedly responsible for keeping it on the air) was one of disgust. After all, it is an art form that focuses mainly on the strange and often shockingly dumb antics of others.
There are more important things out there - real stories of triumph, success, failure, heartbreak. I think of myself as an intelligent, caring, educated young woman. I should be reading copies of The New Yorker and discussing alternative-fuel sources, not inundating myself with trashy TV.
The truth, though, is I think I can still be that girl, despite my addiction. Perhaps there is a certain element of societal decline in the nature of reality shows, but it is only television. It is too easy to blame our problems on what we are watching and much harder to actually look at the world around us and look for the true cause. Despite what some may say, I think we need reality TV, especially in the uncertain world of today.
Reality TV has provided an escapist outlet available to the masses at the touch of a button, and despite what implications it may or may not have about our society, I feel more than ready and willing to take advantage of it.
Some choose to read romance novels or play video games; I merely choose to park it in front of "The Girls Next Door" and enjoy the glamorous glow of the Playboy Mansion.
-
Katie McIntire is a cinema-television critical studies freshman from Manhattan Beach.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
gah
posted 3/05/07 @ 12:39 AM PST
Isn't this like the 4th DT article in a month about how fantastic crappy TV is? Seriously now... there must be something better to write about.
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