Reality television has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment. I’m starting to believe that I am the only person in America that is sick and tired of reality. Don’t we watch television to escape the stresses of everyday life, which for many of us is real reality? When I finally sit down at the end of a busy, stressful day, I certainly don’t want to watch a couple fighting or kids screaming. I want to laugh and escape. I want one hour to forget about my problems and schedule. I want to be entertained.
Watching the movie EDtv, with Matthew McConaughey, reminded me of the sickening obsession America has with “reality” television shows. It all started years ago with the MTV reality series The Real World. Back then, the show became popular because it was unique. It was truly different from anything we were watching and caught America’s attention. Since then, it seems that every network has decided to line up reality shows for every night of the week. Frankly, I am sick and tired of reality T.V.
What do I care about the Kardashians? Seriously, who are they and where did they come from? Yeah, Bruce Jenner is married to the mother but so what? Lorenzo Lamas now has joined to force to include a reality show about his kids and their dysfunction. Really? I haven’t seen Lorenzo on anything in years except maybe on the cover of direct-to-video releases or the occasionaly Syfy movie. Why should viewers care about his life and kids? Oh…and let’s not forget about the Gottis. It’s ALL dysfunction. People sit in their living rooms night after night waiting for one housewife to beat down another. They impatiently wait for the next episode of these shows to find out who is sleeping with who and who is pregnant by who. We all witnessed what reality television did to Jon & Kate. It’s a sick addiction and the television networks are cashing in on it.
I miss funny sitcoms like The Cosby Show and Growing Pains. What happened to shows like Seinfeld and Sanford & Son? These shows made us laugh. If only for thirty minutes a day, we escaped reality. I don’t want reality! I want fun and laughter!
Author: Rhonda Gutierrez
What an amazing article! The TV industry is exploiting everyday people for the sake of a buck. The sad thing is is that these people don’t even realize the toll that being on TV will end up costing them and their families. They think of the now and the ‘wow, I am going to be famous’. What they truly don’t realize is that the quick buck they will make off of exploiting their family is going to end up in the hands of psychological reconstruction of emotions and quite possibly correctional facilities.
well said
I miss good sitcoms too. Not bad sitcoms but well written sitcoms. I miss regular seasons on TV and being able to depend on a show that airs on one night instead of being moved around so much like “Ugly Betty” which now has killed the show. Maybe we should boycott TV until they they give young shows a chance before yanking them and putting something of interest on TV. So many channels and so much junk!