Someone recently asked me what I thought of "reality TV". At first, I was a little surprised to realize that I didn't have a strong opinion about it. It seems like most people either love reality TV or hate it.
The people who hate reality TV tend to focus on it not being "reality". Their point is that when you're trapped on a desert island, you usually don't have the opportunity to run through a huge goddamn labyrinth for a chance to win food and matches. And no one in the Lord of the Flies ever got voted off.
But maybe their point goes beyond this and addresses the reality soap opera shows. These seem to be the bulk of what's on the air right now. These are basically mutant hybrids of Love Connection and a Stanley Milgram experiment. These shows ask the all-important question: just how far will you turn up the voltage on the other chicks in order to fuck the moron and take the money?
They put a bunch of human rats in a cage and see which ones fuck, which ones eat each other, and which ones appear to be the least full of shit about falling in love with each other. Of course, now most of these rats come pre-trained from watching other rats and think they have the ability to act like better rats. The result is that instead of watching actual rat behavior, we get to see a bunch of rats acting like rats. And let's be clear about something. Rats can't act for shit.
So yes, I can relate to the reality TV haters. But I've watched a little of it myself. I don't think there's been a single time when I've been able to flip the channels past Fear Factor and not pause for at least one sheep testicle ingestion. There's something innately engaging about people being dared to do stuff. As a big "truth or dare" fan in my childhood, I'm sure as hell not going to knock Fear Factor. I once licked bird shit, for Christ's sake.
But I actually don't see Fear Factor as "reality TV". Fear Factor is really a game show. The interaction between contestants doesn't amount to more than trash talking. Other reality TV, such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy or the British Faking It are really more like documentaries. I think the essence of real "reality TV", however, is the human interaction aspect. Or more specifically, manipulation.
The people on reality TV shows are an odd combination of actors and game show contestants. A reality TV audience is sort of a Greek chorus, a permanent set of eyes to observe normally private actions. The superficial, gossipy, second-handed exhibitionists who go on these shows have no self, other than to depict a pseudo self in front of other people. The claim that these people "will do anything to be on TV" is absolutely true. But no one ever addresses what "being on TV" actually means. It means to be perceived. The motivations of particular individuals may differ: to get a reaction out of someone, to show people what a caring person you can be, or in some cases just to land an acting gig.
I don't like the people, but at times I do like the situations. I think I like them for the same reason I always loved Candid Camera. I like seeing experiments in human behavior. When you get a laugh out of it, even better. Would I go on these shows? Probably not. (Unless Candid Camera trapped me into being embarrassed enough to sign the goddamn waiver.) But if a TV show can let me see what happens when a chick finds out the guy she's been drooling over has three cents in his pocket instead of three million, that gets my attention. The only problem is that the editors are usually terrible, and the show's gimmick can't carry it for more than an episode or two. For the same reason I wouldn't want to see a 12-episode Candid Camera gag, I think these shows should be limited to a single episode, or at most just a few. Cut out all the boring dialogue between the actors/contestants in which they try to surmise what the others are thinking or not thinking. This is pointless MTV Real World bullshit, and is no more interesting than installing a video camera in a college dorm room. Keep the dialogue focused on the plot or goal of the show, and keep the damn show moving.
I think reality TV haters are just misled by the name of the genre. No shit, it's not "reality".
