What Makes Great Reality Television
- Ivanna
- Feb 2, 2016
- 2 min read
Reality television is my no-so-secret obsession. It is not necessarily the best intellectual experience; but, it is entertaining. There is some sort of show for everyone. Some people enjoy the classics such as Jersey Shore, Keeping up with the Kardashians, or even Shark Tank. But this article isn't about the good structured reality tv. This article is abo
ut what many of us refer to as "trash tv."
I have always thought about what keeps people watching episode after episode. It really is a formula and I think I got it figured out (for the most part anyways). Here it is:
1. Drama
No reality tv show will work without some sort of drama. One cast member has to talk bad about somebody else, then tension rises. It gets even more juicy if a fight occurs. I mean we personally wouldn't break out into a bar fight on a random day, but why not watch some random person do it on tv.
2. That one ditzy, airheaded character
In every reality tv show, there is always that one castmate who we always challenge if they actually passed middle school. They are the ones who don't really know how to act in social situations and should be using a coloring book, rather than taking shots.
3. Romantic or Sexual Encounters
The audience is a sucker for a good love triangle or watching people make bad decisions when it comes to sex. They want to live through the characters and laugh at their mistakes. There are always those exception stories where the cast members fall in love and actually somewhat lives happily ever after. But that isn't what most people are looking for when watching reality tv.
4. Booze and Partying (and lots of it)
The parties are what we dare to dream. They make the environments seem surreal, like you are watching a movie or something. You wish you were with them having a good time. These moments spark the drama and the sex. In a sense, I think producers use it as a way to get cast members to loosen up a bit and do dumb stuff. Hey, why not watch someone else get too drunk and make a fool of themselves? It's not you.
5. Life Lessons
Overall, you can really learn a lot from reality tv. Within them there are so many life lessons. You can learn how to make a rockin' Snooki poof or even some tricks from your favorite celebrities. Most of all, these shows really showcase what not to do. People can watch and learn so much from just observing. That's the greatness of reality tv. It might seem like a waste of tv space, but you can actually get a lot out of it.
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