NEWS: Surprise! Reality TV is Fake.

reality show is an oxymoron, no?

These tv shows just make me shake my head in utmost confusion. The sad thing is that many people out there think that is quality tv, just like the O.C.

Why do people like Hulk Hogan need their own tv show? Their 15 minutes of fame were up, and now they are crawling back for more.

Uggh.


I'm going to go watch the mythbusters blow something up.

When I worked at the local movie theater, my old alma mater, Hoover High, was filming the first episode of MTV's Two-A-Days, or whatever it's called... I've never actually watched it myself other than when they had it playing in Wal-mart and I stood there slack jawed as a girl claimed they were practicing a tradition that hadn't been in place when I graduated two years prior.

I was behind the concession stand and watched them repeatedly film the players walking up to the box office... and I had to laugh because they were walking side by side, not talking to one another, and obviously trying to look important... I had never seen any real customers walk like that. Then they re-took that 8 times before coming in and making the players pretend to order food from me. They even sent a camera man behind the counter to film me pressing in the order, but they told me not to actually press in the buttons, and for the players only to get candy or something simple that I could put out on the counter for them but they knew they wouldn't have to pay for. After several takes they finally left me alone to get real customers.

I was less depressed at the fact that I wasn't surprised MTV would force people to pretend to go see a movie, than the fact that people would actually want to see this, think it was exciting and honestly believe this is real. Seriously, anybody who can't figure out that reality TV is fake needs to get the sense slapped into them.

this isnt really news to anyone!

bring on the openly fake sitcoms with laugh tracks.

for the love of god, please put reality tv out of its misery.

Wait till the show 'welcome to the family' comes out.
it was partly filmed in my hotel.

I never thought the hills seemed like a reality show. Now...My Super Sweet 16...haha...that shits hilarious. I dunno what those parents are thinking.

I didn't know that anyone actually thought the Hills was reality TV. Watch one episode and it seems fairly obvious that it's scripted meant to seem reality tv. What's next? Someone's gonna think The Office is reality tv too?

A friend of mine is one of the segment producers on Super Sweet 16. I watched it once to she what she does for a living and ever since I've been in awe of the saint like patience she must possess to not torture and kill the monsters in designers clothes that are featured on that program.

I figued out reality tv was fake when it wasnt people sitting around watching tv...

i would almost agree, but hulk hogans 15 minutes of fame has lasted for 3 decades (give of take) crossed international and language boundaries and cemented his legacy in the pantheon of professional wrestlers. mock whomever you want but i still say my prayers and take my vitamans... WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN HULKAMANIA IS STILL RUNNING WILD ON YOU!?!?!? yeah, he is pretty much one of the most recognizable people on the planet.

What an exposée.....not.

I don't even know what the fuck The Hills is about. MTV: 1, Formus: 0.

Exactly what I was thinking. That's MTV -- putting the "s" in hit.

In a world of fake reality television, I'm glad that there's still wrestling. And Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Loch Ness Monster.....and the female orgasm.

I once read a rant saying that we should stop calling it "Reality TV" and start calling it "Unscripted TV," because, well, even if it actually is unscripted (which, often, isn't the case), it certainly isn't real. I mean, Survivor was the original reality show, but there was pretty much nothing "real" about it except for the fact that there was no script.

im pretty sure the real world was the first reality show- not survivor

There were "reality" shows long before Real World or Survivor. However, Survivor is generally acknowledged as the show which spawned the frenzy of reality-based programming that we are currently subjected to.

I have to wonder hat kind of people watch these shows? And why there are so many of them..... Seriously: If your life is so boring that watching "reality" TV is entertainment for you, you need to spend a lot less time in front of the TV.

Is there enough creative talent left in the world of television to accomplish this? I mean if the best thing they can come up with these days is faking real life, it doesn't bode well. Trying to come up with something like a plot would probably make your average TV writer's head explode....

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

+1

I think there's still a little hope left. The USA network has some good original programming: Monk, Psych, and Burn Notice. If you're into science-fiction, the new Dr. Who is fantastic. The Sci-Fi channel also has Painkiller Jane and a new Flash Gordon (if you don't mind a little bit of cheesiness--but it is Flash Gordon, after all. Cheesiness is expected.).

As for the major US networks, there's isn't much out there. NBC has Heroes and the Law & Order franchise (except for Criminal Intent, which has moved to USA). FOX has Bones, House, and Standoff. The CW has Supernatural.

I'll take over the top things like Flash Gordon over reality television every time.