"Reality TV": It's More than Just An Oxy... Moron!

Big Brother... Survivor... The Great Race! Interesting, somewhat entertaining concepts being presented to television audiences as "Reality TV". Everybody that believes there's such a thing as "Reality Television" please raise your hand. (Put your hand back down, Billy Jim-Bob! Y'all ain't been right in the head since you peed on that electric fence.) Okay, the short bus will be along to pick you 4 people up tomorrow morning. (Strangely, these shows - for the most-part - have been quite successful, with repeated renewal contracts for several consecutive seasons.)

There's as much "reality" in Reality TV, as there is in professional wrestling. Why do you think the "World Wrestling Federation" had to change its name to "World Wrestling Entertainment"? There's probably more reality in a Spongebob Squarepants cartoon than there is in "Reality TV"! Anybody who hasn't figured out, after how long now - 5 years? - of "Reality TV", that the programs are fully scripted and choreographed should be made a ward of the courts.

Personally, I watched the first episode of Big Brother and Survivor, and haven't watched another show of that type since. Perhaps they should rename that genre of entertainment to something like "Simulated Reality TV", or "Pseudo-Reality TV". But don't give me a bowl of BS and tell me it's ice cream!

Unpleasant as it may have been to watch, "Reality TV" is what was broadcast on September 11, 2001, live, from New York City. THAT was reality! Even our documentaries are modified to meet the expectations of the producer, just as our news is adjusted to support the political views of the publisher or station owner. That which we call "reality" is our own personal perception of the interaction between man and his environment. If your reality includes a hopping rodent with large floppy ears and a basket full of goodies, or a fat man in a red suit whose M.O. is to enter homes under cover of darkness via the chimney, then you are a prime candidate for "Reality TV". I have no quarrel with entertainment television. In fact, I LOVE entertainment TV! But, let's call a spade a spade - it's not a manually operated personal soil removal and entrenchment device - regardless of what it says on the US Government Bill of Lading!

I usually end by saying, "I could be wrong about this..." but, there's not a snowball's chance this time.