Reality TV. It’s everywhere on television today. We can’t escape it. Whether it’s watching the Bachelor eliminate his latest girl, or watching singing hopefuls take their shot at becoming the next American Idol, television is bombarded with Reality shows.
CBS has just picked up the new reality show “Arranged Marriages”. The show takes four adults, unlucky in their pursuits at finding a spouse. Their family and friends pick a spouse for them and the two exchange marital vows. The show follows the lives of the newlywed couples.
So there you have it. What limits does reality TV have? Does television have the right to arrange marriages? If so, what will it do next? Or, do we as participants give our consent to let television run our lives?
I think it’s a combination of both. Yes, I give in to the reality TV shows. But arranged marriages? That’s taking it too far for me. I want to know some things in life are still sacred and important to people, like finding a spouse.
So what do you think? Has reality television become out of hand? Should reality TV have limits, why or why not? And what should those limits be?
41 comments:
Sure it's gone out of hand to pick spouses for people, but it's only going to stop if we don't turn on the show. As to limits, I think it's endless. But it sure does make you think about what people will really do for some money or showtime.
Wow, a show that picks your spouse? That's a bit nuts. I think this is a prime example of the extent we've let reality televsion go to. They wouldn't produce these shows if the consumers weren't watching them. It's crazy to think what people find entertaining...and what people will do for $$ or just to be on TV.
I do believe that reality television has gotten out of hand. In fact, I believe that it has almost turned into "unreal," reality television. It almost appears that despite giving the "reality" feel to it, it's more staged as reality than actual reality. I am not positive how true that is, I would love to be in the shoes of someone involved with reality television, but I have turned into being a skeptic on the most recent reality television developments.
I honestly feel like the reality shows crossed the line a long time ago. I can list at least ten reality shows right now that I am strongly morally opposed to adn would never want my kids to watch (and I wouldn't want myself to watch them either.)- I think they are a reflection of the erosion of our culutral morals. Can you imagine how you would feel if you had a kid grow up to be on Finding love with tila tequila?
I definitely think reality TV has gone too far. The shows on TV today are just so far fetched and simply ridiculous. Its amazes me that people actually watch half of them. I agree with Zach, I know these shows are supposed to depict 'reality,' but they seem so staged. The reality shows today seem to be way more dramatic than what actually happens in 'real life.'
I think reality TV shows are past old. Every time I have watched a reality TV show I finish feeling like I wasted my time. It seems like the majority of them don't even promote positive values. Sitcoms, and quality ones for that matter, need to come back.
That's hilarious--I hadn't heard of this new CBS show. However, in your criticism of Reality TV, you have to remember that in order to have the show, someone had to agree to participate in it. But I agree, it seems like with every new season and new batch of "reality," or as dubbed here unreal, TV, the networks have to up the entertainment value and do something even more outrageous than has been done previously.
The limits come from people not watching the shows. If nobody watched the show, then it would get no funding from advertisers, an therefore would get canceled. So....it comes down to each of us choosing if we want to watch it or not.
Oh reality TV...I think most of us have had a reality TV show that has been our guilty pleasure. For some reason it intrigues us. I think it has gone too far, but it always has been a bit edgy. The more back biting and gossip, the better. That is what it thrives on. I do think it has gone too far, but we seem to still like it so it will continue to be shown until we decide its not what we are interested in.
That's an extreme show - having someone else pick your spouse. I don't know about that. But yeah I think it's gotten kind of out of hand - everything is reality now. But I agree with Zach on how I think it's becoming a bit more staged than real.
I agree that reality TV is out of hand but its just a sad reflection of our society. Networks only provide what their customers want. Its all about the bottom line, If it didn't make money they wouldn't keep producing them.
As has been mentioned by a number of people so far, I think that we are all to blame for the moral state TV shows are in today. Ok, maybe not "us" as a class, I bet the majority of us don't watch the disputed shows on this board, but as a society we are watching, and in a way demanding, these shows. As many of you have said already, if no one watched the show, it wouldn't exist.
Sadly, I'm not really sure what we can do to stop new shows like this from coming out. The best thing we can do is to not watch it ourselves and try to get others to do the same, but as long as there enough people wanting to watch the show, and enough people who are ridiculously desperate and pathetic enough to actually go on national television and be put in an arranged marriage, these shows will continue.
Its interesting to me that not only can we as heterosexual Americans jest at the idea of arranged marriages, but no one seems to make a big deal that we've made a TV show about it. Especially when considering what happened just a few months ago with proposition 8 in California where people, despite their sexual preferences were told that it was illegal for them to wed. People who may have actually loved one another. I am not making a comment as to whether or not I believe this to be moral or right. It's just interesting to me. Are we really respecting "the sanctity of marriage" with shows like this?
Reality TV is 100% out of hand. People have become desperate to appeal to the public with any random reality tv show they can. I saw a commercial for one the other day called, "BABY IN A HOT CAR: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?" They literally put a baby doll in a carseat and lock it into a car in a parking lot. They film people's reactions when they walk by. Seriously people? Let's keep it to things with quality material like the Bachelor. Hellooo we all know Jason is going to be happily married when this is all over right? It's worked for everyone before him...wait.
I think reality television has gotten out of hand. There some shows that are incredibly trashy and provide no societal benefit. Some aren't even a reflection of reality. For example, how many of us have the choice between two bisexual twins competing for our love? It's not reality.
I think reality TV shows will continue to be popular until they do go too far. However, I do not think all the reality TV shows are bad. There are some that many tread on thin ice when it comes to morality and family values but it is the responsibility of those watching to turn it off. Reality TV should have some limits whether it's the time the show is aired or what channel it is televised on.
Most definitely. Years ago reality TV crossed the line in my opinion. At the same time though networks are always pushing the line of what's acceptable each year to maintain anticipation and ratings. I think they have gone too far but until we as viewers stop watching or opting to be on a reality show they will keep coming.
It might be a little out of hand, but we allow it by supporting (or at least not vocally speaking against) it. Should there be limits? Well, sure, but remember for the most part, every person going onto those shows knows exactly what they're getting themselves into. There are exceptions (Tool Academy on VH1 for example) but even then, once the contestants find out what they're into, they could always quit. No one forces these people to be on these shows. Right? (That's really a question, will someone tell me if I'm wrong?)
I think any kind of television show has maybe gone too far in its' efforts to appease audiences. But the thought of a show dedicated to arranged marriages is taking it over the double yellow. I don't agree with that sort of show that these people gave up on finding a companion so they put fate in the hands of their family to marry a complete stranger. Every show pushes the envelope, but that's why we love them. Viewer discretion advised, right?
Find me a show that really portrays reality. If you do, I'm sorry, I don't want to watch it. Do you?
Yes, I believe reality television has taken it extremely far. Spouse assigning, wow. Who would sign up for that?? Reality television just keeps growing and crossing more and more boundaries because people watch, find it interesting, and ultimately support these shows. I remember a particular show on VH1 called "I Love New York". It was a show based on a girl who had been rejected by rapper Flavor Flav, trying to find love. I remember thinking, "Wow, they will let anyone have their own show!" I could not believe how ridiculous some of the contestants were. It makes me think that we have gone to far. How would we turn back now???
I think as long as it's not obscene, then let reality tv do its thing. The contestants aren't forced to be on the show, and we as viewers aren't forced to watch it.
Reality TV was created because we as viewers enjoy tuning in to watch the misfortune of others. Our eyes are funding these shows and allowing for them to continue to be produced. Yes on paper the premises of some reality shows seems ridiculous but I dont think its out of hand because I have the power to watch them. If I dont want to watch them I dont have to. If someone else wants to make a fool of themselves on TV for money or national exposure in return then thats their decision. We have the final say on what we view and dont view, not ABC, FOX or NBC.
Wow! Arranged marriages for a reality TV show is going pretty far. I think some reality TV shows are interesting. I enjoy American Idol and So, You Think You Can Dance. However, I do feel that some reality TV shows tap into people's personal lives a little more than I think should be shown.
Like most things in life, there is a point where a line can be crossed. I think the trend of reality tv slowly getting trashier and trashier is following a general downward curve of the world today. Lines are being crossed in almost everything, and reality tv is no exception.
with shows like "temptation island" and such have definitely taken it too far
I do think reality shows have gotten way out of hand. Every time I turn on VH1 a new spin off reality TV show is on. They seem to have one thing in common in that they are getting trashier and trashier.
The point of "reality" TV is to depict what is real. In some cases this type of television takes reality and makes an overdramatized half hour to an hour television series about it but as far as its concerned, I don't think any of its content has gone overboard. If it exists in "real life" reality TV will step in as the medium that lets the whole world know about it. Its just up to you to decide if you'd want to be part of its audience.
if you watch reality TV your life is obviously so boring and lacking in something that you have to live vicariously through someone elses. The reality TV producers only produce things and air them because we watch them. If programs are not watched they are axed from TV, so it is partly down to us to stop this nonsense.
If I'm correct, it was only about 3 months ago that a network in England aired the death of a middle-aged man on TV, dubbed as the best reality TV had to offer. Go ahead and google the story, interesting stuff. Anyway, my wife and I talked about it and agreed that it truly is a slippery slope in today's society. There really isn't a way to stop the reality thrill seeker from wanting the next step. Has it gone too far? I think we agree it does. My question is, how far will it go in the future?
It should have limits, but we do have a first amendment that kind of prevents us to do something legal. I guess the only thing we can actually do is not to watch these shows so they'll lose ratings and eventually stop airing.
On the other hand, how real are these reality shows? I tend to think that most of them are more or less a play.
Picking a spouse for a reality show is taking reality TV too far. Divorce rates are so high because people don't value the sanctity of marriage. Each new reality TV show has to push the boundaries and expose more than the previous one which will lead to shows like picking a spouse. This is unhealthy.
Yea, I think it's gone to far. You can't really put a restraint on the media beyond putting ratings on things, but it seems so odd to me that someone would come up with the idea of trading spouses, arraigning marriages,etc., and then that people would watch it for entertainment. That's so base to me. Shows like American Idol are fun, but blatantly mocking morality like that...Will the media refuse to take any social responsibility?
I like the motivational reality shows like American Idol where it is a more realistic competition. I don't care for these find your mate shows that are always on. I enjoy watching reality shows when peoples lives are changed for the better.
I just think it's goofy how far reality TV goes, but as long as they are not breaking the law I guess it's ok. While people continue to watch these programs, producers will continue to create more and more ridiculous shows.
I really can't stand too many reality TV shows - I think that it is getting out of hand, but I don't ever think they will go completely away.
Reality TV needs limits. Everything does. Remember moderation in all things. But I think that television will keep pushing those limits, and if people still are willing to participate in them and watch them on a weekly basis, then we as a society are encouraging those limits to be stretched. So if this Arranged Marriages show is successful, then we haven't hit our "limit".
Just a past the dead-line comment--there are a lot of comments on here that say "well, if people wouldn't watch it then it wouldn't be aired," but is that really true? It seems to me that networks probably get more angry letters about the content of their shows than letters asking them to push the limits a little further. Our solution is to say, "well, just don't watch it"....but is it effective to leave it to that? I don't see enough people turning off their TVs to make a difference. I think networks push the limits little by little--not necessarily to be evil or the "whore of all the earth," but because sex sells and they want money. After awhile, whatever is on TV isn't tantalizing enough so they push it a little further and a little further.
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