Buffalo Gal

Reality isn't pretty. But reality television stars are darn near perfect.
Face it folks, if Trump had been trying out for his own show in the pre Tower/Ivana days that combover would have blown him out of any consideration.
Then again, as long as there is enough eye candy in the cast there are usually a few males and sometimes even a female who are allowed to look "interesting" , if never ordinary.
Survivor men can have bodies like Rupert and Richard Hatch, but has there ever been a chubby chick?
Last Comic Standing was the exception -- offering gender, race, size and age diversity. But then again, they had to recruit from the ranks of working comedians... among the most intelligent, neurotic and insecure people on earth. That perfection pool is pretty shallow.
This season the networks are accepting that reality (at least their version of such) is not a fad. Twelve of the top 20 shows last year are "non-scripted."
But it's not that people want to see pretty people (prime time has done that for years). Apparently we want to see pretty people doing really ugly things.
Instead of turning our heads when we come upon the carnage of a horrendous personal disaster, we use the remote to find another one. I know no person who admits to watching "Fear Factor," but the audience is legion.
There was great buzz in the early 1970s about the Least Objectionable Program (LOPs) theory of network programming. The premise was that people do not pick the best show, they pick the one that causes them the least discomfort. Fear Factor is a Most Objectionable Program.
Yes, it's uncomfortable when Tony Soprano beats the crap out of someone, but he is an anti-hero. Violence is integral to his character. Fear Factor gives us the (good-looking) kid next door eating dung and beetles.
No reality show has failed yet by guessing too low on our most base fascinations.
Autopsies and executions have been presented live on foreign television. Could Mark Burnett be negotiating right on death row right now for a combination package of the two?
Of course, the convicted/corpse would have to be good looking. But if they did a makeover first....

Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs

Buffalo Gal Judi Griggs I'm a communications professional, writer, cynic, mother, wife and royal pain. The order depends on the day. I returned to my hometown in November 2004 after a couple of decades of heat and hurricanes. I can polish pristine copy, but not here. This is my morning exercise -- 20-minute takes without a net or spellcheck. It's easier than sit ups for me. No guarantee what it will be for you. Clicking on the subscribe link will send you an email notice when each new entry is posted.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (0) Share on Facebook		2004-04-22 10:25 AM MOPS , flops and reality Reality isn't pretty. But reality television stars are darn near perfect. Face it folks, if Trump had been trying out for his own show in the pre Tower/Ivana days that combover would have blown him out of any consideration. Then again, as long as there is enough eye candy in the cast there are usually a few males and sometimes even a female who are allowed to look "interesting" , if never ordinary. Survivor men can have bodies like Rupert and Richard Hatch, but has there ever been a chubby chick? Last Comic Standing was the exception -- offering gender, race, size and age diversity. But then again, they had to recruit from the ranks of working comedians... among the most intelligent, neurotic and insecure people on earth. That perfection pool is pretty shallow. This season the networks are accepting that reality (at least their version of such) is not a fad. Twelve of the top 20 shows last year are "non-scripted." But it's not that people want to see pretty people (prime time has done that for years). Apparently we want to see pretty people doing really ugly things. Instead of turning our heads when we come upon the carnage of a horrendous personal disaster, we use the remote to find another one. I know no person who admits to watching "Fear Factor," but the audience is legion. There was great buzz in the early 1970s about the Least Objectionable Program (LOPs) theory of network programming. The premise was that people do not pick the best show, they pick the one that causes them the least discomfort. Fear Factor is a Most Objectionable Program. Yes, it's uncomfortable when Tony Soprano beats the crap out of someone, but he is an anti-hero. Violence is integral to his character. Fear Factor gives us the (good-looking) kid next door eating dung and beetles. No reality show has failed yet by guessing too low on our most base fascinations. Autopsies and executions have been presented live on foreign television. Could Mark Burnett be negotiating right on death row right now for a combination package of the two? Of course, the convicted/corpse would have to be good looking. But if they did a makeover first.... Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs Read/Post Comments (0) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top