Cancel All Reality-TV Shows : They’re boring, unfunny, and across-the-board lame.

National Review Online ^ | 12/21/2013 | Betsy Woodruff

[freedomfiter2]

NRO is missing the point yet again.

[Iron Munro]

Reality shows featuring everyday people funnel corporate money to them instead of wealthy, arrogant, liberal entertainers.

That’s not a bad thing.

[Safetgiver]

Reality Shows are because TV producers are lazy and lack imagination....Wrong. These shows started when the writers of TV shows went on strike back about 10 years ago for exorbitant pay raises. I can’t remember the first reality show, but it was during this time, and the writer’s Union cried to congress about how the Sceen Writer Union was being eradicated. I haven’t watched TV in 30 years, but read anything that is hilarious about the unintended consequences of the Communists.

[fatnotlazy]

Yes, these reality shows are all nonsense, but I admit I get a kick out of Bridezillas (brides freaking out because their wedding isn't going as planned). Of course, the show is contrived, but I actually did meet a real Bridezilla once. She was a real psycho.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I'll never understand the attraction of people leading boring lives watching other people leading their boring lives on TV. The funny thing is the people leading boring lives ON TV don't watch TV themselves. TV is certainly a vast wasteland.

"But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland."

-- Newton N. Minow, Federal Communications Commission chairman to the convention of the National Association of Broadcasters, May 9, 1961.

Ole Newt was arguing for more Sesame Street type programming by FedGov, so he wasn't really a good guy. But he was spot-on with this remark, even though he couldn't have even conceived of "reality" programming. Also, what a quaint notion -- "until the station signs off." Not today. Gotta keep pumping out drek 24 x 7.

[PLD]

I agree with you..and most of the network shows have to have at least two gays telling our kids it is alright to sin..

[ilovesarah2012]

I don’t watch much TV. Sports and news and a few HGTV or documentaries. But I like DD because I know liberals hate it. And I enjoy a show without cursing, sex, and they pray. Did you know A&E was “beeping” parts so people would think they were cursing? The Robertsons told them to stop.

[billhilly]

I love everything Alaska, so leave them along. Please? It is odd that Alaska is the only state that I have never visited but always wanted to, but I am enjoying it through those TV programs.

[LaRueLaDue]

Just one more example of the “elites” on the coasts (our betters don’t yah know) telling us what is good for us, what is bad for us, and trying to dictate what we can or cannot do. All based on their “feelings.” How special.

They just cannot comprehend that someone might not be locked into their groupthink.

Sickening (but predictable) that NR published this...

[demshateGod]

I agree. I don’t have cable and not missing anything.

[djf]

The reality shows - theres a small amount of interesting things for A VERY FEW OF THEM.

I don’t need another show about cooking or restaurants. Zero interest.

I also don’t need anything having to do with designing clothes.

But what I REALLY don’t need is another bunch of amateur singing shows! Cats fighting on a fence in August sounds better to me!

The aliens are gonna intercept the transmissions one of these days, and they’ll come over and just disintegrate us!

[svcw]

No unions and an audience....free market at work.

[TruthWillWin]

"They’re boring, unfunny, and across-the-board lame."

Agree but they should not be cancelled. Let the market decide.

[bmwcyle]

Sorry Deadliest Catch is still worth keeping. It is hard to fake and it is really enjoyable.

[KosmicKitty]

It is possible to live without cable TV.

We’ve been doing it for over a year now.

We do use netfllix and HULU and select the few shows we want to watch.

Much cheaper, fewer commercials, much less mindless, noise in the background. TV watching.

More reading and doing other stuff.

[C210N]

I don’t have cable and not missing anything.

On "reality tv"... I think I know what reality is... but have no idea what this thing "tv" refers to...

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

[skinkinthegrass]

yeah..the Alaska "shows" do seem to reflect reality better than all the rest
so do the "cops/bait car/most shocking" type video..

[DeaconRed]

I ain't shuttin nutin down.
The toilet paper roll is getting kinda short. (Rio Linda, I am getting old)
if I enjoy it I will watch it. If I don't like it, guess what, I know where the on/off switch is.
I ain't like the Uncle Bens Rice crowd (QUEERS)I know how to handle things , see I am a true red neck, yes I have raked leaves in the kitchen, and probably will again if the TP Roll don't run out.

[FreeReign]

Cancel All Reality-TV Shows : They’re boring, unfunny, and across-the-board lame.

Some reality shows are better than most all non reality shows.

Betsy Dandruff apparently doesn't think so and amazingly enough, some here on this thread don't either.

Can't have folks like the Robertsons with an apparently loose script when you can have polished actors pushing fully government approved scripts.

[keat]

Here we go with the...

Spot-on, my man, agree with every word you wrote. I love reality shows and this on in particular.