Entertainment

Reality TV or just really mistaken!

From Gypsy Weddings to the reality of the “average” housewife! Reality TV has been on a screens for many years now. It seems that anyone can have a reality TV show these days; just add a whiny prima donna and self absorbed player and hey presto, you have yourself a reality TV show!

Unfortunately at one point in my life, (so far) I couldn’t afford to miss my weekly dose of Made in Chelsea! Did Spencer cheat on girlfriend Louise or not? Will Binky ever forgive Jamie? These reality shows have the power to grab and cling onto your attention and never let go. But, after a lot of procrastinating I tried to answer the ongoing questions swirling round my mind. Why do I waste my time watching these shows? With a lot of over thinking and over analysing, I could not put my finger on why I found the broadcasted lives of people so interesting.

How are shows like TOWIE and Geordie Shore still airing? People actually take the time getting brainwashed by the people who are constantly reusing the words “reem” and “tashing on” – Not only are they getting Standard English wrong, but they are portraying a certain stereotype towards the people of Essex and Newcastle, by implying that both of these areas are full of fake tans, boobs and nails.

The nation is being brainwashed by these “reality” TV shows on a daily basis. Does it not strike people that these “stars” are bombarded by a billion cameras? And when knowing that these so-called celebrities are surrounded by cameras, is the perception of their lives accurate?

Is Millie Mackintosh (Made in Chelsea) really Millie Mackintosh or are we being deceived by an alter ego who makes her life seem ten times more dramatic and interesting than it really is? Let’s face the facts, if producers were to make a true reality TV show it would be far from the exciting lives of the Made in Chelsea cast or The Kardashians, since we would be driving round in Fords and family cars, instead of the luxuriant and lavish Bentley Continentals.

Reality shows are unhealthy for consumers. Ok, this may sound a little extreme; however, they promote everything that a normal person on an average salary cannot have or afford (which especially is most definitely depressing in the real world). In other words it promotes materialism and ignorance, such behaviours I truly detest. But ill-manners seem to have become second nature to the public now.

To make matters worse, these reality TV shows are spreading all over Britain like wild fire! We have Gypsy Weddings, Teen Moms, The Real Housewives (ah, they exist!), The Hills, Jordan’s millions of shows, Toddlers and Tiaras, the list goes on. And, what’s more, we have been forced into this superficial world where toddlers are being forced to wear fake eye lashes and a world where we witness the pain and struggle of The “Real” Housewives telling their party planners how they want the decor for their 4th of July celebrations! Is this really the “reality” of the average housewife? The events which surround the programme are entertaining but not so entertaining that they needed to make another sixth season. It’s not a surprise their artificial behaviour is added to the series because otherwise it would be even more of a bore. Not for one second, do I believe the lives of the real housewives are false of course! Since, it isn’t so hard to believe the reality that Ramona will have a tantrum from not receiving her hourly glass of Pinot Grigio at an “important” event.

In addition to this, the cherry on top of the cake has to be the ongoing series of “celebrity” Big Brother. Big Brother, I have to say, has been one of my guilty pleasures for years. At the end of a hard day of studying I am always keen to absorb myself in the daily antics of the housemates, such as the task the housemates undertake and watching spontaneous out bursts from the typical attention seeking Barbie dolls every now and again just to make time pass by quickly. It’s all the things I should hate; predictable, shallow and false. But I can’t get enough! It’s the perfect show to just allow all brain activity to leave the body and be engulfed by the superficial and ridiculous world of Big Brother!

However this year was different. I sat comfortable and ready to watch the show, with my cup of tea in my hands and my biscuits resting beside me! Unfortunately the worst happened! Speidi (Spencer and Heidi from The Hills) are invited into the Big Brother house. From that moment I stopped watching Big Brother (until the next season of course!). I don’t know what’s worse, two of these shallow creatures, or one giant egotistical cloud of Spencer and Heidi combined!

In spite of all the negativity, why do we still watch these shows? We complain about the people yet we are so easily absorbed into their world! There can only be one solution for this – escapism. People watch these shows to make themselves feel better about their lives, or dream about the lives they are so desperate to live. As a result of this, the concept of reality is therefore going to be hard to distinguish when comparing your life to the Kardashians! Therefore reality is a minor concern when it comes to making reality TV shows! However, as ironic as it sounds, we all know DEEP DOWN that we won’t be entertained with real life situations! Reality TV is very mistaken when taking into account the real world, and like every other programme we soak up, we secretly prefer the twisted, materialistic world of reality TV.

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