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And really, that’s the draw of reality TV. It’s a chance to observe the multi-car wreck from the comfort and safety of your couch.
JON COOPER
has been a freelance writer for nearly two decades, the past 15 in Atlanta. He’s a contributor to ESPN. com, MLB.com, NBA. com and Ramblinwreck. com. When he’s not typing at his computer or attending a sporting event, he likes to watch reality TV and keep up with the Kardashians.
Keeping it Real with Reality TV Mark Twain once said, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” Twain said that long before there was television or reality TV. Having to stick to possibilities, or at least not having to stick to a script, is what sets reality TV apart from sitcoms. Reality is the first part of reality TV (unlike situation in situation comedy) and, regardless of whose reality it is, people dig it. Anyone who’s seen “Raising Arizona” knows the following exchange between Glen (Sam McMurray) and H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage). “It’s a crazy world,” Glen says. “Someone oughta sell tickets,” McDunnough responds. “Sure, I’d buy one,” Glen snaps back. Through reality TV, no one has to buy anything. Just turn on the television, pick a station, and let the voyeurism begin. And really, that’s the draw of reality TV. It’s a chance to observe the multi-car wreck from the comfort and safety of your couch. It’s essentially schadenfreude with a remote. Yet, if you want, reality TV CAN BE you. With luck, Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame can be extended to 60 minutes over 13 episodes. It’s so good that Cage’s real-life son, Weston, and Cage’s ex-girlfriend (Weston’s mom) are getting their own show. Of course, I could go on and on about how sports is the ultimate reality TV — two teams, one winner, all kinds of unpredictable twists and turns. Who’s going to have an unexpectedly bad day? Who’ll have an unforeseen bad one? Will a play or a call allow a lucky fan to send his kid to the Ivy League or force him to wipe out the kid’s college fund? I’ve gone off the script, something you’ll NEVER see on a sitcom. Does that make “Snooki” (real name Nicole Polizzi) or “The Situation” (real name Michael Sorrentino) from “Jersey Shore” better actors than Jim Parsons (Sheldon in “The Big Bang Theory”) or Alan Alda (Hawkeye in “MASH”)? No, but you do hang on to every word they say. Unlike sitcoms, reality TV is not formulaic and show spin-offs are aplenty. That’s why the “Real Housewives” series, which began
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in Orange County, Calif., now has shows in Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, Miami, Vancouver and Australia. Who knows? Newnan could be next. One thing is for sure. Reality TV is here to stay. Adventure shows like “Survivor,” the show that arguably started it all, is up to season 30 and is shot in nine different countries. “The Amazing Race” is up to season 26, while “Big Brother” is up to season 18. Entertainment shows have similar staying power, as “American Idol” (up to season 15), “Dancing With the Stars” (up to season 20), “America Has Talent” (up to season 10), “The Voice” (up to season eight), and “So You Think You Can Dance” (up to season 13) and others are showing no signs of letting up. Reality TV can turn anyone into a star, having brought moody chef Gordon Ramsay (“Hell’s Kitchen”), infamously unforgettable William Hung and Sanjaya Malakar (“American Idol”), Duane “Dog” Chapman (“Dog The Bounty Hunter”), the entire Robinson family (“Duck Dynasty”) and, of course, the Kardashians into your home. And they’re gonna keep coming. The insatiable appetite for reality TV ensures there will be more shows displaying do’s and don’t’s in cooking (“Master Chef,” “Cake Boss,” etc.), dressing (“America’s Top Model”), and dating (“The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette”). There also will be more for the wacky – more “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” “Jon and Kate Plus 8,” “Half Pint Brawlers,” “Amish In The City,” “Celebrity Rehab,” “Sex Rehab” ... the list goes on and on. That’s good news for the millions who tune in to see who is “The Biggest Loser.” They are the biggest winners — as are the tabloids, the paparazzi, out-of-work sitcom writers and former sitcom stars. Makes sense to me. Then, again, reality has to. NCM