If your name doesn’t start with a ‘Kardash’ and end with an ‘ian,’ get off my television. In no way do I intend to sound like one of those paparazzi-turned-stalkers, but at least Keeping Up With the Kardashians is entertaining, un like some other reality television shows I’ve seen recently.
Upon arriving home close to 9:30 p.m. from a newspaper work night, I turn on the TV to see those infamous Mowry twins on the screen. Apparently, Tia and Tamera have turned to reality television since ending their sitcom Sister, Sister right before the turn of the century. I have nothing against the Mowry sisters, and as a matter of fact I even remember watching reruns of their show on the Disney Channel. But years after their fame passing, I no longer care to follow their attempts to get jobs in the industry or watch Tia hobble around pregnant.
The point is, Hollywood needs to step it up. To put it bluntly, producers of reality TV shows are popping mediocre ideas out faster than Octomom Nadya Suleman popped out babies back in 2009. Many complaints have been made over the years referring to Hollywood’s need to repeat storylines by re-making famous films. This situation very much identifies with the problem at hand here: clearly, someone high up in the industry is failing to come up with clever ideas to satisfy its audience.
I have no qualms with reality game shows, considering some of my favorite shows are reality based around the element of competition. I would consider dating shows to fit under game-shows, and though I find them to be the corniest of all television programs, I’ll leave it alone for now. What mainly needs to be looked at is the relevance of the person or persons who are given a reality show, along with its entertainment value.
For example, the Kardashians succeed in entertaining me with Keeping Up With the Kardashians as their family dynamic is complex and large in number. And until Jon was out of the picture, I enjoyed watching the occasional episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 which followed everyday parents raising their eight kids. Additionally, don’t forget about Sisterwives, TLC network’s show following a polygamist family. Under circumstances like these, a reality show becomes a piece of entertainment worth watching.
However, washed-up film and music stars (and the occasional former Playboy) have minimal reason to be handed a reality show. I get that you were at one point relevant to the industry, but if all you can offer viewers is for them to watch you run around your humongous house while you stare at the awards you earned during your glory days, that’s not going to cut it.
Like myself, reality television watchers tune in for action, drama, excitement, and the list goes on. If these aspects of a show are lacking, I guarantee in their place is an industry retiree whose life outside of their famous career is rather mediocre. I understand ‘reality’ is synonymous with ‘realistic,’ but come on; we want to see some of that Hollyweird.
