Some of the reality stuff bites. I, too, loathe The Real World and most anything like it.

That said, anyone who says all reality TV sucks is just as bad as anyone who says all sitcoms suck. You're painting with an awfully broad brush.

agree with this

Thank you.

Threat Matrix is a crappy show.
CSI is cheesy and ridiculously unrealistic for a cop show.
JAG is corny and bad. Doesn't mean that "All scripted shows are crap!!!!"

There are hundreds of bad scripted shows on TV....as well as good ones...Smallville, the OC, etc.
Survivor is a great show whereas the Real World is complete garbage.
I hate it when people start saying they hate something because it's popular.
It's like anything that's hip for a bit...there's always a backlash at some point.

How about *I* dislike all reality TV shows?? They all suck IMO. Its all about stupid soap opera drama and I dislike soap operas too. And its got nothing to do about it being popular, I just think they are all stupid.
I hated real world in the early 90's. When survivor first came out I was intrigued by the show so I watched and I didn't like it. I will usually watch anything at least once before I say this blows and change the channel. With all the reality junk now I can tell I'm not going to like it. "The littlest groom"? what the hell is that shit? I'm not sure what saddens me more, the fact that a show like that was created or the fact that it will make lots of money.
For the record, things on TV that squidget does not watch;
reality TV
soap operas
game shows
talk shows
morning programs
Granted there is plenty of crap on TV currently but those are the ones I don't watch by genre.

This is a funny little thread. I watch reality shows, dramas, sitcoms, etc. and I love them all. All about the love. This hatred is a little strange. Not saying it applies to all, but I've had several friends and family members who swore they hated reality shows until they actually watched a few.

I hate cartoons and sports, so they need to go away. Well, maybe cartoons can stay for my kids.

I'm down to just a few shows and this point and couldn't be happier. It's more time for movies which I enjoy more anyway and TV on DVD is far better to me than TV on TV. DirecTiVo fills in the gaps quite nicely by always having something on TV that I want to see.

If you don't like reality TV, change the channel or find something else to do. It wouldn't be on if millions of people weren't tuning in. You don't have to like that scenario, but that's how it is at this point.

Sorry, but I have to side with the "stop whining" crowd. And for the record, I only watch Survivor.

I dislike them too. I also dislike sports and "feel good" family shows. Further, if it's on the Woefully Banal channel, I'll likely abhor it right off the bat. I've gotten tired of the TV magazines and sitcoms and the FOX dreck. All I tune into anymore are movies on TCM or something interesting on TLC or Discovery.

...and my DVDs, of course.

Let me point out, good shows were being cancelled before the reality show boom came about. All I watch at this point is sports news, news, Discovery, and reality shows. Part of the reason for this is many of my favorite scripted shows never made it to season 2 (or got cancelled shortly after).

So what should I do, get involved with shows that I throughly enjoy only to see them yanked because they don't make Friend-sized ratings on week 1?

Let's see Homefront, My So-Called Life, Space:Above and Beyond, shows I invested my viewing time with that didn't last.

My point is the glut of reality shows is not the sole reason that scripted shows don't get a chance, that problem has been around for a while.

i like the apprentice to by the way...big brother sucks

something worse than reality shows JERRY SPRINGER,OPRAH,,MAURY and JENNY JONES,now those 4 shows are pandering to the lowest audience.most reality shows are much more enjoyable than those talk shows.I get a kick out of Oprah,a woman giving advice to women how to raise kids and about marriage when she never had kids and never was married.very interesting,made her a millionaire.

1. then why are you in the tv forum?
2. half the shows on TLC and Discovery are reality shows in case you haven't noticed... Orange County Choppers, Monster Garage, Trading Spaces, In a Fix, Monster House, While You Were Out, etc...


For the rest of this thread - if you don't like something on TV, then don't watch... what's the point of hating a tv show? Spending time hating something is a bigger waste of time than actually watching the shows every week. I'm not telling anyone how to live their lives, but for me - I tend to only check out and post in forums about topics that interest me (which is why I never go into the sports forum and why I rarely come into the tv forum)... if you don't like reality tv or tv in general, then you shouldn't waste time talking about it. It's like when some guy says he hates some girl and can't stop talking about her and how much he hates her - turns out, he loves her. That's right - I can see through all these dispersions against reality tv - you all love it.. hahahaha...

Still don't like it. Why it caught on is beyond me.

I don't watch "reality" TV. A good cartoon - even a rerun I've seen twenty times or more - is far better than the dreck that is Survivor/Simple Life/Cops/Fear Factor/Littlest Groom, etc.

When I watch TV, I tend to watch all 'toons. I start off with King of the Hill for first hour, simpsons, then Family Guy and Futurama, then an hour of Daria, then another ep. of the Simpsons.

Of course, I never pay much attention to TV when it's on, since I'm usually doing other things like studying for classes, etc.

Honestly, it won't hurt my feelings if reality TV goes away entirely. I can't even turn it on just for background noise while I study.

Have to disagree milefoo. Fear Factor is about as much of a "reality" show as "the Price Is Right" is..

Since i've never watched "Survivor", I can't speak for that...

I disagree that Fear Factor isn't dreck.

I included it in the list because it IS dreck. I've tried watching it a number of times. Each time I watched, I wondered why I was watching and changed the channel.

Fear Factor isn't bad. Its the only reality type show that i have ever watched besides maybe Cops reruns. Oh yeah, Crank Yankers could technically be considered a reality show and that doesn't suck either. Damn, now that i think of it Trigger Happy TV is cool too. I guess I just like peoples genuine reactions to things. Whether it be getting arrested, talking to some jerk off on the phone, see costumed animals get it on i the street, or eating a bug

That's why I watch American Chopper religiously. Seeing Paul and Paul Jr. go at each others throats makes my mundane life stress free!

Junkyard Rules I really got into for the first couple of years, that was pretty cool reality tv. For the most part, I could do without... especially fear factor, they always have to eat something disgusting, and I don't enjoy watching it.

1. Because I used to watch a lot of TV in my younger years and looking around in here gives me a sense of nostalgia, you asshat.

2. Of your list, I do watch Choppers and Monster House, but I watch them for the things that are constructed, not so much the semi-scripted interaction of the people. I also watch Discovery Wings and the Science Channel. I tried to watch Survivor, I really did! First ep, there I was with popcorn and beer. I soon realized it was just as contrived and claustrophobic as MTV's Real World (which served mainly to make me think a third of Americans under 25 belong in work camps).

Plus it makes you look and feel smarter if you say you watch TLC and Discovery instead of network TV.

I deplore reality shows, also. Although I did see about 5 minutes of Fear Factor Couples a week or two ago. Still didn't care for it much. But some chick named Monica was really petite but had really big boobs. Gotta love that.

How does it make you look and feel if you say you watch reality programs on network TV?

It makes me feel fine. I have no shame in watching Survivor and the Apprentice. I have no doubts about my intelligence, therefore no need to tout that I watch Discovery and TLC, both of which are a fringe above network TV in standards and quality.

I support your right to free speech, even if it is to infer (incorrectly) that I was trying to appear intellectually superior via my TV habits. I have no doubts about my intelligence, but more importantly, about my intentions. Let's label this button unpushed.

It is, however, a rampant practice on this board. That's what I was drawing attention to, not you personally. And for that, I apologize.