DRG

This thread is for both fans AND foes of reality tv. Which form of reality tv do you like the least? I broke it down to the following categories, but some may fit into multiple categories (marked with asterisks).

Competition
Definition: Contestants compete for a prize in some sort of competition. Players may be voted off or eliminated strictly based on performance. Focus is often on interplay between contestants.
Examples: Survivor, The Apprentice, The Amazing Race, The Biggest Loser*, Big Brother, Last Comic Standing 1 & 2, Rebel Billionaire, Fear Factor, America's Next Top Model

Talent Show
Definition: Similar to Competition, but the focus is mostly on on-stage performance versus the interplay between the contestants and behind-the-scenes lives of the contestants.
Examples: American Idol, Star Search, Nashville Star, Last Comic Standing 3, Superstar USA*

Matchmaker/Dating
Definition: Contestants go on dates and try to find love/sex/whatever, or try to set up friends/relatives/etc. with dates.
Examples: The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Cupid, Joe Millionaire*, Average Joe*, Temptation Island, Playing It Straight, Who Wants to Marry My Dad

'Big Lie'
Definition: There's a big twist to the show that the players aren't aware of, or the whole show is a big joke being played on the contestants.
Examples: My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance, Joe Schmo Show, Joe Millionaire*, Average Joe*, Superstar USA*

Celebrity Life
Definition: Viewers are 'flies on the wall', watching celebrities live their 'normal' lives .
Examples: The Osbournes, Newlyweds, Surreal Life, The Anna Nicole Show, The Ashlee Simpson Show, The Simple Life

Non-Celebrity Life
Definition: Same as Celebrity Life, except you probably haven't heard of the people involved.
Examples: Real World, High School Reunion, Amish in the City

Human/Family Makeover
Definition: Viewers watch as people undergo amazing changes, physical or otherwise. Or, a family/couple undergoes some sort of life-changing experience via an outside force being introduced into their lives.
Examples: Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Extreme Makeover, The Swan*, Wife Swap, Supernanny, Trading Spouses, Nanny 911

Inanimate Object Improvement
Definition: Watch as a team revamps, rebuilds, or builds from scratch a house, car, or other inanimate object.
Examples: Trading Spaces, Extreme Makover Home Edition, American Chopper, Pimp My Ride

People at Work
Definition: Viewers watch people in a specific profession do their job, or see the inner workings of some sort of business, etc.
Examples: Cops, The Restaurant, Family Business, American Casino

I know some of you hate reality tv with a passion and might want an "I hate it all!" option, but there surely you have to find a certain type of show even more hideous and awful than the others. So which do you dislike the most?

riley_dude

Pretty much all of them. God I hope these things have run their course.

BoatDrinks

And just a note... the only actual "reality" show on the air is Cops.

All the others have writing staffs and manufactured situations.

Brought to you by your friendly neighborhood original content provider...

Dalvin

Other than "American Idol" I would love all of those to go 6 feet Under!!!!

Bill Needle

Easily: The Bachelor/Bachelorette

These people are supposedly looking for their "life-mates," and yet they enthusiastically swap bodily fuids with three or four different people a day, and then suddenly propose to one of them the next day. Yeah sure, I was heavy petting with a woman I barely knew and had no intention of marrying the day before I proposed to my wife... There is something really, really creepy about the whole thing.

story

My least favorite type of reality show is the reality show.

matome

If I had to pick from the list, I'd definitely go with the matchmaker ones.

tommyp007

I watch Survivor, Amazing Race and Idol....all else can go byebye

B.A.

Anything not named The Amazing Race...

nny

With so many options, it seems like favorite type would have been a better poll. Unlike most of the people here, I consider myself a fan of reality TV, but I only really watch 4 of the 9 listed types. I don't particularly dislike any of the other 5, but none of them interest me. So, I don't know what I would pick.

Chew

Agreed

Josh-da-man

Easily the Matchmaking/Dating bullshit.

That shit is just offensive.

das Monkey

Just to be argumentative, I'll point out that if these shows have writing staffs and manufactured situations, then they're not so different from the "original" content people are so quick to label as inherently superior.

The simple truth is that something's merit is not defined by its genre, and I grow tired of the hatred for "Reality TV". People should focus their hatred on uninspired, unimaginative drivel, of which sitcoms, dramas, and "reality" television are all a part. With shows like Charmed and UPN's continued contributions to sitcom history, the "high road" is a bit narrow. This hatred for genres and styles reminds me of the snobbery bookworms exhibit towards television. Quality is quality, and it is manifested in many forms. There is nothing inherently wrong with "reality" television ... it's crappy "reality" television that deserves our disgust.[/soapbox]

That said, my least favorite type of reality show is a tie between "Celebrity Life" and "Human/Family Makeover". Each of these has the potential to be interesting, but they never are. The former is typically just annoying self-promotion, and the latter is usually blatant manipulative heart-string abuse or just loud, annoying people acting even more loud and annoying for the cameras. I don't find them interesting on any level. I guess I also don't particularly like the matchmaker shows, mainly because the contestants are so pathetic, and the whole concept is so insulting.

The styles that seem to exhibit the best chance for success are the Competitions (good rules can make a good game), Talent Show (genuinely talented people always have the potential to be interesting), Big Lie (properly scripted and set up, these things can be hilarious), and Inanimate Object Improvement (if it's a subject you're interested in). People at Work can also be good if it's not overly scripted, but that's pretty rare.

das

JesseCuster

Sweet Jesus...ANY REALITY SHOW!!!!

I've peeked at them a few times and have either been bored to tears, disgusted or utterly indifferent. For the absolute life of me, I don't understand the attraction in the remotest way. The only one I've watched more than once is the one with Jessica Simpson and it's only because she's one of the most sexual looking women I've ever seen. It's akin to watching soft-core porn to me and has absolutely nothing to do with the show she's being pimped on.

Reality TV...God almighty, what a waste of everyone's time. I mean, who the hell gives a sh*t?!?! And if you do, why!!!!

Charlie Goose

I love American Idol, and watch Fear Factor occasionally. I never watch any of the others, but I guess I hate the Big Lie ones the most.

boredsilly

My least favorite is a tie between the Big Lie/Romance ones. I only really can get into contest reality shoes and I fear I might be over those as well(skipping this apprentice and probably survivor as well). I enjoy Celeb/Real Life and People at work stuff, but I prefer it in documentary form. Seems to pander less in that mold.

I never really considered Trading Spaces and similar TLC type shoes to be reality tv shoes. More like home improvement with a twist.

Big Worms

Yep!

das Monkey

For those of you who dislike the "Big Lie", you really didn't enjoy The Joe Schmo Show (I and II) or Superstar USA? Those were hilarious IMO.

das

tonyc3742

All of the above.
The ones I can tolerate, at least the concepts of, are 'home improvement' [if the focus is actually on the home improvement, and not on the designers or how wacky they can get], or true reality behind-the-scenes things, such as Cops [the only one listed that's actually 'reality']
If I had to prioritize the dislke, it would be a tie between
matchmaker/'romance'
and
celebrity/noncelebrity 'real' life

The genre might not be that bad [well, it still would be] if it werent' suffering from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Syndrome, where 90% of all new offerings are 'reality' and they shove the schedules full of them while it's still popular, so it's like overkill.

Josh-da-man

I think that much of the rancor against "reality" shows comes from actors, writers, and directors who see them as a threat.

Which I don't really see, because right now, there are so many opportunities that there are probably more scripted shows than ever before.

Twenty years ago, it was just ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Now we not only have those three networks, but Fox, UPN, WB, and tons of original scripted shows on cable channels like Sci-Fi, Showtime, FX, and HBO. It's a huge field out there.

And I'm as pissed as the next person about losing great shows like Angel, but I can't completely blame the reality TV boom. Shit, they canned Angel but kept Charmed and Seventh Heaven. Now that pisses me off.

Draven

I don't enjoy the "unsuspecting idiots" stuff - I think it's unneccesarily cruel, even if the people deserve it. I'm speaking more about Superstar USA here, never really saw "The Joe Schmo Show."

I honestly can't decide which type of "reality" show I hate more. The only ones that I actually enjoy are "fix-up" shows like Queer Eye and Pimp My Ride, but only because nice things happen to people. I've only seen one Queer Eye that made me a bit uncomfortable because the guy was pretty messed up personality-wise.

When it comes to "reality," I don't enjoy seeing anything but positive stuff. Which pretty much discounts every "reality" show where humiliation and conflict seem to be the main drawing points. I even had to stop watching Trading Spaces when I figured out half the designers didn't give a shit about the people they were supposed to be helping.

I don't think that type of programming brings anything worthwhile to the table. Even a shitty sitcom is trying to make someone laugh. To me, "reality" TV is a short hop away from watching lions tear people apart for laughs. No thanks.

Red Dog

I'd go with Talent, Makeover, and Celebrity Life as the worst genres.

I think the Competition and Big Lie genres have been done quite well. Same with people at work.

cdoug57

I am not a fan of any of them, my wife and son eagerly await the next Survivor.

Glad we have more than one tv.

tonyc3742

See, *that* i'd watch. Give me the real Running Man, or The Contenders. Those at least would be more 'reality' than the preprogrammed and scripted and planned and edited and safetynetted pseudoreality that currently passes.
I do agree about the humiliating/degrading aspects of many shows, and those I don't like or respect at all. I can't imagine a lot of those folks on American Idol don't know they suck, but there they are, making a fool of themselves on national tv for fifteen seconds of game. And of course the 'relationship' shows, increasing the dissolution and lack of concern for the American family and relationships.

Candid Camera [Funt's version] had a lot of the 'gotcha, made ya look' embarassment, but at least most of his were 'clean', and good natured/fun practical joke type things, where even the recipient thinks it was funny, unlike the insulting Punkd type shows.

raven56706

i dont care but Veronica from Road Rules..... she is so hot