Satirical Analysis on Reality Television

Essay by prog_rockHigh School, 12th gradeA-, June 2005

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The Ironic Satire of Reality Television

When you think about the content and fibre of reality television there's really not much there. Many people feel that reality television is the best production to come from ABC, NBC and all the corporate conglomerates trying to make easy money. That's exactly what they are doing. Selling easily produced television to easily minded recipients. The first problem with reality TV is that it isn't even reality. As soon as a camera is placed in front of someone, they automatically think that they are actors. A true, original example of reality TV is Candid Camera, showing peoples real reactions to an unexpected situation. The primary basis for many of these new shows (but not all) seems to be to put people in painful, embarrassing, and humiliating situations for the rest of us to watch - and, presumably, laugh at and be entertained by.

I believe the problem with all of these reality TV shows is the joke factor. All of these shows are a joke, it's like watching a daytime soap opera; only unfortunately visible at a prime time hour. It is really quite painful to witness the same poor saps going at it over the same girl or guy. The continuing popularity of these shows is a clear representation of the intelligence of North Americans. I say we rid of all reality TV and replace them with shows covering the lives of animals, which sadly would be more interesting.

We can slowly weed out the reality shows by cutting funding at hit the heart of the shows. The premise of these shows is that the winning contestant receives a large cash prize usually a million dollars. The only reason these shows have that kind of money is the people who...