No one had to break the news to us gently. We already knew reality TV (like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy) was an invented form of entertainment, a farce, a put-on. It’s as real as you believe it to be, and you should move on from there. But while some myths are instructive, and others give us a window into the many faces of morality, reality TV isn’t really trying that hard to educate or analyze the human condition, and why should it?
Even with all its failings, reality TV is exactly what the people want: candy-coated-sugar-infused story engines…with an occasional twist. There’s no need to understand why the networks and their execs love reality TV – it’s unscripted, it’s low budget, and millions of people watch it.
We relish in all its absurdities twists and turns. But when did reality TV become an American institution?
‘The Jerry Springer Show’
Not much reason to watch this now, but in its heyday (the early ‘90s), “The Jerry Springer Show” was one hour you could count on that would shock you, make you laugh, and possibly disgust you (and that was usually with a single guest). The show was young, fearless, and unafraid to pounce on, shred up and redistribute any taboo that was currently making the rounds in the national discussion. It was completely unpredictable. Today? Not so much. “The Jerry Springer Show” took fringe elements of human nature and put them on display. It was real, even when it wasn’t. Jerry’s “Final Thought” was always classic ‘70s soul to the hip-hop flavored groove of the show’s pulse, but it proved a nice B side, nonetheless.
And plenty of other shows followed, while Jerry’s show became a shadow of its former self. As tired as we should be of it, a nice paternity show still gives the chuckle it firmly deserves. And if you don’t find that funny, you shouldn’t be watching.
Competing to eliminate
We love our competitions. We love to see people on TV eliminated, and if possible, humiliated, because if you’re open enough to share your mistakes with the entire viewing world, we should be able to laugh about it. People love the first few weeks of “American Idol” because it’s fun to laugh, and when you don’t have talent, someone should have been kind enough in your life to break it to you gently.
Gordon Ramsey cursing out a contestant, and all they can respond with is a humble, “Yes, chef. I’ll do better, chef. Thank you, chef.”
I say, sign me up. This is funny stuff.
A daily intake of nonsense, bleeped words, cat fights and scourged housewives, might not be great television, but it can be rather cathartic.