The non-reality of reality shows

The Non-Reality of Reality Shows

By Carla Iacovetti

With the invasion of television reality shows, one has to wonder about the validity and “reality” of these shows.  Worse still, many of these programs only bring out the worst in people, and sport gross arrogance, manipulation, betrayal, utter self-centeredness, deception and ridicule.  In fact, here is a news flash:  Most all of these so-called reality shows are not real. They do have scripts, which are known as paper-cuts.  While these shows are not written in the traditional sense, many of them have plot points, a beginning, middle and end, and a narrative arch.  Some of these shows also have loosely drafted lines fed especially to those on contest-driven shows.  The credits show “story editors,” not “writers” and/or “segment producers.”  Even though the public believes these shows are unscripted, they are not.

Former president of the Writers Guild of America, West, Daniel Petrie Jr., says, “We understand that shows don’t want to call the writers writer’s because they want to maintain the illusion that it is reality, that stuff just happens.”  The truth is that these shows are mere illusions, and in some cases nothing more than sophisticated trickery set to dupe audiences all over the U.S.

In an article called, “How Reality TV Fakes It,” published by Time Magazine, James Poniewozk says, “While we may have long suspected that a cast of camera-smitten future trivia answers can’t really be that interesting without professional help, details of how these shows manipulate reality have begun leaking out—because of a dispute with the employees hired to do the jiggering.”

Even though there have been a number of lawsuits affiliated with reality television, these shows are big money makers for the networks.  Because they are not produced in the conventional sense, they cost about half as much to produce as a traditionally scripted show.  So, it is not any wonder why these mindless, sensationalistic shows continue to flood our networks, and one has to wonder if this flaming fire will die out?

A new show set to grace television audiences this fall with 10 episodes epitomizes deception at its finest.  If you have an item to auction, you might want to re-think your options instead of taking it to reality!  Here is the way it works:

The show gets you to bring your item to their televised auction, and then you are filmed in an interview. The reason for being filmed is for the producers to determine whether or not you are going to work on camera.  Essentially, it is a test run.  If you are picked to be on the show, then your soon-to-be-auctioned item is taken to a storage locker.  In the meantime, the seller (guest) is sent an ironclad contract stating: “If you are offered the money, and it is cleared (approved), then you are finished.”  The guest can basically go home.  If not, then the item must go to auction.  Interestingly, there is no reserve price that this show sets in the auction.  This is far from reality, because most actual auctions do have reserve prices on the items.  Two days before the alleged auction, the guest is interviewed outside and filmed.  The following personal questions are asked:  How much were you offered to sell your item for?  Why didn’t you take the money?  Do you need the money?  What do you plan on doing with the money after it is auctioned?

The auction is nothing like a real auction.  In fact, it is completely staged.  The guest is taken into the area where they are supposed to have fair bidding, but that is far from what happens.  The audience is presented as the bidders, but when the auctioneer starts the bid, problems arise.

Normally, real auctions begin with the auctioneer explaining everything about each item being sold, and there is a starting price.  That way, everyone should know the value of the item, but that is kept hidden on this show.  On this show, the auctioneer never looks at the value of the item.  In addition, an auctioneer should start off at 20% of what the item is worth, and that is not done.  Instead of the usual 20%, it is around 2% of what the item’s are worth.

The process is not long.  Once the bid begins and someone responds, then the auctioneer looks for a higher bid and it is usually double.  For example, if the bid comes in at $500.00 dollars, the auctioneer will say, “Do I hear $1,000?” Instead of doubling the auctioneer keeps the bid low by going only to $575.  By doing this, he makes certain that the item sells way under its value.  It is the responsibility of the auctioneer to build the price of the item, and that is not done.  The item is sold immediately.

Why would the auctioneer keep the selling price low?  Is this a way for to be bought dirt-cheap when they are worth so much more?  Are these items getting re-auctioned at the valued price and for larger profits?

When it is time to auction the camera focuses on the seller’s shocked expression as he or she realizes that their item is being underbid.  Even more interesting—the 50 people in the audience with paddles are not holding them at all.  With the exception of 4 people in the audience, the remainder has their paddles on the floor or chair.  It is very obvious that it is pre-determined who would bid, and in all “reality,” the 50 supposed bidders in the audience are more than likely TV extras on the set and really have no intention of bidding at all.

Once the auction is completely over, the seller is then taken into a room to again be interviewed and taped.  If a person has anything negative to say about the auction, they are asked to restate the comment again with a more positive tone.  It seems that they want a generic answer.  They really do not want the truth.

Jane X is a writer here in Southern California who was asked to work on a reality TV show that was being shopped from network to network.  She is actually a screenplay writer, but when approached about the reality show, she embraced the challenge.  After nearly working on this project for a year, she was surprised to find it to be a structured, highly manipulated show.  She says, “One of the synonyms for the word ‘reality’ is ‘truth,’ and I have come to realize that reality TV is nothing more than a fabrication of truth.  It is not accurate or actual.”

Do audiences mind being somewhat manipulated by falsely enhanced or fabricated shows?  J. Rupert Thompson, a television director/producer, who produced Big Brother and Fear Factor says, “Certainly reality TV is a very manipulated format where the basis of it is that real people are put into unreal situations to create a story.”

Ray Richmond, the television critic for the Hollywood Reporter and entertainment blogger says that he has been trying – so far unsuccessfully – to have the term “reality television” switched to “partially scripted television.”

In a recent article published in Psychology Today, Jim Taylor, Ph.D. says, “Reality TV promotes the worst values and qualities in people–and disguises them all as entertainment. Reality TV has made the Seven Deadly Sins–pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth-attributes to be admired. Throw in selfishness, deceit, spite, and vengeance–all qualities seen routinely on reality TV–and you have the personification of the worst kind of person on Earth. Reality TV makes heroic decidedly un-heroic values, characters, and behavior.”

This upcoming show about auctioning is not the only show deceiving people.  The popular reality televisions show Survivor sports manipulation and deception in order to pick a winner.  Bridezillas boasts the following quotes on its website:  “It’s my day, it’s my way.  If you don’t like it—there’s the door,” and, “If I’m not happy, no one’s gonna be happy.”  Despite the shows efforts to make every bride out to be an excessive, spoiled bitch, most brides are nothing of the sort.  Remember, this is generally the happiest moment in a young woman’s life.  The list of unrealistic, fabricated reality shows are endless and seem to be on the rise, and why?  Since so many of these shows seem to expose the worst in people, what makes these shows so popular?

It is hard to understand, especially when many of these shows are sensationalistic-driven.  Out of 50 people/sellers on the auction-based show only 3 were satisfied because they broke even.  This is definitely not reality, but unfortunate exploitation.

Richmond says, “What they are doing on these shows is taking a kernel of fact and using it to construct a multi-pronged piece of fiction in the guise of truth and actuality.  This makes for a product that’s not only mislabeled, but disingenuous and deceptive.”

So, why are we lured to watch these mindless, unrealistic, deceptive, overly sensationalistic shows?   Reality television’s ratings are up, and these kinds of shows do not seem to be disappearing anytime soon.  There are many who believe that reality television is the lowest form of entertainment.  In fact, it is an insult to human intelligence – rising to the most licentious form of human amusement.

Recent research by psychologists at Rutgers-Camden reveals that teenagers who regularly watch ‘aesthetic-enhancing” reality shows like Extreme Makeover are more apt to undergo cosmetic surgery than youth that do not watch such shows.  Teenagers have a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to the way they look, and shows like this make it all seem so easy. Charlotte Markey, an associate professor of psychology at Rutgers-Camden published research on this topic in the academic journal, Body Image.  She says, “If plastic surgery makes you feel better about yourself, then why do you keep getting it done? This mindset is very similar to that of an anorexic wanting to lose just five more pounds.”

Since reality TV is cheaper to produce and a moneymaker, it is probably not going anywhere anytime soon.  RV writer, J. Ryan Stradal recently wrote the following on Writer’s Guild of America, West’s website: “Call it whatever you want – reality TV, nonfiction programming, docu-soap, docu-style – unscripted television has asserted itself in international media, and until something cheaper and/or more popular comes along, it will continue to expand its presence.”

Last month Lifetime Television announced that they are looking for figure skaters to be a part of a new show called, Kids On Ice.  Some believe this show is not going to do anything for the sport, in fact, it might show the sometimes obsessive, crazy side of the skating world—which includes, overly controlling coaches and obsessive skating mothers.  Truthfully, this kind of show could go either way.  Worse case scenario, it will join the ranks of other reality TV shows and relay a very negative message to a potentially curious audience, and give a new meaning to the name “Skating mom.”

Will these shows continue to ravage America’s perception of “reality?”  Stay tuned for more of the good, the bad and the obnoxious!

 

 

 

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Posted by writeratthesea on December 20, 2011

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