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Reality TV facing its own reality: a ratings slump
LA Times ^ | December 28, 2014 | Scott Collins

Posted on 12/28/2014 9:53:36 AM PST by Zakeet

Just a few years ago, underemployed TV writers were complaining that reality programming was taking over their industry.

Now the scribes are having their revenge: Unscripted programming is mired in an unexpected slump.

Onetime smashes such as "Survivor" and "Dancing With the Stars" are drooping with age. Coca-Cola recently wrapped up its 13-year sponsorship of "American Idol" after Fox's singing hit plummeted in the ratings last season. NBC's own singing show, "The Voice," saw its season finale drop nearly 10% this month.

And what's worse, no new hits are taking their place.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: ratings; realityshown; television
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To: Gaffer
From my perspective, I think this writer thing is concocted. There is no way I can’t believe the actions and encounters on these programs are not scripted in some manner.

I don't watch 'em either, but once when I was surfing, I ran across one called "Dual Survival", advertised as "Featuring a pair of survival experts in predetermined scenarios while in challenging environments."

The scenario I stumbled upon was a classic example of a "manufactured crisis". It was where they were on a small island and had to swim to a bigger nearby island. OK, I’ll accept the shark danger and that they were probably ferried to within a few yards of the shore, then dropped off to make it look like they swam the distance, but . . .
Strike One - These "experts" made a fire below the high tide mark, then faced a crisis as the tide came in, scrambling to keep the water away - by building a small rock and sand dam (???) instead of using a coconut shell to move it inland, as they did later on.
Strike Two - They made a big production of getting water - in an area where the average rainfall is measured in FEET per month - (a drown-the-frogs squall threatened to put the fire out at one point, where they saved the fire as above). Then they went through a convoluted procedure to turn scuba tanks into a still.
Strike Three "Click" - At the end of ONE DAY they are rescued by a passing fisherman (cough). No attempt to show techniques for catching fish, opening coconuts, etc.

As others have stated, these "reality" shows are scripted and made for entertainment. This episode wasn't even entertaining as it was so bogus. Perhaps some of the other segments are a bit more realistic, but based on this one, it wasn't worth the effort to follow through.

41 posted on 12/28/2014 12:14:31 PM PST by Oatka (This is America. Assimilate or evaporate.)
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To: Zakeet

You know its in a slump when Drew Scott plays a bad realtor on a new Hallmark Christmas movie.


42 posted on 12/28/2014 12:17:50 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Oatka

Most faked show is Mystery Diners.

No one in real life who is a restaurant employee would let themselves be fired by the boss on camera.

But its addictive enough it keeps being renewed. People like their trashy entertainment.


43 posted on 12/28/2014 12:25:19 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Steely Tom

#40 K.C & THE SUNSHINE BAND - That’s the way I like it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83I9El6C47A
(not even playing the musical instruments and probably lip syncing)

The yelling at each other and the “bleeps’ when they swear got old right away. The DIY shows where they have frantic quick cuts to show how “exciting” remodeling is or the Canadian one where they tell repeatedly how bad the previous builder was. The shows on logging, driving trucks on ice and catching some crabs are all the same. Different characters, same swearing and yelling.


44 posted on 12/28/2014 12:51:50 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: Morpheus2009
It’s been heavily hyped since 2000, after 15 years, reality TV is getting old and redundant. I enjoyed some of American Idol myself, but most of the drama I don’t care for. It was only a matter of time before it got boring.There also tends to be uncivil behavior to garner a shock factor that worked maybe once or twice, but no longer. Either it's worn off or people (like me) couldn't stomach it in the first place.
45 posted on 12/28/2014 12:56:29 PM PST by PrincessB (Drill Baby Drill.)
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To: PrincessB

The best so-called Reality TV I ever saw was Into The Wilderness. A man self-records his handling of his life during his winter vacation in his cabin in Alaska. It’s great, and not to be confused with “Into The Wild” by Krakeur. Anyways it was enjoyable to watch. Too bad I only had it on VHS.


46 posted on 12/28/2014 1:15:59 PM PST by Morpheus2009
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To: minnesota_bound

In the photo in the article, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. could use a shave and a haircut and shampoo and some nice looking clothes and probably a bath by the looks of them. Ryan Seacrest needs his hair shampooed as it looks like he has an oil slick for hair. Jennifer Lopez is the only one who dressed right.


47 posted on 12/28/2014 1:20:43 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: Zakeet

“Survivor” - Never watced a single episode. “
Dancing With the Stars” - Never watched a single episode.
American Idol - Never watched a single episode.
The Voice - Never watched a single episode.

I wear that as a badge of honor.


48 posted on 12/28/2014 1:22:09 PM PST by SECURE AMERICA (I am an American Not a Republican or a Democrat.)
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To: Zakeet

“Survivor” - Never watced a single episode. “
Dancing With the Stars” - Never watched a single episode.
American Idol - Never watched a single episode.
The Voice - Never watched a single episode.

I wear that as a badge of honor.


49 posted on 12/28/2014 1:23:09 PM PST by SECURE AMERICA (I am an American Not a Republican or a Democrat.)
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To: VanDeKoik
Trash TV for trailer parks and the ghetto.

Hey! I resemble that remark.

50 posted on 12/28/2014 1:41:58 PM PST by BBell (breathe easy obey the law)
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To: SamAdams76

“The First 48” is pretty good.


51 posted on 12/28/2014 1:51:36 PM PST by BBell (breathe easy obey the law)
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To: GreenHornet

the Gabor sisters

(((
Wow! You are old. :)
Lots of FReepers will not understand that reference at all.


52 posted on 12/28/2014 2:09:27 PM PST by Bigg Red (Congress, do your duty and repo his pen and his phone.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

I long for the good ole days when we had wholesome sitcoms or dramas to watch. There has been an overkill of reality TV, and I say good riddance.


53 posted on 12/28/2014 2:29:19 PM PST by Catsrus (al)
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To: cripplecreek
"The Gabor sisters actually did some acting."

There was also "Mama Gabor" who tried to keep up with the daughters.

Once on the Tonight Show Johnny Carson asked Zsa Zsa Gabor if she could confide in him and tell him which of the Gabors was the oldest. She answered "Well you'll never get her to admit it, but it's Mama".

54 posted on 12/28/2014 2:31:57 PM PST by capt. norm
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To: Bigg Red
Wow! You are old. :) Lots of FReepers will not understand that reference at all.

Yeah, you're right. I was just discussing that the other day with some friends during the early bird special at Denny's. We then talked about how hot Cloris Leachman is looking these days.

55 posted on 12/28/2014 3:18:06 PM PST by GreenHornet
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To: GreenHornet

:)


56 posted on 12/28/2014 4:33:28 PM PST by Bigg Red (Congress, do your duty and repo his pen and his phone.)
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To: Zakeet

Reality TV. Shows which give the viewer the physical sensation of IQ leaving the body.


57 posted on 12/28/2014 5:17:47 PM PST by lurk
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To: Oatka
Strike Four- They were lost in a river gorge {Kentucky I think} and made a canoe from a tarp found at an old Still. Hello!!!! LOL Stills require a nearby access to haul the goods in and out. My guess is they were within several hundred feet or less of such. As well they were on top of a high ridge line. I think they also trapped a Skunk and tried to release it. Very bad idea. They can blind you and they are bad to carry Rabies.

The smart choice would have been wait till night and in most places in that region you will see distant lights either from a house or vehicle. I would have stayed high where the chances of hitting a logging or mining road or seeing a distant home or road were likely rather than chance a homemade canoe ride on an unknown river.

In most Appalachian/Cumberland Mt chain locations if you keep your head you can walk out with 24-48 hours except for possibly Appalachian mountain back country where in that case if you are lost it is very wise and safer to simply stay put and use resources to signal for help. That is the best proven chance for rescue even if it takes a couple of weeks. This is due to very dense foliage and terrain issues.

Except for the Cumberland Plateau region the mountains and ridges generally run northeast by southwest. The mountains & ridges have been logged over several times over and that means old roads or abandoned roadbeds that go somewhere.

The always barefoot nonsense was also highly annoying. Dangerous, stupid, and a very unnecessary risk taken in any venue.

58 posted on 12/29/2014 4:54:11 AM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: cva66snipe
The always barefoot nonsense was also highly annoying. Dangerous, stupid, and a very unnecessary risk taken in any venue.

I forgot about that. I kept thinking he was going to cut himself on some coral and get infected, and wondered why he didn't try to craft some footwear from leaves or coconut husks, or something. It then dawned on me that this was just another phony affectation.

59 posted on 12/29/2014 9:11:48 AM PST by Oatka (This is America. Assimilate or evaporate.)
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To: Zakeet

12. Hitting the gym with Harry “pump you up” Reid.


60 posted on 01/02/2015 3:03:26 PM PST by T-Bone Texan (The time is now to form up into leaderless cells of 5 men or less.)
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