This essay, Reality TV, explores why reality tv has become so popular.
Reality TV
Why is Reality Television (TV) so popular? What is it about shows in which they take normal people like you and me and put them on TV and expose every aspects of there lives. The personal, emotional, and physical characteristics of these people's lives are broadcasted for millions of people to watch, as they compete to win a large sum of money. But in every show there are only one winner and the rest of the people going home usually empty handed. What is it that people find so entertaining about these shows? What is it that keeps them glued to their television week after week? My personal opinion is that Reality TV is so popular because they have discovered ways to play off of people emotion. The shows mainly focus on two emotions, curiosity and imagination.
In an interview with my father, Jim Souders, who happens to be a huge fan of "Survivor", "Big Brother", and "The Amazing Race", he said, "most reality shows give you people that you don't like, and they give you people that are very likeable. With the unpredictability of reality TV you don't know which one will win. Unlike sports, comedies and other shows where you can usually pick what the outcome is going to be. Reality TV offers something for the imagination." Jim also gave examples such as; he believes that the LA Lakers will probably win the NBA Championship again. Personally he would like to see the Portland Trailblazers win, but he knows that there is a very slim chance that will happen because the Lakers are a very dominate team. So in his eyes it is almost like the hope that the good guy has just as good of a chance as everyone else to win.
So is it people's desire to see an underdog win what keeps them so interested in these shows? I don't think that is the only thing that makes shows like "Survivor", "Big Brother", "The Amazing Race", and other shows so popular that people return every week. Some shows have had sequels and are returning for multiple seasons. For example, "Survivor" is
Why is Reality Television (TV) so popular? What is it about shows in which they take normal people like you and me and put them on TV and expose every aspects of there lives. The personal, emotional, and physical characteristics of these people's lives are broadcasted for millions of people to watch, as they compete to win a large sum of money. But in every show there are only one winner and the rest of the people going home usually empty handed. What is it that people find so entertaining about these shows? What is it that keeps them glued to their television week after week? My personal opinion is that Reality TV is so popular because they have discovered ways to play off of people emotion. The shows mainly focus on two emotions, curiosity and imagination.
In an interview with my father, Jim Souders, who happens to be a huge fan of "Survivor", "Big Brother", and "The Amazing Race", he said, "most reality shows give you people that you don't like, and they give you people that are very likeable. With the unpredictability of reality TV you don't know which one will win. Unlike sports, comedies and other shows where you can usually pick what the outcome is going to be. Reality TV offers something for the imagination." Jim also gave examples such as; he believes that the LA Lakers will probably win the NBA Championship again. Personally he would like to see the Portland Trailblazers win, but he knows that there is a very slim chance that will happen because the Lakers are a very dominate team. So in his eyes it is almost like the hope that the good guy has just as good of a chance as everyone else to win.
So is it people's desire to see an underdog win what keeps them so interested in these shows? I don't think that is the only thing that makes shows like "Survivor", "Big Brother", "The Amazing Race", and other shows so popular that people return every week. Some shows have had sequels and are returning for multiple seasons. For example, "Survivor" is