My Reality Sucks….So Lets Watch Yours!
Posted By: The Abstract Analyst
Filed Under: Comedy on February 9, 2010
2009 wasn’t the first year in reality tv, nor was it my first year watching edited voyeur tv. That said I can’t say there are 2 reality shows that I enjoyed & talked about more thoroughly than the shark tank & jersey shore. 80% of the reality shows I watch I wouldn’t watch if there was something better. Check that all reality shows not named amazing race, Jersey Short & Shark Tank I wouldn’t watch if there was better programming. But since there isn’t I have conformed to the will of the dregs & watched peeping tom cam on the toob.
As we all know reality tv is the executives answer to rising cost & an attempt to fill air time with cheaper non syndicated/re-aired material/crap!
But the debut’s of shark tank & jersey shore to me couldn’t be more opposite or interesting. Shark tank is an advertisers dream. Its high brow reality, I was told about the show from an mba friend of mine & I’m sure its postgrad degree tv. Which translates a higher avg income of the viewer & ads that can take advantage of that. Its on friday nights which is a great dvr / family time & among many circles that I’m in the show generates great buzz. Its a mix of business, drama, & reality! The shows concept is simple – entruprenurs come in & pitch their business while making a case for additional funding for an equity stake. Unto it self not big on drama unless you know what its like to pitch or invest. The venture capitist review comment & negocite for either a higher stake (typically a controlling stake) or a different level of investment. Its quality tv that I have 0 shame in saying I watch & promoting in the hopes that the show stays on simple because its actually benifical. For the record even without investment the start ups are winners due to the exposure they receive & other vc’s / investors who reach out & fund these guys.
Then there is the other side of the coin. Reality tv that needs no more exposure & shames me to say that I watch it. The jersery shore is that gulity pleasure / train wreck that everyone watches (including those same high brow post grad degree folks) just becuase they can’t turn away! I can’t find anyone who hasn’t seen at least an episode or read a story about the fist pumping folks from the east coast who gained fame in seaside heights. I watch it, I talk about it and ironically the same circle of friends who told me about shark tank also watch Jersey Shore.
In the end reality TV is going no where, so at the very least lets be glad that its either really compelling i.e. shark tank or a big train wreck i.e the shore that way you get the most entertainment for your mind numbing time…and $$$ for everyone else
-Abstract Analyst…
About the Author
MBA graduate and observer of media, politics, sports and every thing absurd...
