Reality Series Guilty Pleasure

[KittyJunkie]

Confession Time
___________________________________
Which reality series did you think was total crap and yet you were totally glued to? Mine was Temptation Island 1 and 2. :(

[D'yer Mak'er]

there are only two reality television shows that i have been able to watch an entire episode of.
and im not guilty of either one.
i watch Survivor religiously
very very occasioanlly i will watch COPS if it is on at a convenient late late night time.

[Yoda]

The original Making the Band, which came out a couple years ago, before the reality craze was at quite the fever pitch it is not. The second season was weak, and the latest is totally uninteresting. The first, however, employed all the standard reality-show suspense-building and conflict-enhancing methods now common to reality shows, before they were popular.

I was hopelessly hooked. I'd buy that season on DVD if it were available.

[r3port3r66]

Amazing Race gets me hooked every season.

[Sidewinder]

I watched Amazing Race & Survivor. The Amazing Race especially, its really good fun to watch. Although now I have nothing left on TV. Buffy ended and now Angel. :( :( :( I'm ruined.

[OG-]

Survivor is still the greatest reality TV show on. Next up we have Project: Greenlight. Followed in a distant third by Fear Factor or Scare Tactics.

I watch Survivor as though my lungs would stop working if I were to miss a second of it.

[birdygyrl]

I watched Amazing Race & Survivor. The Amazing Race especially, its really good fun to watch. Although now I have nothing left on TV. Buffy ended and now Angel. :( :( :( I'm ruined.
Me too....I loved Buffy and Angel. I also enjoyed Friends and Fraser. :(
Sorry, went off topic. I have been watching The Last Comic Standing.
Does that really qualify? Its the only one that's caught my attention. Other than The Apprentice and I only watched that because I was too lazy to change the channel after Will And Grace.

[mott hamble]

Even though the girls on it drive me nuts, I get a kick out of the simple life. I also, was sucked into Tempation Island...are there other forces at work here? Why do I get sucked in so easily?! :confused:

[SamsoniteDelilah]

I watched the first ep of The Bachelor (first season) because I arrogantly just wanted to see what sort of chicks would sign up for that humiliation. I watched the whole season.

I'm now watching Dr 90210, partly to see the before and after surgery transformations, and partly to see if the main doctor ever comes out of the closet.

[CelluloidChild]

This is a really old thread that hasn't been touched in ages, but it will suffice....

Time for me to confess that I'm a serial reality singing show addict:

American Idol, The Voice, X Factor - doesn't matter how manipulative they are, I watch. I'm constantly amazed by how many amazing singers there are.

[donniedarko]

I used to have guilty pleasures. Don't watch reality TV anymore. I used watch The Real World but stopped seeing the point. My dad watches Real Houswives and hates to admit it, whenever I call him out for it he says he's not invested and that he only watches because my step mom does. :laugh: he's really invested in it.

There's worse though, Honey Boo Boo, Toddlers and Tiarras, Teen Mom, these are things we could do with out.

[Godoggo]

I watch them too, Celluloid. I stopped watching Idol though. I wasn't impressed with the singers this year, except for one girl. The Voice has some amazing singers this year and most of them are on team Adam. I'll be surprised if one of his doesn't win.

I used to watch So You Think You Can Dance. I took dance from the age of seven until high school, so that show interested me. It has awful choreographers now, so I don't know if I'll watch it this season. I miss Mia Michaels. Her work is amazing.

[CelluloidChild]

I also watched a season of So You Think You Can Dance - really impressive in terms of the talent. A lot of the success of the dancers from show to show did seem to depend on the quality of the choreography.

Yes, the Voice this season - Judith Hill is my fave. She's not only got a great voice and plays beautiful piano, but she's a great songwriter too.

I actually like all the girls on Idol who made it to the Top 5 this season. Candice especially.

I particularly like jazzy, soulful singers. :)

In general, though, I find The Voice to be a far superior show than Idol. The whole coaching thing, and The Voice largely bypassed the humiliation factor of Idol. Much more positive energy.

[planet news]

i don't watch tv (it's bad) but i saw a few youtube videos recently that i liked from this show apparently called "what would you do?" it stages exaggerated situations of various kinds of discrimination in public and see how people react. it kind of makes you feel good because usually people end up standing up for what's right.

[Yoda]

I also watched a season of So You Think You Can Dance - really impressive in terms of the talent. A lot of the success of the dancers from show to show did seem to depend on the quality of the choreography.

Yes, the Voice this season - Judith Hill is my fave. She's not only got a great voice and plays beautiful piano, but she's a great songwriter too.

I actually like all the girls on Idol who made it to the Top 5 this season. Candice especially.

I particularly like jazzy, soulful singers. :)

In general, though, I find The Voice to be a far superior show than Idol. The whole coaching thing, and The Voice largely bypassed the humiliation factor of Idol. Much more positive energy.
This. I don't watch any others than The Voice, but I find it pretty enjoyable. I'm mostly just taken with the blind auditions, which are lots of fun (and it's great to hear how inventive the covers can get). But by then I've usually got a few favorites and I like to see how they do.

And yeah, Judith Hill definitely seems like the best this year. Was really sad to see Grace Askew get knocked off, though.

[honeykid]

I used watch The Real World but stopped seeing the point.
I used to love The Real World. Of course, that was way back in the early 90's. I watched the first four seasons.

There's worse though, Honey Boo Boo
That thing has just started airing over here. :(

As for reality tv my weakness is Masterchef/The Great British Bake Off and Come Dine With Me (but only the half hour week long version). That said, I'm not sure how often I'd watch Masterchef if it wasn't for my sister watching it with me. We sit and rip it apart.

Less in the reality mold, but still in that vein, Gogglebox is the only one I like.

[Sedai]

Survivor

Yep. Guilty as charged. Really, I don't watch much TV at all, but I DVR this crap and have watched pretty much every season. Yes, I know they pull the players from pools of mactors, but I find it interesting that, no matter what walk of life people come from, they seem to turn into lying backstabbers when cash is dangled before their eyes.

I watched a season of Master Chef at one point, and that seemed pretty interesting, but I like to cook.

[seanc]

I have watched Big Brother since season 1. I used to blame it on my wife, similar to Darko's comments. I have been divorced for two years but have yet to miss a season so time to come clean.

[earlsmoviepicks]

I completely love Wipeout, then I feel very cheap afterwards....

[Brodinski]

I watched Ultimate Survivor and even though it's staged as hell, I've watched pretty much everything. Bear Grylls is a funny dude, often without intending to be so.

[Godoggo]

And yeah, Judith Hill definitely seems like the best this year. Was really sad to see Grace Askew get knocked off, though.

I really liked Grace Askew as well. Her sound reminded me of this band I saw once, The Dolly Ranchers. Sort of an indie/country sound. I don't like the people Blake picked.

[The Gunslinger45]

Pawn Stars and Storage Wars. No lie..

[donniedarko]

Wait a minute forgot about those pawn shows. Hardcore Pawn and Storage Wars are the ones I watch, and one that's set in Houston (forgot what it's called). Can't Stand most of the other ones though.

edit: Yes, Storage Wars Texas.

[The Gunslinger45]

Storage Wars Texas?

[teeter_g]

Mob Wives, Deadliest Catch, Ultimate Fighter, Real World, Swamp People, Ax Men, Long Island Medium, The Show With Vinny, Snookie and JWOWW, The Pauly D Project, Dog and Beth:On the Hunt, American Hoggers, Black Gold, Ice Road Truckers, Duck Dynasty, Breaking Amish, Moonshiners, Tia & Tamera, Amish Mafia, Face Off, Pit Bulls and Parolees, The Devils Ride, Mac Miller and The Most Dope Family.

It's not like I like reality television or anything. ;)

[Godoggo]

Wow, I've never even heard of over half of those.

I forgot to mention I watch Project Runway and Rupaul's Drag Race.

[Dash]

Any and every reality cooking show; Masterchef, Bake off, My Kitchen Rules, Hell's Kitchen, Great British Menu, Top Chef.

I'm an absolutely abysmal cook (not quite in the realm of having dispatched anyone from this mortal coil...yet(!)), and as such I seem to take perverse pleasure in watching everyone do what I cannot...cook.

[CelluloidChild]

On The Voice I really like the way the coaches all seem to be fully supportive of the singers - the ones on their team and in general. In particular, I thought that Cee Lo always used to wear his heart on his sleeve.

[Sexy Celebrity]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/JoanAndMelissaJoanKnowsBest.jpg/250px-JoanAndMelissaJoanKnowsBest.jpg

I watched a couple of episodes of that Joan & Melissa reality show not long ago. I hardly watch TV, but I did watch some of this because I like Joan and Melissa Rivers. It was good.

[honeykid]

Any and every reality cooking show; Great British Menu,.

I forgot about Great British Menu. Although, I only watch the Friday episode, when the critics judge the whole menu. I used to watch Ready, Steady, Cook all the time, but then Ainsley took over and it because so much more difficult to do so. :(

[Godoggo]

On The Voice I really like the way the coaches all seem to be fully supportive of the singers - the ones on their team and in general. In particular, I thought that Cee Lo always used to wear his heart on his sleeve.

I miss Cee Lo, but I'm finding Usher surprisingly like able. I'll take Shakira any day over Christina though. I didn't like her much, nor did I think she picked the best people for her team.

Good grief, Shakira is pretty.

[CelluloidChild]

I miss Cee Lo, but I'm finding Usher surprisingly like able. I'll take Shakira any day over Christina though. I didn't like her much, nor did I think she picked the best people for her team.

Good grief, Shakira is pretty.

I agree. Usher's turning out to be a really good, inventive coach.

Also with you on Shakira. (Christina, although she's got an incredible voice and lots of appeal, kind of lost me with the spat over Tony Lucca).

[Godoggo]

I missed that season, but she always seemed really disingenuous to me. The others appear to be actually invested.

[CelluloidChild]

I missed that season, but she always seemed really disingenuous to me. The others appear to be actually invested.

If you missed that season check out Tony Lucca with this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb1_aMLCl5c&feature=player_embedded

[Yoda]

I missed that season, but she always seemed really disingenuous to me. The others appear to be actually invested.
Agree completely. Which is probably why she had the worst team all three years, in my opinion at least.

I like the new coaches. I find Usher's Pop Star Sensei routine (he'll have them flipping their hands between water drops before long) pretty amusing, too.

[mack]

I totally get into a few types of reality shows - and they have some REALLY good ones lately. I give kudos to The Hunger Games and the Maze type of movies - I think they fed/rekindled this kind of survive being chased type of thing. Here are a few:

American Grit with John Cena - 2016 start
http://www.fox.com/sites/default/files/AmericanGit_1024x576_v3_r3.png
John is very nice to look at (he's not alone), and the show gives you a really good cause to cheer for - veterans! Who cant get excited about watching vets compete in a fun way? I think it was great idea for him to do, and in a time when vets ARE somewhat marginalized, I think the show really helps humanize their stories. Oh and teams. Competing. Fun!


Dude, You're Screwed! 2013 by Discovery Channel
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pRXl6lxbfpnKLM8i_ysnk2x7dis7IqnvBXS0nLK--xa9qerIu74TPJoawifyE-pyhVQ=w1264
Ok, I think this one is long off the air, but you can find full episodes on Youtube, Watching these guys attempt to find civilization/rescue within 100 hours of being dropped off God knows where, with whatever they were wearing when they were nabbed by the team was downright HILARIOUS. I personally felt for the Brit who was dropped into a cave full of water, and had to dive his wave through the cave system out with no flashlight, and then find civilization after getting out into the jungle. Fun watching!

Capture - 2013 series on the CW
http://img.cinemablend.com/cb/d/d/c/e/1/a/ddce1af9d03e11efc174e31def5c0a680699466c7c0b86e470afe946b0665cdc.jpg
This one was a CW offering that was a straight Hunger Games knockoff. GREAT STUFF. 12 teams. 1 team is the hunt team, 11 evade capture. 2 teams face elimination each week - either the 2 teams the hunters captured, or the 1 team they captured, and them. This was a young crowd, and it was fun watching them (suffer?) LOL. I thought the contestants had great chemistry - a fun time. More https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_(TV_series)

Take the Money and Run - a 2011 ABC offering
http://www.onlinetvcast.com/upload/shows/show_414_thumbForVideoPanel.jpg
I found this show had real promise - the contestants take a briefcase of $250k? and hide it somewhere. Once they are "caught" they are subjected to interrogation by the command center team, while 2 detectives look for the case. If the detectives find the case within the time allotted, THEY keep the $250k. If they dont, the fugitives keep the $250k. I thought this one was well done, but I knew ABC didnt want to keep giving up $250k per episode for season after season! LOL :)

Hunted - 2017 by CBS
https://www.commdiginews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_0987-e1481071937871.jpg
https://heavyeditorial.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/hunted_fugitives.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780
This one has started off slowly but it shows promise. I find myself rooting more for the catch team, and that's telling to me - I must find the runners all dull enough that I want them caught. I do think this one is a DIRECT rip off of Take the Money and Run. Like - literally the SAME show, in a later year. In this one, the contestants run, and stay on the run for 28 days. If they can remain at large, within 100 square miles covering portions of Alabama, Georgia, Florida & South Carolina, they win $250k. If they are caught before that time by Alpha, Bravo, Delta, Echo or Foxtrot ground teams - they lose = no money. They get a 1 hour head start, and an ATM card with $500 that they can withdraw in $100 increments. The Control & ground teams can sift through every aspect of their digital and personal life to find them. Fascinating stuff - one team was caught because the woman's daughter unwittingly gave her mom's location away.

[Gideon58]

I do watch Dancing with the Stars.

[OdumC]

Confession Time
___________________________________
Which reality series did you think was total crap and yet you were totally glued to? Mine was Temptation Island 1 and 2. :(

I forget the name of it, but it an attempt to jump in on Naked and Afraid's buzz... I want to say naked and dating or something.. really obscure... what made it watchable was the unintentional hilarity of people forced to go on first dates naked and trying to act normal. (They really missed the entire reason on Naked and Afraid, having to survive the elements without so much as a stitch of clothing or shoes actually has a purpose)

That said I watch more than I probably should, Survivor, Big Brother, most of the Gordon Ramsey shows (mainly because I love cooking and have gotten some great ideas for dishes)

[doubledenim]

Flipping Out. And by watch, I mean a whole season on my dvr that I "intend" to watch. Southern Charm is another goodie.

[CiCi]

Big Brother UK (I was slightly tempted to apply this year :lol:)

Celebrity Big Brother (Kim Woodburn and Tiffany Pollard were fabulous in ever way)

Anything with Tiffany Pollard - especially Flavor Of Love since that had Brigitte Nielsen in as well.

Jeremy Kyle - it's a chavvy, £1 version of Jerry Springer that's often quite brilliant. (I've been tempted to be in the audience and watch it live before :lol:)

Can't say any of these are guilty pleasures either really :p

[OdumC]

Big Brother UK (I was slightly tempted to apply this year :lol:)

Celebrity Big Brother (Kim Woodburn and Tiffany Pollard were fabulous in ever way)

Anything with Tiffany Pollard - especially Flavor Of Love since that had Brigitte Nielsen in as well.

Jeremy Kyle - it's a chavvy, £1 version of Jerry Springer that's often quite brilliant. (I've been tempted to be in the audience and watch it live before :lol:)

Can't say any of these are guilty pleasures either really :pOh yeah I can add Big Brother UK and Celebrity Big Brother UK to my list

[cricket]

Survivor is my all time favorite show. I've never missed an episode.

[OdumC]

Survivor is my all time favorite show. I've never missed an episode.Same, along with Big Brothers, I just find the interaction fascinating watching people scheme.

[Sexy Celebrity]

Survivor is my all time favorite show. I've never missed an episode.

What?! Then why haven't you played MoFo Survivor?

[cricket]

What?! Then why haven't you played MoFo Survivor?

From what I've seen, it looks crazy time consuming. I couldn't play it halfass.

[Dexter007]

The Great Food Truck Race is, wait for it, pretty great. Sometimes.

[WorldFilmGeek]

Two words for me...Hell's Kitchen LOL

[OdumC]

Two words for me...Hell's Kitchen LOLI love all the Ramsey shows....

Hell's kitchen is great though I was a little discouraged to hear the "Dream Job" at the end is pretty much just a cute title to be a line cook in one of his places

[seanc]

All of them wear thin on me eventually but I watched Idol and Survivor for a handful of seasons. My biggest guilty pleasure was Big Brother which I only stopped watching a couple seasons ago.

[OdumC]

All of them wear thin on me eventually but I watched Idol and Survivor for a handful of seasons. My biggest guilty pleasure was Big Brother which I only stopped watching a couple seasons ago.If you get tired of watching Big Brother, check out Big Brother UK (And vice versa) there's a completely different dynamic as in the US version housemates vote each other off so there's a lot more back stabbing and scheming while in the UK version the viewers evict the housemates so there's zero scheming and they all seem genuinely upset at losing a housemate.

It's actually weird watching both versions trying to keep in mind they're the same premise.

[seanc]

If you get tired of watching Big Brother, check out Big Brother UK (And vice versa) there's a completely different dynamic as in the US version housemates vote each other off so there's a lot more back stabbing and scheming while in the UK version the viewers evict the housemates so there's zero scheming and they all seem genuinely upset at losing a housemate.

It's actually weird watching both versions trying to keep in mind they're the same premise.

That's interesting. I have heard of the UK version but didn't know it was so different. They available to stream easily?

[OdumC]

That's interesting. I have heard of the UK version but didn't know it was so different. They available to stream easily?I sent a pm as I'm not sure what the rules regarding streaming are around these parts, but yes you can watch current and past seasons...

[CiCi]

If you watch the UK version, watch series 7. It was legendary, people still talk about Nikki Grahame and Pete Bennett :lol:

I watched the Canadian Big Brother once because Nikki went in it, and it is worlds a part (it follows the US format) and it is weird to think they're part of the same "franchise" I totally agree.

We've had some legendary celebrity series as well!

[OdumC]

If you watch the UK version, watch series 7. It was legendary, people still talk about Nikki Grahame and Pete Bennett :lol:

I watched the Canadian Big Brother once because Nikki went in it, and it is worlds a part (it follows the US format) and it is weird to think they're part of the same "franchise" I totally agree.

We've had some legendary celebrity series as well!I've enjoyed the hell out of a lot of the celebrity ones... the one with Gary Busey was legendary..

Gary's a certified nutjob :busey:

[CiCi]

I've enjoyed the hell out of a lot of the celebrity ones... the one with Gary Busey was legendary..

Gary's a certified nutjob :busey:

I think Kim Woodburn is my new fave :D

[Dani8]

I cant tolerate reality tv unless it's cooking shows or travel shows. Had a quick squizz recently at I;m a celebrity get me out of here (Aussie show about celebrities dumped in africa) just to see two women reacting to being dumped in tubs in the ground and covered in pythons. Reminds me why I prefer solo travel to being stuck with a group, and the two comperes make me very stabby.

Apart from travel and cooking stuff eg Anthony Bourdain who seems like an arrogant tool but I rather like arrogant tools, and he goes to some cool places, or Luke Nguyen in asia (aussie restauranter and a really really sweet young guy who is a brilliant chef) I might check out Robson Green's Extreme Fishing, ice road truckers, those north american wild fishing shows, but not stuff like the bachelor/ette, kardashians (dont even know if we have it here) goggle box etc. If my husband or I catch the other watching sht like that (apologies to anyone who enjoys just kicking back with a guilty pleasure - to each their own) the standard gotcha is 'My IQ just dropped 50%'.

[OdumC]

I cant tolerate reality tv unless it's cooking shows or travel shows. Had a quick squizz recently at I;m a celebrity get me out of here (Aussie show about celebrities dumped in africa) just to see two women reacting to being dumped in tubs in the ground and covered in pythons. Reminds me why I prefer solo travel to being stuck with a group, and the two comperes make me very stabby.

Apart from travel and cooking stuff eg Anthony Bourdain who seems like an arrogant tool but I rather like arrogant tools, and he goes to some cool places, or Luke Nguyen in asia (aussie restauranter and a really really sweet young guy who is a brilliant chef) I might check out Robson Green's Extreme Fishing, ice road truckers, those north american wild fishing shows, but not stuff like the bachelor/ette, kardashians (dont even know if we have it here) goggle box etc. If my husband or I catch the other watching sht like that (apologies to anyone who enjoys just kicking back with a guilty pleasure - to each their own) the standard gotcha is 'My IQ just dropped 50%'.Oh I couldn't tolerate anything like kardashians, bachelor/bachlorette etc.. I'm into wilderness and survival so anything with that theme I'll check out... then watching survivor for that reason was a small hop to big brother as often as they have people playing both, you kind of get interested in seeing them in a different setting, and the dynamics behind big brother are fun to watch.. people trying to scheme who couldn't outthink a half cooked eggplant... or when they actually get a brilliant schemer in it's even better watching this pompous ass just manipulate the entire house all the way to the end...

Tried some others like amazing race but that just didn't have enough focus on the people like the others do...

Naked and Afraid is a good one, they dump 2 people in the middle of some wilderness hell completely naked, only get to choose one survival item, get a diary cam and map to an area they can set up camp, and they have to go 21 days living off the land. everything is blurred out and by day 2 they're covered in mud dirt and the dung of whatever was in the tree they were sleeping under so it's not like a sexy angle in the least... that show has probably the highest percentage of medical emergency tap outs of anything I've seen... It makes survivor look like a 4 star luxury resort... they get nothing, no food, no water, no supplies, no help...(unless it's a medical emergency then the producers step in and remove them)

[Dani8]

I was hooked on the first season of aussie Big Brother. Found the psychology element fascinating, but then our channels were being bombarded with RTV and the novelty wore off for me, but I can see how addictive it is so I'm not bashing anyone who likes it. I'm also a cynic. Hey this is real. No it isnt. it;s scripted, and has very clever editing. i notice this in particular in aussie masterchef and i find that irritating. Amazing Race i will drop in on from time to time to see where they're going, but running around madly is not my idea of travel, and travel can be stressful enough without me watching couples or siblings flipping out at each other, and the survival one I will drop in on as well. Just not a weekly watcher.

[OdumC]

I was hooked on the first season of aussie Big Brother. Found the psychology element fascinating, but then our channels were being bombarded with RTV and the novelty wore off for me, but I can see how addictive it is so I'm not bashing anyone who likes it. I'm also a cynic. Hey this is real. No it isnt. it;s scripted, and has very clever editing. i notice this in particular in aussie masterchef and i find that irritating. Amazing Race i will drop in on from time to time to see where they're going, but running around madly is not my idea of travel, and travel can be stressful enough without me watching couples or siblings flipping out at each other, and the survival one I will drop in on as well. Just not a weekly watcher.I love cooking so I'll watch any of the cooking ones.. except Master Chef Jr. cause... I don't need to see children that can shame me in the kitchen... First time I saw that I was thinking awww that's cute, what are they going to be making? like grilled cheese or boxes of mac n cheese? ... Nope. those kids could put a lot of head chefs out of work....

Stuff like Hotel Hell, Kitchen Nightmares, Hotel Impossible, those are all interesting too.. I've picked up a lot of renovating ideas from their before and afters...

[Dani8]

lol I saw a few of the kids' MC. Get the hell out of my kitchen, kids. god dayum they're talented. And we get food network here. I dont like the kids' shows, and quite frankly I dont like a lot of those either. 'Giardia' rubs me up the wrong way. those teefies are so blinding. Bobby 'Filet' I find a bit annoying like Eric in Entourage the way he speaks through his nose. A few of the others irritate me. When we first got that network here i binged it on a wet weekend. I like the Man Food Fire guy but I need ma greens, man. Watching someone eat so much meat makes me feel physically unwell, much the same as someone smoking a lot on screen. Man -v- Food makes me feel very unwell as well. I just ...I just...I just can't cope with watching that gluttony. The restaurant make over guy (english body builder. I find him so hot) I like. There was an aussie in US doing a bakery makeover. I find her a bit up herself, and as i said earlier in the baking thread, I'm just not a fan. One I cant deal with re how obviously scripted it is is the private detective in the restaurants. Give me a bloody break. They may as well have the telly prompter there for the viewer to see.

Ramsey and Jamie Oliver I like.

Adam Liaw is one of our masterchef winners. Lovely guy, and he's currently travelling through asia with his show.

[OdumC]

lol I saw a few of the kids' MC. Get the hell out of my kitchen, kids. god dayum they're talented. And we get food network here. I dont like the kids' shows, and quite frankly I dont like a lot of those either. 'Giardia' rubs me up the wrong way. those teefies are so blinding. Bobby 'Filet' I find a bit annoying like Eric in Entourage the way he speaks through his nose. A few of the others irritate me. When we first got that network here i binged it on a wet weekend. I like the Man Food Fire guy but I need ma greens, man. Watching someone eat so much meat makes me feel physically unwell, much the same as someone smoking a lot on screen. Man -v- Food makes me feel very unwell as well. I just ...I just...I just can't cope with watching that gluttony. The restaurant make over guy (english body builder. I find him so hot) I like. There was an aussie in US doing a bakery makeover. I find her a bit up herself, and as i said earlier in the baking thread, I'm just not a fan. One I cant deal with re how obviously scripted it is is the private detective in the restaurants. Give me a bloody break. They may as well have the telly prompter there for the viewer to see.

Ramsey and Jamie Oliver I like.

Adam Liaw is one of our masterchef winners. Lovely guy, and he's currently travelling through asia with his show.I haven't even heard of a lot of those, which is probably good, I already binge watch more reality tv than I should but when I'm caught up it evens out to just a few shows a week which isn't bad.. I don't watch a lot of tv anyways, there's maybe 3-4 comedies I like and Walking Dead, and after that I'm watching movies.

[Austruck]

We used to be huge Survivor fans, but hubby's weird, changing work schedule has made it tough to keep up in recent years. We were SUCH big fans that we were applying for the show all the time. He got a call-back to the local CBS station once, and I actually came within one phone call of getting on the Pearl Islands season. (Two women had to back out within two weeks of the show's filming start, and I got a call from the head casting director in which she interviewed me for about twenty minutes. She then said if I was chosen, I'd hear back within 24 hours. That was a harrowing 24 hours because suddenly I didn't want to go anymore! And sadly, I got that wish.)

At least hubby and I learned that we had a knack for making those application videos. :)

[Austruck]

Our current guilty pleasure reality shows are mostly on the Discovery Channel and involve Alaska:

Alaska: The Last Frontier
Alaskan Bush People
Gold Rush

Other favorites seem to be on the DIY Network:

Renovation Realities
Rehab Addict

[OdumC]

We used to be huge Survivor fans, but hubby's weird, changing work schedule has made it tough to keep up in recent years. We were SUCH big fans that we were applying for the show all the time. He got a call-back to the local CBS station once, and I actually came within one phone call of getting on the Pearl Islands season. (Two women had to back out within two weeks of the show's filming start, and I got a call from the head casting director in which she interviewed me for about twenty minutes. She then said if I was chosen, I'd hear back within 24 hours. That was a harrowing 24 hours because suddenly I didn't want to go anymore! And sadly, I got that wish.)

At least hubby and I learned that we had a knack for making those application videos. :)Ahh that's a shame, I would absolutely love to be on survivor...I think they're getting a little crazy with the twists though, some of the advantages are getting just way too overpowered...

Most people watch the show for the personalities... and those change season to season, no reason to keep mutating the game too...

[Captain Steel]

I have to confess I used to watch Wife Swap (which I know is as staged as everything else - which was obvious since every episode followed the same exact formula - almost as predictable as counting down the two-times-per-episode Bill Bixby would turn into the Hulk!) Now I watch re-runs of Celebrity Wife Swap!

Also, it must be designated that "Reality TV" is a relatively new genre. Shows based on reality have been around since the beginning of TV, but this new genre would more accurately be called Sensationalist TV. What should not be included are news reports, news-talk shows, late night talk (interview) shows, daytime "talk" & variety shows, educational shows, documentaries, docu-drama crime shows, instructional shows, cooking shows, travel shows, nature & science shows, classic game shows (as opposed to contest reality shows), etc.

[Dani8]

I have to confess I used to watch Wife Swap (which I know is as staged as everything else - which was obvious since every episode followed the same exact formula - almost as predictable as counting down the two-times-per-episode Bill Bixby would turn into the Hulk!) Now I watch re-runs of Celebrity Wife Swap!

Also, it must be designated that "Reality TV" is a relatively new genre. Shows based on reality have been around since the beginning of TV, but this new genre would more accurately be called Sensationalist TV. What should not be included are news reports, news-talk shows, late night talk (interview) shows, daytime "talk" & variety shows, educational shows, documentaries, docu-drama crime shows, instructional shows, cooking shows, travel shows, nature & science shows, classic game shows (as opposed to contest reality shows), etc.

I agree with the what should not be included but I'm in a chatty mood and I'm bleepity bleeping hungry so I'm chatting to my new foodie friend here while my stomach cramps in starvation mode. Dont make me angry. I bite when I;m hungry!

[OdumC]

I have to confess I used to watch Wife Swap (which I know is as staged as everything else - which was obvious since every episode followed the same exact formula - almost as predictable as counting down the two-times-per-episode Bill Bixby would turn into the Hulk!) Now I watch re-runs of Celebrity Wife Swap!
Wait wait wait.....




THE HULK WAS STAGED?????


What the actual hell???

[Captain Steel]

Wait wait wait.....




THE HULK WAS STAGED?????


What the actual hell???

(Obviously, I wasn't questioning the fact that the Hulk was TV fiction, but comparing its to-the-minute predictability to the formulaic aspect of certain Reality TV shows.)

Oh that show made me angry when I was a kid! I desperately wanted to see comic characters brought to life at that age and The Incredible Hulk seemed to be the answer to an adolescent comic geek's prayers. I grew to despise it because I could time down to the minute when Lou Ferrigno would show up - it was exactly two times each episode - and I believe it was something like at the 10 minute mark and again at the 45 minute mark. I got so good at timing it, I'd just turn on the TV to watch Bixby transform, then go play for a half hour, then turn it on to see the Hulk's second appearance. (sorry, just got WAY off topic!)

[OdumC]

(Obviously, I wasn't questioning the fact that the Hulk was TV fiction, but comparing its to-the-minute predictability to the formulaic aspect of certain Reality TV shows.)

Oh that show made me angry when I was a kid! I desperately wanted to see comic characters brought to life at that age and The Incredible Hulk seemed to be the answer to an adolescent comic geek's prayers. I grew to despise it because I could time down to the minute when Lou Ferrigno would show up - it was exactly two times each episode - and I believe it was something like at the 10 minute mark and again at the 45 minute mark. I got so good at timing it, I'd just turn on the TV to watch Bixby transform, then go play for a half hour, then turn it on to see the Hulk's second appearance. (sorry, just got WAY off topic!)Oh I know, I was kidding, we were talking about the reality tv like Hell's kitchen where they're forced to live together that branched into food talk in general cause I think we both skipped our lunches.agreed the straight up cooking shows aren't "reality tv" per se in this context, But I'd consider something with the social aspect to fall right into that category.

As for staged can anything surpass Duck Dynasty?

[Dani8]

Is duck dynasty like turtle man?

[OdumC]

Would you prefer if Odum and I had a new thread to talk about cooking shows? Just smack me in the bum and I'll toddle off, but before I go, 1 more for you, Odum. For your catfish. This would be great for a dinner party, especially in cold weather.

Thanks, just pm me anything else and we'll stop derailing their thread....

[Dani8]

I think I'll start a foodie thread for mofo foodies and take my vids out of here, and then any vids or photos we share will all be together.

Sorry guys. I got over excited.

[OdumC]

Is duck dynasty like turtle man?It's billed as a reality show about a family in Louisiana who built a fortune making and selling duck calls... I finally watched a few episodes after all the hype, how they can even pretend it's a reality show is beyond me... it's so scripted it's not even funny and it's a laugh track away from being a sitcom. (not a good one either) really stupid show.

[Dani8]

Thanks for the headsup. Think I'll pass.

[OdumC]

Thanks for the headsup. Think I'll pass.Well don't take my word for it, I'm not even pretending my tastes speak for the planet, I think they went 11 or 12 seasons so they appealed to someone.

Just calling into question the labeling of it as reality tv considering it was obviously scripted lines and scenarios.

[Dani8]

No I'll take your word for it. The highly scripted 'reality tv shows' really irritate me. Feels like I'm being scammed.

[Captain Steel]

Would you prefer if Odum and I had a new thread to talk about cooking shows? Just smack me in the bum and I'll toddle off, but before I go, 1 more for you, Odum. For your catfish. This would be great for a dinner party, especially in cold weather.


Oh, I don't care. Someone bumped this really old thread, so feel free to talk about whatever you want. (But, yeah, you might get more foodies joining in on a food-specific thread.)

I just like to discuss semantics and there's a huge difference (and sometimes a very thin line) between what is now designated "Reality TV" and what has always been many genres of non-fiction television shows.

The Hell's Kitchen (and other Gordon Ramsey shows) are a good example. None are cooking shows as they don't instruct the audience on cooking. Hell's Kitchen is an elimination contest show and Kitchen Nightmares is one of those fake drama shows. I'm merely identifying them as what they are, yet I've watched and been entertained by both at different points. (I was first drawn to Hell's Kitchen because I grew up working in a restaurant - and most Head Chefs do act like Ramsey at some point - very temperamental people.)

[Dani8]

It's ll good, Cap. I moved them to a foodie thread and deleted. I can tend to accidentally hijack so I never mind being told to move it elsewhere. It wont make me cry, but I'm so hungry now I might have to go and kick the dog.

[cat_sidhe]

I love things like Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen, Face Off, Kitchen Nightmares... in fact, watching Gordon Ramsay punch fish right now on the latest HK season. :lol:

[Captain Steel]

I love things like Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen, Face Off, Kitchen Nightmares... in fact, watching Gordon Ramsay punch fish right now on the latest HK season. :lol:

I've grown to like Face Off as well - it's different from a lot of contest shows because the contestants actually produce something rather than just competing in games or seeing who can lie the best by creating false alliances.

What's weird, several years back there was a show called Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, and it followed almost the same exact format as Face Off (where the contestants had to create artworks for various types of art challenges, usually culminating in a major one each episode, as the projects would be examined by a panel of judges & the "worst" artwork that week would eliminate a contestant). It only lasted for two seasons, but having been an artist myself, I wished the show had continued.

[cat_sidhe]

Omg I loved Work of Art. The performance artist killed me!! :lol:

ETA: I love old splatter movies so much because of makeup fx. That's why I love Face Off. And it's also amazing what they manage to pull off in so little time.

[Captain Steel]

Omg I loved Work of Art. The performance artist killed me!! :lol:

ETA: I love old splatter movies so much because of makeup fx. That's why I love Face Off. And it's also amazing what they manage to pull off in so little time.

Yeah, that performance guy was the epitome of so many students I went to art school with - they'd never do the assignments and then do something asinine in class (like put a chair on top of a garbage can or something) and then get lauded by the teacher for their sense of avant garde & originality. Meanwhile the rest of us would have spent hours the night before working on a drawing or painting that fulfilled the assignment.

[cat_sidhe]

OOOooohhh Dani8 an Aussie show that's...sort of reality I suppose...that repeats a lot on one of the channels here is the one about border control. Quite fascinating the stuff people try and get away with smuggling in. :lol:

[Dani8]

Have they done a segment on the hollywood dog smugglers - Johnny depp and amber heard? Man oh man that caused a stir here. We take our extremely strict protocol here to protect our flora, fauna and agriculture industry very very seriously. They should have had the book thrown at them for that, but IMO someone was conscious of protecting our film industry as well so they just got a slap on the wrist. Saying that, however, the minister of agriculture behaved like a grand standing goose.

[cat_sidhe]

I read a bit about that but haven't caught that episode. I can imagine they have to be strict. Anything and everything will thrive in that climate. O____O

I laugh a lot at the chinese old ladies who always try smuggle fresh food in zip lock bags in their bags. Wtf, isn't there food in Australia? :lol:

[Dani8]

I am so strict with my own stuff that if I've been in a rural area at any stage I ask the guys and gals if they want to check my boots or tent pegs if I've been camping. I declare absolutely everything. I dont know what the agents are like with foreigners but they're always polite and professional with me. When I brought back sealed coffee beans from Ecuador I asked if it was OK and said, I;m not doing this to conceal cocaine. he laughed. Really dont like border control at LAX. Tokyo either. I was treated like sht because I flew in from nairobi. Hours and hours being detained.

[cat_sidhe]

Oh I never detect any attitude from the staff. Lots of attitude from people feeling entitled, unsurprisingly enough.