Reality TV -- The Mother of it all

[CreamyLady]

God, this dates me.

Anyway, I was excavating a box of books and found a copy of Nora Ephron's Crazy Salad; a compilation of her columns when she was writing for The New Yorker and the Atlantic Monthly, and not making movies.

One of the articles concerned the absolute nadir of TV, in my opinion. It was an episodic documentary called An American Family, pretty much following the lives of the Louds -- truly awful people -- as the family disintegrated on national TV.

I remember that show, and the awful fascination it exerted on my much younger brain. I couldn't believe that anyone would allow themselves to air the dirty linen on public television. In our family, everything was either hashed out in private or ignored. I was a lot more naive then.

I've made a point of avoiding Survivor and Temptation Island, because the train-wreck fascination is still there and I'm damned if I give into it.

I'd like to know, though, if anyone else remembers An American Family, and if it was as awful as I remember it being.

 

[Ally C]

Is it really real?

I tend to subscribe to the view that 'reality TV' is a misnomer because how can it be 'real' when there is a TV crew camped in your house? Then again there are 'reality TV' shows which rely heavily on the use of hidden cameras, although the fact that the participants know they are part of a TV show still brings into question the idea of how 'real' their actions are. Beyond that line of thought, the fact that TV is such an integral part of our everday lives might in fact mean that such shows are more real than I have previously given them credit for. If this is the case then I'm glad I don't watch them. If that's reality, I want no part of it ...

Sorry CreamyLady, I'm not American and have never heard of the show you mention, so can't comment on that. I felt obliged to reply anyway, as I think you've raised an interesting subject. Have you read "White Noise" by Don DeLillo? It's an interesting novel which deals for the most part with representation and meaning. It's set in America, and has some intriguing insights / observations into how society comes (or tries) to understand itself through television (among other things).

 

[BrainyBeauty]

Louds- and getting louder!

I recall hearing about that show. Wasn't there a son named Lance who came out of the closet? I remember thinking at the time how strange- to go on national television and say such personal things! It seemed to be such a sad, depressing show.

But I agree with the notion that it is a misnomer to label it as "reality" tv. Don't let anyone kid you that these Survivor and knockoff shows are not scripted, polished, edited to within an inch of their lives! My complaint is that if they are gonna go to all this trouble to show us the lowest common denominator of civilization and society, can't they at least do it without commercials? j/k

Seriously, I cannot accurately comment on this subject as I have never watched these shows. I have no desire or interest. I even resent hearing about them but there is no getting away from it as we are bombarded by the media.

Is it hypocritical of me to suggest that this trend started with the champion of poor taste - Jerry Springer? I can't stand him either. But, unfortunately, have to claim him as a hometown boy gone bad. No wait, he didn't go bad when he left here. He pretty much was already scum of the earth during his time here too. Let us not forget that while he was a city councilman here, he patronized a working girl...a prostitute.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. Just the fact that he was too stupid to realize you don't pay with a personal check! Yes, that scandal did hurt for a little while. But what is even more disturbing is the fact that the good folks of this community not only forgave him but a few years later voted him back into office as MAYOR! He went on to become a newscaster. Then he started his eponymous show. So, I guess we are responsible for the creation of this monster and all its offspring!

 

[CreamyLady]

The town is not responsible for Jerry Springer. Only he is responsible for his personal actions. As for the show, well, there's plenty of blame to go around.

Yes, the son, Lance, did come out on television, to the expected uproar. The filmmaker wanted to show the basic flaws in the idea of the family, and naturally he picked a family with plenty of flaws; pretty much close to meltdown. Cameras everywhere, following every move, every fight, every conversation. Then, of course, it was edited to show everyone in the most ghastly light possible. Apparently, that wasn't much of a stretch.

I know these shows are polished before the public sees them, but considering the ugly nature of things, I don't think it is too much of a stretch. I can't remember how many weeks An American Family ran, but I do remember it wasn't one of those repeated again and again.

Was the public more sensitive then, or was our tolerance for the ugly side of life less?