In entertainment right now, the big question is whether reality television is dead.
It’s not.
Given my experience in the field, I am sure that many of you could have probably predicted where I stood in the debate between whether voyeuristic TV was better than scripted TV this season. For me, it has never really been a question because the proof is in the pudding.
There have only been three scripted shows worth a dime this season. Two were the ABC upstarts, and while one could argue that Grey’s Anatomy counts as a fourth, it is still not up to the standards of Lost, Desperate Housewives, and 24.
I want you to think about what else you watched this season. Were there any other scripted dramas that even registered on your radar screen than the ones mentioned above? Everybody Loves Raymond went out with a whimper. CSI lost a lot of steam. ER and Without A Trace were barely noticeable. The show that apparently everyone in the industry was talking about last season absolutely sucked and CBS seemed to agree as Joan was sent back to Arcadia.
Once again, reality television provided the television viewer with the most memorable moments of the season.
– Boston Rob paying the bus driver to only open the front door on the
Amazing Race.
– Constantine Maroulis and Bo Bice being the first rockers in American
Idol’s Top Ten.
– Boston Rob finishing second on the Amazing Race.
– Tana and Kendra being the final candidates on The Apprentice, marking the first time it has been an all-female final two.
– Boston Rob’s wedding being televised.
– The Koror tribe winning every immunity challenge on Survivor Palau.
– Tom Westman winning 5/7 individual immunity contests, killing a shark single-handedly and becoming the oldest winner of Survivor of all-time.
– Boston Rob.
– The Contender (while it has been cancelled, it was a groundbreaking
series).
– Jerry O’Connell’s brother being cast as the new Bachelor?!
People say that reality television is becoming predictable and while that argument certainly carries some value considering that one tribe stomped its way to the majority on Survivor Palau, and it was quite easy to predict who the final candidates would be on The Apprentice, I maintain that these shows were certainly more enticing than the scripted appetizers on the menu. 24 has jumped the shark and each episode has become like a Murtz Night Shyamalan film where you are just waiting for the twist, and when it doesn’t arrive you are disappointed. Desperate Housewives culminated with a great season finale, but was horribly boring for the middle of the season (despite being the big ratings winner).
While I cannot argue against Lost being the best show on TV right now, I still believe that it is the exception to the rule.
Scripted TV will always be predictable because creators cater to stupid audiences. Most people want happy endings, at least that is what producers believe and that’s why America will be saved and Jack Bauer will remain victorious at the end of the day.
With reality TV, there is always the chance of something surprising. A horrible Uchenna and Joyce win, one tribe destroying another, a horribly useless person using their charm to get to the final two.
If Survivor was scripted, Stephenie would have won the game over Tom. That’s an undeniable fact.
And I’ll take that unpredictability over Wisteria Lane any day of the week.
Bring on Big Brother.
