This just in, reality TV shows are becoming more and more like reality and viewers don’t like it. Recent feedback about the new seasons of two very popular reality franchises - Big Brother UK and American Idol - have met with disappointed critiques from their usually fawning fan bases. Apparently folks on the shows have acted way too much like typical people and the fans are not happy.
On Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother, the spectre of racism reared its ugly head when cast member
Jade made a derogatory remark about housemate
Shilpah’s Indian heritage. I know absolutely nothing about this program except what I hear on BBC radio, but apprently Jade who’s claim to fame is being on reality TV said that she thought that Indians ate with their hands. Shilpa who is Indian was a target of this statement. Wow, a mindless reality TV celebrity knows little about the world around her - NOW THAT’S REALITY! Jade’s remark has touched off demonstrations in Britain’s significant Indian community and in India (where they are burning the show’s producers in effige). It’s a good thing Jade didn’t make a comment about the wearing of a
Sari. India might decide to go nuclear!
As for American Idol -
my wife’s favorite show and by default I occasionally look up from the book I’m reading to watch -the judges are telling the truth this year. In previous years international Idol stalwart
Simon Cowell has been the villain with tough honest critiques while fellow judges
Randy Jackson and
Paula Abdul have given constructive, yet friendly criticisms. Not this year. In what I’ve seen, someone must have pissed in Jackson’s ever present Coca~Cola (note the product placement) glass. He’s been the gasoline to Cowell’s flame - going so far this year as to openly mock an obviously mentally deficient contestant. As with the fans of Big Brother,
Idol fans are disappointed. But they’re not mad because of the hosts’ behavior, they’re mad because the contestants audtioning on the show are so bad. I guess after 6 years of scouring the country for unsigned talent they’ve exhausted the supply.
Reality sucks and fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you see it) the viewing audience is finally getting its due.
