Reality shows are far from reality

Just when I think I don’t have to deal with people thinking they are “popular” in high school, I have to see and hear all this hype about reality TV shows that are far from reality.

Some reality shows focus on the worst of human behavior, like disloyalty and back-stabbing motivated by greed in  shows like Survivor.

Judges on American Idol seem to have issues too.  The show is in its 12th season and is starting to get old.  The concept of the series is to find new solo recording artists and the winner is chosen by the viewers.  
There are shows being produced now trying to find singers.  American Idol might have been successful, but it should come to a close.  All good things must unfortunately come to an end.

The Bachelor and The Bachelorette shows both attempt to help find a romantic match, but only a couple of months into the engagement the couples always call it quits.  They make Kim Kardashian look like a committed going through engagement, then ends her marriage to Kris Humphries after 72 days.  They are still not legally divorced, and yet she is expecting Kanye West’s baby.  The media is pretty much congratulating her.  
Bristol Palin was on season 11 of “Dancing with the Stars.”  That show might as well be called “Dancing with Random People.”  She has not done anything that deserves recognition.  
She is supposedly a teen pregnancy prevention spokesperson.  If that were so there probably wouldn’t be so many pregnant teenage girls featured on shows like “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.”  
These shows try to focus on the challenges of dealing with relationships and raising a child, but most of the girls end up getting in more trouble or end up being pregnant again during filming.  Having their first pregnancy filmed for America to see clearly taught them the lesson.

Our society gives so much attention to people for their attractiveness and wealth.  We give attention to people who are doing something positive for a brief second,  then we go back to focusing on people for the bad things they’ve done.

We are all humans’ and make mistakes because no one is perfect.  It is frustrating though. It looks like people on reality shows are being praised and paid for their mistakes.  These reality TV personalities complain about the paparazzi, always being in the public eye and not getting much privacy.  They might have a contract with their show, but if they really hate their life they can get out of the show and be an average American.  That might mean they would actually have to work or go to college to earn a living.  
I obviously do not care for reality TV shows.  I don’t mind shows that film a celebrity’s everyday life, if the celebrity is a positive influence, using a talent they have been blessed with and that talent is their passion.  They can also be filmed doing philanthropy work because he or she is really passionate about the cause, not the attention.  It would be even better if ordinary people were filmed for their philanthropy work, for being a really good teacher or another occupation that impacts so many lives in such a great way.

Reality is the quality or state of things being actual or true, rather than as one might wish them to be.  Reality shows are supposedly actual and true, but maybe they should find some better people who are deserved of the recognition.


Jennifer Wells is a junior journalism major of Mountain Home.