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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
funny
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
medium-paced
OK, I admit it. I've never seen one second of "Survivor," or "The Bachelor," or any other of the legendary reality TV shows.
But the story of them sounded fascinating, a craze that has taken over people's lives. How did it all happen? After finding out, I need to take a shower.
The worst part is not the roll call of awful hit TV shows. What's worse is the stories of the people who sold their careers to make them, and the people who sold their souls to appear on them.
The makers seemed to seek out damaged people - "Unstable and pretty? That's gold" - and they found them in contestants with hidden abuse, criminal histories or psychological issues.
All of them come off badly. The phrase "morally bankrupt" comes to mind.
Only when "The Apprentice" revives Donald Trump, and he wins the presidency, does anybody in the Reality game begin to feel a tinge of regret. Not out of a sudden realization of the decades of exploitation and sexism and bigotry and manipulation and backstabbing in the genre - just because everybody in the business hates Trump.
I'm not sure what's best way to absorb this type of exploitative TV - to just be revolted by it, or to just make fun of it.
Had a few mistakes here and there - the old "War of the Worlds" tale, a few wrong names - but otherwise OK.
But the story of them sounded fascinating, a craze that has taken over people's lives. How did it all happen? After finding out, I need to take a shower.
The worst part is not the roll call of awful hit TV shows. What's worse is the stories of the people who sold their careers to make them, and the people who sold their souls to appear on them.
The makers seemed to seek out damaged people - "Unstable and pretty? That's gold" - and they found them in contestants with hidden abuse, criminal histories or psychological issues.
All of them come off badly. The phrase "morally bankrupt" comes to mind.
Only when "The Apprentice" revives Donald Trump, and he wins the presidency, does anybody in the Reality game begin to feel a tinge of regret. Not out of a sudden realization of the decades of exploitation and sexism and bigotry and manipulation and backstabbing in the genre - just because everybody in the business hates Trump.
I'm not sure what's best way to absorb this type of exploitative TV - to just be revolted by it, or to just make fun of it.
Had a few mistakes here and there - the old "War of the Worlds" tale, a few wrong names - but otherwise OK.
I've been a lover of reality television since I began watching The Real World when I was in college (in the early 90s). Over the years I've dabbled with Big Brother, The Bachelor, the Housewives, etc. but none of them has lasted more than a few years for me. It then expanded to Survivor (though I missed at least the first season), eventually adding Amazing Race. But my favorite was and will always be Survivor. All that to say, I thought I knew a lot about reality television. Boy was I wrong! I had no idea the genre's roots could be traced so far back! I was most surprised about An American Family! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and exploring all the different iterations of reality television. (The audio version was great.) I thought the author did a great job of presenting all her information in an entertaining and informative way. I'll definitely be seeking out other books and articles by Emily Nussbaum.
informative
medium-paced
This was a really fun and interesting read. I was surprised to get through a 400-page nonfiction book so fast and enjoy and retain so much of it. I still reference trivia I learned from it all the time! Definitely recommend for anyone interested in reality TV and how it’s come to play such a big role in media/pop culture today.
So Emily Nussbaum won a Pulitzer Prize, and not for writing books but television criticism. That seems like an easy job to me but I don’t even have cable TV. Just stop watching it.
The book covers the history of reality TV shows, which started with Candid Camera and antagonist style of filming that was perfected by Sacha Baron Cohen. The problem for me with this book I don’t watch reality TV. Although Chuck Barris’ story is interesting just because he is such a strange person (see the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), I have never had an attention span for this genre. Not Survivor, not The Housewives, not the Kardashians. If it’s your favorite entertainment then you will probably enjoy the book.
The book covers the history of reality TV shows, which started with Candid Camera and antagonist style of filming that was perfected by Sacha Baron Cohen. The problem for me with this book I don’t watch reality TV. Although Chuck Barris’ story is interesting just because he is such a strange person (see the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), I have never had an attention span for this genre. Not Survivor, not The Housewives, not the Kardashians. If it’s your favorite entertainment then you will probably enjoy the book.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced