Ratings for Reality Are Down -- Love and Sex Storm Back on TV

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Ratings for Reality Are Down -- Love and Sex Storm Back on TV

By Vanessa Richmond, The Tyee. Posted February 23, 2009.

In these tough times, people are choosing fantasy, love and sex over reality.




Is it me, or is there more love in the air than usual? Rose-colored glasses are everywhere, and not just from a V-day hangover or annual spring fever. The reality malaise is in full bloom, both on TV's small screen and life's big screen. Down with reality! We want escape!

Reality TV? You're fired

Yes, reality TV's ratings are down consistently enough that we can safely call the genre "old school." Ha ha, remember the days we watched that stuff, kids? It's fading into the stuff of nostalgia along with embarrassing memories of the last U.S. president -- what was his name again?

If you're not sufficiently love-crazed yourself that you still crave facts, here they are. Generally speaking, reality is no longer drawing the eyeballs. The harder things get, the less viewers want it. Just look at Australia, which has arguably seen more tough times than other developed countries lately with the combination of recession and catastrophic fires. Down under, they've seen the sharpest drop in viewership.

It appears viewers don't really want to know Howie Do It, and have fired shows based on firings (Trump); instead, they want to skip into the stuff dreams are made of. Me included. Escapism dances through new and old TV shows, through comedies and some new fantasy-rich dramas. And while sex and TV have always gone together like a horse and carriage, there's more fantasy sex than usual on the small screen right now. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/movies/128267/ratings_for_reality_are_down_--_love_and_sex_storm_back_on_tv/

[Lizz Levan]

1. Reality shows are scripted

I don't know why they call them "reality". Producers want actors to act funny and to say and do things they believe will make viewers stick to the TV. "The Hills" is an example of a phony "reality" show.

[Stephanie]

4. I have friends who write for them

But it's not considered a WGA job. It really sucks.

[ecstatic]

2. I used to love reality shows. Now I watch

one or two... Can't wait for Idol tomorrow :loveya:

[qanda]

3. Wanna get away?

Watch the Amazing Race! Still the best reality show around, but Survivor is great also.

[marmar]

9. Agreed.....The Amazing Race is one of the few non-PBS, non-cable shows I make an effort to watch.

Anyone who loves travel loves that show.

[Deja Q]

5. How about action/adventure? How about positive themed* shows?

* No, nothing about herpes for God sakes, I mean something with a moral, how things really can work out in the end, et cetera... no more pig slop that most 7 year olds should be able to denounce as being poorly written toddler scribble. (Why else do I avoid most modern day TV and movies? Especially the more popular ones; being populist doesn't mean it's actually going to be *good*. Might be, but the typical pattern is that it won't be anything more than maudlin emotion-wank.)

[XemaSab]

7. You can usually find a Walker rerun somewhere on TV

:shrug:

[PM Martin]

6. "Reality" TV seemed to be a part of the Bush Economic Bubble.

Pointless shows showing how D-Grade "Celebrities" live their lives filled the airwaves. An excess actually came to be.
I would like to go back to watching shows with scripts and plots and the "Reality" TV parasites dissappear.

[tridim]

8. Eventually we'll have reality sex, until then I'll keep watching Discovery and Science Channel

Because I prefer programming that expands knowledge instead of suppressing it.

[damntexdem]

10. The Gold Diggers of 2009.

[DJ13]

11. If the Reagan recession is any guide

Expect to see more "Dallas" and "Dynasty" night time soaps about the wealthy, and more game shows trying to pander to an audience thats doing without by dangling expensive prizes to get people to do stupid things in return.

[liberalmuse]

12. Good!

The only reality show I watch these days is 'Top Chef'. I like Nip/Tuck, so I guess that qualifies under 'sex' and 'Dexter' for 'fantasy' in some sick way.

[here_is_to_hope]

13. Hmmm...love and sex are what happens when I turn off the tv...eom