Big Brother, American Idol, X Factor, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here……the list of reality TV shows on our screens is endless. But do they contribute anything to our culture? Or are they mindless drivel that corrupt youngsters?
All the Yes points:
- Reality TV shows provide wonderful entertainment.
- Reality TV shows allow ordinary individuals a chance of stardom.
- Reality TV shows allow us to see the real personalities of celebrities.
All the No points:
- Reality TV shows make celebrities out of talentless individuals.
- Reality TV shows bring out the worse in people.
- Reality TV shows are just there to make money for their creators.
Reality TV shows provide wonderful entertainment.
Yes because…
You cannot argue with audience figures, reality TV shows are very successful. Big Brother begins it’s ninth season this summer and that simply would not happen with an unsuccessful show
No because…
There,s nothing else on other channels on saturgay nights to counteract this bile which pours into our living rooms, and no that wasn’t a spelling mistake. Think about the audience, who else is interested in all-singing, all-dancing shows? Certainly not the vast majority of heterosexual guys out there. So please give us something else on these nights, we can’t afford to spend time in what’s left of our pubs anymore.
Reality TV shows allow ordinary individuals a chance of stardom.
Yes because…
Without Pop Idol there would be no Will Young, without Britain’s Got Talent we would not know who Paul Potts is. Leona Lewis would still be a secretary without X Factor, and Kelly Clarkson would be an unknown had it not been for American Idol.
No because…
Reality TV shows allow us to see the real personalities of celebrities.
Yes because…
Putting celebrities into situations such as those provided by shows such as I’m a Celebrity and Big Brother, allow us to see the real person behind the screen persona. With the cameras running 24/7, any fakeness is revealed and we learn so much more about these people.
No because…
If you care about that, you are as dull as the programme.
Reality TV shows make celebrities out of talentless individuals.
No because…
I only need to mention Jade Goody here. Big Brother has a lot to answer for as far as she is concerned. This show allowed Jade to become a millionairess off the back of being uneducated, illiterate and plain ignorant.
Other people thrust into the limelight in this way include Chanelle and Chantelle.
Yes because…
Reality TV shows bring out the worse in people.
No because…
We need look no further than the infamous Jade incident in Celebrity Big Brother when an alleged racist remark was made against Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty. It escalated into an international incident and caused friction between races in Britain.
There have also been incidents where live streaming has had to be halted due to fights erupting and other violent behaviour taking place.
Yes because…
Reality TV shows are just there to make money for their creators.
No because…
Endemol have made a fortune out of Big Brother – no doubt boosted by spikes in audience figures when a controversial incident takes place.
Simon Cowell’s fortune has been built on the back of Pop Idol, X Factor and American Idol. With all winners contracted to his record company at the end of the show.
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is just using How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria to promote his latest show.
It is all about making money out of the public, by getting the public themselves to provide the content.
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