Household-based Reality Show Quirks that Should Be Applied in Real Life

Have you noticed that reality shows featuring households of people living together all have the same quirks? These things are put into place for a variety of reasons...to keep cast mates safe, to boost ratings, to add excitement, etc. etc. Ironically, some of these same reality show tricks might have profound effects if they were applied in "real" life. Observe...

Eliminations

Wouldn't it be cool if you could put one of your family members up for "elimination" based on the agreement of the house? Your ousted brother wouldn't be banished forever-maybe for just a week or so. Just long enough for him to contemplate his family "offense."

On-Site Security

Things always seem to get a little heated when you've got households filled with virtual strangers. But unnamed security personnel always miraculously diffuse the brawling. They edge into the TV frame in their authoritative black shirts, scooping the delinquents into their various corners. Just imagine how much violence might be prevented if all fights were broken up so easily.

Random Anonymous Notes

"Tyra Mail!" the ladies of America's Next Top Model exclaim when they see a new message float across their plasma screen. Although they are acquainted with their notes' author, they are completely in the dark about what the note actually means. Other reality shows have followed suit, offering housemates anonymous correspondence. Wouldn't it be interesting to receive cryptic anonymous notes in your home, providing you with hints about what kind of day you can expect?

Celebrity Guest/Judge/Mentor

Have you noticed that somehow, when the celebrity guest appears on the reality show, life is suddenly better? Perhaps he/she has provided some sort of insight. Maybe they're judging some inane competition. In any event, when celebrity experts pop up on these shows, the cast members usually go wild with excitement. Picture it; you're baking muffins when all of a sudden Paula Deen shows up in your kitchen lugging buckets of sugar and butter. Or maybe you're cleaning out your closet, and Vanessa Huxtable (Tempestt Bledsoe of "Clean House") pops in with an IKEA gift certificate. We can only dream...

Confessionals

Therapists and medical experts advise keeping a journal for all sorts of reasons. Even reality TV producers know the value of the "video diary"-which is why this aspect exists in practically all reality shows. How enlightening it would be to discover your family members' deepest darkest secrets simply by popping in a pre-recorded DVD confessional. (Then again, it's a good thing there's on-site security.)

SOURCES:

www.oxygen.com
www.vh1.com
www.bravotv.com

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