Reality TV: Do You Have the Reality Bug?

What is the attraction? It's all about fantasy; we all find our lives hum drum and want to live vicariously through the hard bodies of survivor or Temptation Island. There are some Reality shows with a purpose and something more than just a check at the end. American Idol being one, even the top ten get to go on tour for a year and do what they love to do. But do people really love to live in a house with strangers, sharing bathrooms and bedrooms with total strangers for money? And not even a lot of money. So, why do Americans love these shows? Is it all about the fantasy of maybe one day doing it ourselves. Some are too shy and would never even enter, some enter every one available to them, but it's about living out fantasies through the ordinary people we watch on TV.

There are some home-based shows that remodel your house or a room in your house, or your yard. Others that will make changes to help sell your house, these shows give you ideas for your own home and how to make real improvements and make them in the right way. These are practical reality shows that teach the audience and those who tune in get good information and practical information for their home or landscape. Of course, a lot of the people who watch would love to be on the show, because the show will pay for their home improvements. So again, there are some with alliterative motives for watching these types of shows.

Still, most people tune into the show that throws an ordinary person in an extraordinary circumstance facing the elements virtually alone. Since you are playing against the others; what kind of real help would you get? The shows that come to mind are Survivor, big brother, Temptation Island and the amazing race. The public eats it up. Normal people being shuttled all over the world, seeing places you will never get to see other than on TV. People watch these shows and dream about being a contestant and seeing the exotic places as well as to see if you can survive it. It is enticing stuff. It draws in the ordinary and keeps them on the edge of their seat while their brain is saying; I wish I could do that.

Of course, there is always an antagonist; someone who is loved to be hated, starting with the famous Richard Hatch. Most people though he was repulsive, but watched him anyway. They laughed at his behaviors, and guess what, he was 1 million dollars richer at the end of the day. Each of these shows has an antagonist; it reminds me of professional wrestling. It makes for good TV, so even if you tune is to watch the show, you are really interested in what Amber or Seth is going to do next. Even though you hate them, you can't help but watch them.

Even though the shows are very different, the commonality is locations. Survivor you ate bugs, bark and rice; but temptation island in just is a location just as exotic but you ate champagne, strawberries and caviar. The show called "The Mole" never had any type of immunity like survivor or big brother that could save you for one more week; their fate was in their own hands. The show big brother is a popular show, but I don't get it. It reminds me of my own family. Everyone is just puttering around doing the household stuff, cooking, swimming, watching TV, and sitting on the coach; where is the attraction? Just because occasionally someone decided to jump into someone else's bed. But then again, who at home really gets to do that with a complete stranger? The attraction is all about the common person's fantasy and wishing it could be you instead of them.

I don't see reality TV getting thrown off the air anytime soon, hell, even I watch one or two reality shows, but I do reiterate, it is the ones that have more to it than arguing, sex and temptation. I like a real goal, and if you're not like me, that's OK too, everyone likes what they like and thus, the reason why all these shows are still on the air and doing well. As long as human beings fantasize about the opposite sex, exotic locations and people fighting with each over the protein of a roach, reality TV will survive