The Benefits of Reality TV Outweigh the Costs

Reality TV is everywhere. Whatever channel you turn on, you are bound to see something unscripted. From the 11 installments of Survivor to the MTV reality shows that keep kicking to American Idol, reality TV has transformed the way networks and viewers view TV.

The overwhelming majority of critics, however, view reality TV as a poison so lethal to TV and the public that it is destroying TV. Austin Cline, an about.com guide, questions the ethics of reality TV and even goes so far as to say many reality shows "achieve significant popularity and cultural prominence," but also says "that does not mean that they are good for society or that they should be aired." Is it really damaging to TV and the youth in general? On the contrary, reality TV serves many beneficial purposes to not only the public, but amazingly also the TV industry.

There is little doubt that shows like The Simple Life and Fear Factor do not add much value to the lives of the public except maybe a few laughs. Some feel reality shows, in general, serve no good. It is hard to believe that shows that have paved the way for teens and twenti-somethings to deal with and overcome problems of emotional, physical and psychological natures are labeled as part of the genre that serves no value.

The Real World and Road Rules, brought to you by MTV, are the original reality shows. These shows have provided so much to viewers, including perspectives on gay culture and lifestyle, AIDS, abortion, racism, psychological disorders and so many more issues. Sure, these topics are portrayed on soap operas and dramas, but it is reality TV that brings real people with real problems into our lives.

Who, besides people living with it, have any idea what lyme disease is? Well, viewers who tuned into Irene dealing with the lasting effects of the disease did. For sure there are people out there who identified with Irene and learned that they are not alone. These two shows opened up the lines of communications for people dealing with a vast amount of problems. You can not find help for these on scripted shows as real people heal from the trials and tribulations of real people.

Titans, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and North Shore are just a few of the shows in the primetime serial genre that have flopped. The OC withstanding, not since Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210, has the success of the primetime soap opera taken off and provided lasting relief. With no primetime scripted escape into the lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous, where do anxious, thirsty viewers go?

What shows take them out of their daily lives and elements and make viewers forget about their worries? Shows like Survivor, The Bachelor and American Idol are just a few of the reality shows that have captivated viewers and provided the escape the public desperately needs. In this time of terrorism and war, the public requires these types of shows to escape their own problems and focus on others' lifestyles.

There is little doubt that the differences between scripted and reality TV are vast. After all, reality TV stars are not paid to be on these shows. Sure, there are prizes on some of the shows, but the money scripted shows pay to actors far outweighs the prize money won by reality show stars. Cindy Chupack, writer for the Sex and the City, agrees, in a Reader's Digest interview, that "the bad thing is that reality TV is so cheap to produce."

Aside from lower costs to produce, reality TV also benefits TV with no repeats. How annoying is it to want more of a show only to see it preempted for repeats? The overwhelming majority of reality shows displays original material week in and week out and does not fall prey to constant repeats and lackluster storylines.

The TV industry and the public also benefit from reality TV because the hit reality shows force scriptwriters to produce only top-notch material in an effort to compete with the ever-increasing abundance of new reality shows. There are still critically acclaimed scripted shows like the new hits Desperate Housewives and Lost, along with 24 and the CSI franchise that top the Nielsens regularly. Scripted shows can be alive and flourishing while reality TV exists.

They just have to be outrageously funny and original or dramatically riveting. Reality TV ups the anti for scriptwriters, thus building up the quality of TV for viewers.

Are You Hot, Married by America, and Fear Factor are just a few of the reality-based shows that have given reality TV, in general, a bad reputation. The Real World and Road Rules and some other beneficial shows are so different than these fad shows it is striking. These shows like Are You Hot only teach you how to demoralize the public, but the Real World family teaches teens and others about beneficial issues. Not all reality TV is bad. Reality TV has transformed the way the public and the TV industry view TV and what benefits TV brings to viewers.

Reality TV is also simply good and entertaining. In a Reader's Digest article, Beth Blanks, an associate casting director in Hollywood, reveals her obsession with reality TV and "[feels] guilty because these shows take away from [her] being able to hire actors." She goes on to say, however, that "[she has] to watch . . . . [she] can't miss it."

Maybe the biggest reason why reality TV serves up value is the fact that it brings people together. Whether it is the commentary at the work water cooler following a shocking episode the night before or a now-famous Survivor party ritual, there is a deep sense of community.

To say that some fans are obsessed with reality TV is a gross understatement. If so many people feel good about and after watching some of these shows, then who are the critics to denounce them? Viewers should tune in and enjoy the shows that make them feel good. Otherwise, they might be as pessimistic as these same critics.