why does reality tv suck so much yet attract viewers?
439743
it makes them feel smarter
1027899
Ya, i understand what you say about most of it being crap.  But I'm still addicted.  Sometimes I just flip through the channels for ever and just land on something.  I just like having it on.  \n\nTV's my friend!
595501
This world is in a sad state because of our technology level ,esecially in the USA, we are to lazy to get off our asses and meet the real people. it is so much easier to watch tv and stereotype than to make an actual effort to see what the world and its people are about.
679089
i dont know i dont think that there is a reality to the show cause to me its really good but whats do point a bunch of teenagers gettin ready to live there life in the real world that happens everyday in our everyday life. so what i guess im tryin to say is that there is really no point to the show
874718
This is why you needn't be scared to invest yourself in a cable tv show.  Because broadcast tv is FREE.  Therefore, the producers have to get some kind of compensation for the time, effort, and money they invest into a new show.  They are paid by the advertisers to show commercials during their broadcast, which is the majority, if not all, of their income.  They are a slave to the advertisers.  And if not enough people are actually watching a show regularly, those people are not being exposed to the advertising, which means that the advertisers have then lost money, which means they seek out better shows to invest in, which means that the shows get no funding or attention from the network (who pays the show's producers from the revenue from the advertisers) and therefore get cancelled to make room for shows that will get the viewers.  Now, some shows are so good, that ballsy network execs will take a chance on them in the hopes that they will eventually grow into a big hit, with a lot of viewers, and therefore a lot of exposures to the advertisers that pay their salaries.\n\nWith cable, you don't have as much of a conflict of interest (yes, advertisers provide some of the revenue), but another part of their revenue comes from the cable companies, who charge the viewers monthly to be able to view certain networks.  Because of this, those shows aren't necessarily such a slave to viewers, and can also afford to be a little more ballsy with their programming (and not be scared of the more timid advertisers disassociating with that kind of content).  So cable shows can swear a little more, show a little more violence, etc.  Not that broadcast shows can be just as good, if not better, without this kind of content (Lost, House); but imagine watching a broadcast-version of Rescue Me.  I don't think it would be half the show it is without the allowance of the content that FX allows.\n\nSo keep all of this in mind and invest in shows wisely.  Keep along with the ratings, because they almost always predict the future of a show.  And you can't blame the networks as much as the American people for not also watching the show and keeping it alive.
306861
Reality television came alone when everybody was tired of watching the same type of shows on TV.  People liked it because it was different.  Just like everything else it has been over done.
1132860
I agree, MTV is literally poisening Americas youth.  These shows are so rediculous that kids think that the world is really like that.  They also make useless idiots like P Diddy and Paris Hilton celebrities.  I used to watch when I was younger and now Im blown away with how bad it is getting.  I never watch it anymore and neither will my kids when I have them.
805261
im sort of interested, but i am getting well sick or reality shows. Im a celebrity is only worth watching to see the horrible things they do to the z-list celebs! lol
656453
Because it is a LOT cheaper for the networks to produce than a traditional comedy or drama, and when they figured that out, they saturated the market with so much reality TV that people got addicted to it. Remember when reality TV first came out, you could not find a "regular" show to save your life, so you watched a reality show just because there was nothing else on. Almost like brain-washing.  And now that "regular" shows are being made again, we're too used to reality TV to ever turn it back off.\n\nAnd the same answer applies to "Why is pop music such mindless crap?"
389733
I think the reason Hollywood and general television fail to satisfy their public as well as they had before, is because the public has learned to yearn and yearn therefore, being truly satisfied has become almost obsolete. To be satisfied takes a degree of discipline. I also agree with Yellow...\nand yes no more originality.\n\nWe have taken far too much for granted - now we can not be\nsatisfied. More! More! More!\n\nI also believe there is more to this question as far as answers or ideas, but I will stick with one.\n\nCool question.
106516
I would rather stick my head into a blender and hit "frapee" than watch reality TV, which usually isn't as real as people think.  I watch football, which is a heckuva lot more real than reality TV.
1154554
Because there are 15 million people trying to do the same thing...look at American Idol.  Also..most people who think they're good actually suck.
301987
I think they both suck too. It used to be all about video's and now they are all about shows. It's just like MTV2, was all about videos and now it's about shows. So I personally think they both suck.
451236
Watch reality TV.......
450768
You make a reality TV show out of it!!! Duh!!!!!!!!!!
371372
Maybe it's their soap operas.  Have you ever watched one?  I admit I don't understand a word of them, but they sure LOOK more dramatic!  And my father-in-law who does watch (and understand) tells me they're a lot more exciting.\n\nConsidering how much TV we watch, and how large a part the media plays in shaping our feelings and self-image, this could very well be more true than you might think.\n\nBut mostly I'm just talking out of my ass and spending my 2 cents.
483274
An overload of negative reinforcement of ideas generated by the media is the main thing. Giving people false ideas about many things is a big problem (mainly with children who take it too seriously and believe what they see is the norm). Not to mention, the excessive amount of time you are on 'autopilot' by sitting in front of the 'boob tube'. There's a lot being lost by not thinking outside of the box (figuratively speaking) and sitting in front of one. If you get out and do more than being holed up watching the TV, you are usually a better person for it, assuming your choice of recreation is a good one. TV in moderation can be a good thing - keeping up on current events, and for entertainment, but moderation is the key to a good balance. Don't get me wrong, I have a few favorite shows I hate to miss, but it's not the end of the world if I do - there's another one out there.