I watched "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance" tonight, and I have to admit I laughed. However, I also cringed at how wrong it is to put people through such an ordeal. How far can a reality show go? Seriously- is there a line that they won't cross at some point?
I predict the next reality show will be "Fake Your Own Funeral". It'll be a riot. You will be assisted by a team of professionals to stage your own death. A series of hidden cameras will film your loved ones preparing for the funeral, you'll even get to hear your own eulogy. Then, at some point after the "burial", you make a comical and shocking entrance! Won't they all be surprised?? I guess somebody needs to win some money here, so there will need to be a competition of some sort. Maybe the coroner. Or the spouse. Yeah, the spouse should definitely get a little something. Anyway... somebody gets something, and you aren't really dead.
Sounds like a winner! Ooh, I better get the rights on this thing before Fox does...
Posted by Shannon at February 3, 2004 12:34 AM | TrackBackThat would be a really funny show. I don't watch much tv though, so I would probably miss it (I work during prime time). You should get the rights on it still, because with all this reality tv craze I'm sure someone would pick it up.
Posted by: entropy at February 3, 2004 01:07 AMby george, I think you got something here! I would just die if a reality show like that really came out. And do you know what is so sad, I am not so sure that would be pushing the limit for today's tv.
How did the job hunting go yesterday?
I think I'm going to go with the hospital job-- I should know more in a few days about that one.
Posted by: Shannon at February 3, 2004 09:53 AMashley -- "i would just die if a reality show like that really came out" -- was that pun intended? :)
that would so not be a funny show. blech. just think, what if spouse has a fatal heart attack upon hearing the news? not to mention the emotional damage that would never end. you don't mess with families' relationships and marriage beds and people's very souls without some long-term consequences. the real reality show would be one that accurately and honestly portrays life IN THE AFTERMATH of one of these money-raking sociological charades game / mockery of what little humane-ness manages to linger in today's society.
let's follow these couples home. let's show the 2 years of bliss (if that) and then go on to document the devastating arguments and wallpaper a house with all the divorce papers.
next reality show:
my guess is it'll probably have more to do with making babies, abortion and euthanasia than it has to do with love and looks.
Tom & Huck did it already, and it was funny.
Posted by: gosey at February 3, 2004 12:26 PMTom and Huck aside, it's probably not a good idea...
Highly inappropriate for a reality show. Joy, what I'm saying is, it's not so far a leap from what they do now- messing with people's emotions/lives just for our entertainment. I wouldn't actually make that show, but I think you're on to something about the "aftermath" of a reality show. I'd definitely be into that!
Posted by: Shannon at February 3, 2004 12:51 PMI know you weren't serious, Shannon. Sorry if it sounded like my remonstrance was directed at you. It wasn't. It's fully aimed at the makers and participants, partially aimed at the audiences and partially aimed at pie in the sky. Because it's a sad reality that we don't want reality shows to go away. It's sad that the marketers know and set what the market wants, but it's sadder that the market complies and eats it up like candy.
Posted by: joy at February 3, 2004 03:40 PMI'm really wanting to say something about this but worried that I'm going to offend somebody; if I do, please email me.
Death is too much of an emotional roller coaster to be "played with" in that way. I'm still dealing with the emotions that went along with my dad's death almost 12 years ago, and I can't tell you how many times (especially recently) I've see someone that I think looks like him and wish to God that he was alive and living another life somewhere and would come back. When losing a loved one all you want to do is to see or talk to them again; and to play with emotions that strong, I think, is really wrong.
Posted by: Jessie at February 3, 2004 10:04 PMyou're not going to offend Shannon or me, Jessie, because we are agreeing with you. it just figures that the next step that reality shows will take in toying with people's emotions is something like a show exploiting bereavement. it is because death has hit so close to home for people like you that we feel a show like that would be inappropriate. and not just one about death -- since that was just an example of how this could escalate if it keeps going in the current trend. reality shows in general might be entertaining to an extent, but i don't think producers or audiences are good at knowing where to draw the line and things can get out of hand and become hurtful (devastating) very quickly.
Posted by: joy at February 3, 2004 11:49 PMJessie, Joy said exactly what I was trying to convey. I would never be so callous as to make light of losing a loved one! I was just making a point about the direction/gall of reality shows. I'm not offended, and I hope you aren't either!
Posted by: Shannon at February 4, 2004 10:56 AMno offense taken. and i agree with yall too. I guess I just wear too much of my heart on my sleeve when it comes to things like that.
Posted by: Jessie at February 4, 2004 10:03 PMHey, did ya'll realize that the Fiance of the show is the same guy in the Hungry Man commercial. Its the one where they are in the locker room and they are talking about what they had for dinner. One guy says, "beer batered chicken wings" the other guy says, "a tea crest" something and then he gets blown away by a hair dryer. The fiance is the guy who flys away. Life after Reality Shows.
Posted by: svenska at February 5, 2004 10:36 AMNo I didn't realize that!! Wonder if that was made before or after the show? Probably before. He's moving up in the world.
Posted by: Shannon at February 5, 2004 12:18 PM