not reality

First let me say that as a tv producer, I believe have the credentials to share this insight with some level of expertise having sat thru over 1000 commercial shoots and at least quadruple that in edit sessions (I might have to take the time to figure out the actual numbers on that) so I know first hand how footage can be shot and manipulated to come out a certain way as an end result.  As a counterpoint, I will add that I am only a 'second hand tv watcher' - just like people who inhale second hand smoke.  I never initiate the tv watching, but I vaguely float in and out of whatever the tv watchers in my house are into.  I can thank Tommy for introducing me to "Modern Family" (hilarious) and Jonathan for enlightening me to "Ridiculousness" which I have mentioned in a previous post.  I can thank my husbandTom for my enjoyment of "24", "Lost" and "Spartacus"  (before Christian Grey there was Spartacus & Crixus - trust me on this).  And Juli is the queen of REALITY TV..... you name it, she watches it - sweet sixteens, brides, bachelors, bachelorettes, top models, fashion crisis shows, cooking competitions, cake baking, home redecorating, and the list goes on and on.... thankfully she is not a Snookie fan, but we  have both seen enough to get that scene loud and clear.  All that being said, does anyone out there get that it's all a big farce?  These people on these shows are supposed to be 'real' and what we are supposedly watching is them existing in their every day life, or doing what they would normally do in a certain situation.... but the REALITY is that there are cameras around these people while they are 'acting normal' so... (stay with me here).... once you put a camera there, (if it is not a hidden camera), they are no longer acting normal - it is impossible!!  They are now 'acting for the camera' therefore it is NOT REALITY TV AT ALL, but rather, programs with real people who are acting, therefore it's not even good quality imitation tv.  If you think about it, we are better off observing people with interesting lives without the cameras and WRITING their stories and then casting actors to portray like them so you actually get more of a real picture of how they behave and possibly a good storyline.  I would venture to guess that most of the things these reality tv people do are only 'for the cameras', they are probably not really that interesting or ridiculous or absurd at all and it would probably be fairly boring tv.  The producers of these shows are most likely advising them how to behave in situations, kinda like a director helps the actors in a scene.  Do you really think the 'intimate moments' on bachelorette are real when there are at least 2-3 cameras with cameramen (look at all the different angles they are capturing), as well as some lights and lighting crew.... and add on the sound guy who has put microphones on them and needs to monitor the sound quality.... there is a hair and make-up team who monitors that the whole time... then of course there are producers nearby watching since it is their responsibility to make this show red hot interesting to get good ratings.... so the "intimate" scenes between the bachelorette (ugh, that annnoyyyyying baby talk voice of hers) and her dates are as intimate as you inviting 2 or 3 cameramen to videotape your own life while you 'act normal' - think about how impossible that would be given the above description of the crew who would be in your house while you attempted to do this?   At least Seinfeld made boring everyday life FUNNY using good writers and actors and we can all relate to some of those episodes for sure......I can't wait for the reality tv cycle to end and for someone to come up with the next ORIGINAL idea for programming.  In the meantime, I will continue to inhale the second hand smoke of reality tv programming and try to view it as bad comedy.  I might even learn how to bake a better cake, or learn what not to wear, or how to walk the runway in a fashion show - hey that actually came in handy a few months ago..... so maybe it's not all bad after all, but let's take a closer look and see it for what it is because it is not exactly "reality".  you with me?