With the premiere of Big Brother and the ongoing hoopla of Survivor what is your view of the whole "Reality based" television? Do you think that it should have stopped with Road Rules and The Real World on Mtv or do you want as many of these "peek-a-boo" shows as they will put on the air?

Did you catch the premiere of Big Brother tonight? Are you going to visit the website (www.bigbrother2000.com) or are you just plain sick and tired of it all?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Answers

I watched the "Big Brother" premiere, but I have yet to get hooked on Survivor. I do watch the Real World and Road Rules, but I think they are a far cry from what CBS is doing with this new show. I mean, cameras that aim DOWN at the TOILET and SHOWER?? Come on.

I would hate to be on that show, being a woman, and going through "certain things" that women have to go through and have the entire world know it.

I think this new show has gone too far. MTV edits the hell out of their shows, so it's not like you are even watching the same day in one episode.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Bleh. No more reality shows! Are we all that much of voyeurs? Sheesh. I hate the Real World. I have always hated the Real World. I like to watch people, but this is going too far. I don't want to see real people living their lives! I want to see made-up characters whose lives work out perfectly in a half hour every week! Down with reality.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Reality TV leaves me more or less cold. I have no interest in watching it. I watched the first season of Real World just to see what was going on, but I never watched it after that.

Actually, these days I barely watch TV at all. I make a point of seeing West Wing and Power Puff Girls, but that's about it. Our cable was disconnected a few weeks ago because the wire leading into the house was accidentally cut by a repairman, and it took us about a week to notice.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I kind of like Survivor. It reminds me of Road Rules, where they have "missions" they have to complete. I don't watch either on a regular basis, but if I'm at home watching TV and I see that either show is on, I'll watch. The same with The Real World. Nothing I'd go out of my way to see, but not bad.

But as for the other shows, I really think they're too much, especially the one about the boy band. Who cares?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I couldn't be bothered to watch either of these shows. I really don't find the concept of Big Brother interesting, and as for Survivor, well, I just don't care. I figured I've missed six episodes already, why start now?

And why would I want to watch someone shower and go to the bathroom? I know what that's all about. I do it every day!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I'm a self-proclaimed Survivor junkie. It's not something a person wants to admit. Liking that show is akin to slowing down when you're passing a car wreck - you don't want to see it, but something compels you to do so anyway. I have no clue why I like it.

I, too, watched the Big Brother opener last night. I'm really scared to get attached to that show, simply because it's so freakishly empowering for the viewers. The viewers are allowed to kick people off the show. The network is letting its audience play God. That's kinda icky, if you ask me. Besides that, the idea of making someone's life THAT public freaks me out. Survivor, like the real world, offers the people at least some privacy. This new shows offers the people none. And while you don't want to watch it, you have to wonder why the hell would anyone put themselves up on the sacrifical table for public scrutiny. Freakish.

The whole voyeurism deal is getting blown out of proportion. My guess is it's just going to be a fad. Somebody is going to wind up being really hurt by one of these shows, and the backlash isn't going to be pretty, in my opinion. But then again, I'm one of the people boosting the ratings, so I'm sure my opinion means jack. ;)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I admit it - I'm addicted to The Real World. It really is poorly named, though. The first 4 or so seasons were really good, but it's gone downhill from there. They used to pick intelligent, unique people with goals and personalities, from different social and economic backgrounds. Now it's like a contest to see how many weirdos they can get on there, and they have a formula ("Let's see - we need one homosexual, one po'-ass brotha from the streets, one really religious person, one racist (any of these categories can be combined into 1 person), and the rest are sorority girls & jocks"). It seems they're all really rich, spoiled, fake, melodramatic, and boring. Yet, I watch this show. I got addicted to it when someone I know was in one of the casts, and actually, I've now known two people in separate casts - pretty weird.

I don't watch any other reality tv shows, as much as I might enjoy them - I just don't watch much network TV, especially in the summer. We have satellite, so network channels don't always come in so hot, and plus, I hate just sitting around in summer evenings watching TV. Come fall though, I'm parked in front of certain shows!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I went to high school with one of the guys from the Miami cast...anyone remember Dan?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Ok, I watched the Big Brother premiere last night. It SUCKED. I'll give some leeway since it WAS the first show and all, but still, did they have to use that stupid woman in like EVERY scene. And it really sucks that it's 24/7 filming, I mean, let the damn people sleep, fo' real! I hope it gets better, because I would have it edited into a story than see what's going on EVERY MINUTE for an hour. It seemed fictionalized to me...I don't get it. It just didn't seem real to me, but it was probably because that Julie woman or whoever, was so fake.

I LOVE Survivor. I am totally hooked, but I never get to watch it, like EVER because it comes on Wednesdays and I am at church and I am forced to go, even though I don't like to go on Wenesday because that's MY day. But, like, I think that Gretchen and Gervase are soooooo over. I really Jenna and Sue, and I hope they win. I don't understand something though. After the merger, there's some voting, and then I saw this "voting archive" and it was little chart, and it was merger until like Episode 12. Ok, from 1-6, it's a group of six, and then there's a new column for episodes 7-12. And in the last episode, it shifts again, and I don't quite understand what it is. Go here and then explain it to me. I was glad to see Joel go last night. He was an ass, and wasn't he supposed to be the Christian, or was that someone else?

THE REAL WORLD. Ahhh...I LOVE THIS SHOW. I recap New Orleans and Hawaii on my RW Reviews website. I think you'll like the reviews. Anyway, this season is pretty diff for me. I'm fickle with most of the cast instead of just one person (Amaya) last season. This season, it shifts with Melissa, David, and Julie, like and dislike. Matt is just there, I'm indifferent to his being there. Same with Jamie. Kelley and Danny rock the universe. I'm on a Melissa, David, and Julie like cycle now.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

three words, people. three simple words:

making the band.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Ohhh Jenn....Making the band...you get to combine NSYNC and Real World. Does life get any better? . . . . . . . Please not sarcastic tone.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I like Making the Band, but that's probably because I'm a teenage girl. Heh.

I think the reason CBS is having all these shows is because the network sucks so much and needs serious help. It's like Millionaire, in a way, and look what that did for ABC...

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I haven't seen Survivor or Big Brother...so I can't say, but from watching the Real World and Road Rules I don't think they can call these programs reality based...

There's cameras, nice furniture from Ikea or Pier 1 or wherever, or a nifty motor home type thing...and they force ya to go sky diving or some such...

Maybe it's just not my reality, but then again I don't leave the house much...

The only thing that makes these shows "reality-based" is that the people aren't paid actors. So I can just go down to my diner and get the same effect from eavesdropping on other people's conversations with the added bonus of a big, nummy diner burger. That's good eating.

I do LOVE "Millionaire" though...I got to see it live once (the movie trivia Oscar's special) and some guy fucked up on the second question. The room got real quiet except for the three people sitting next to me who stank of beer and were snickering into their palms. The studio's real small in person. You could see the color drain from this poor guy's face. Regis made some quick remark and sent him on his way. That's probably the closest TV gets to reality...after Baywatch of course.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

I firmly believe that the original Star Trek series are the most perfect example of reality tv in the history of mankind. Now could somebody PLEASE get those Tribbles off my bridge?

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

I'll just about take all I can get, but my husband might end up leaving me if I don't start spending more time away from the tv. I have always watched The Real World and Road Rules, no matter how bad they can get. When I heard about the premise of Survivor, long before it aired, I nearly wet my pants with excitement (that's peed in my pants for those of you still reeling from the "O" forum). I think Survivor is fantastic television, and I am glued to my seat when it's on, no one had better dare talk to me, the cats better not want petting, and my husband better take the dog out to pee, because I am not moving. It's sad, really, but we all have our things, right?

Big Brother appeals to me as well, even though there are some things about the premise that bug me. No matter how much it bugs, I will still watch it. I could sit there and watch those people eat cereal for ten minutes, and even though I would bitch and moan about how stupid and boring it is, I still wouldn't stop watching because there's no telling what's about to happen.

People are unpredictable, and I am always curious as to what some people will actually do or say that I wouldn't dare do/say in a million years. I like trying to figure out people's motivations and whether or not they are showing their true selves.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

When my friends said they wouldn't watch Big Brother I came up with several reasons why it might be a good show. I watched the first night and after "meeting" the family, friends, and boy/girlfriends of the participants I changed my mind. The opportunity to destroy the lives of people not in the house is too great.

I just hope that the significant others don't have to suffer the humiliation of the whole country watching their boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife cheating on them (I am hoping these people can abstain for a few months). The way these shows are edited they can make a mountain out of a mole hill. It's all about ratings and I can't help believe that the families will believe what they see. Yes, the audience has power to vote the participants out but the editors have the power to change their lives. So the question is ratings or family, what do you think they will care most about?

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

Hey KATHERINE??

What was Dan like in Highschool?? I'm very curious. He was such a drama queen on the show!

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

He was exactly like he was on the show. VERY dramatic - there was no inbetween with the highs and lows. He was really involved with the theatre crowd (as was I, so we had a few of the same friends). We were never more than acquaintances, though.

I do remember that he used to work for The Music Box Store, which was in our local mall.

I saw him about 2 years ago at a club in the bar district of KC - he'd bleached his hair...didn't talk to him, though.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

Real World and Road Rules' only link to reality any more is that theoretically, any normal person can be on it - assuming you are pretty and have deep emotional scars that jump up and scream "Howdy!" from time to time. This week's Real World is the perfect example of how random sound bites and 3rd degree interview segments can be spliced together to create a total flight of fantasy. "Survivor" is just RW/RR with a slightly more liberal age range of cast members.

With a TV crew in your face 24/7, you are naturally going to play to the camera in a gambit for future celebritydom. The editors only pull the 30 minutes or so of high drama we all have in a week's time and toss the other 167.5 hours of washing clothes, playing frisbee and masturbating, umm, or whatever. Did the events actually happen? Sure. But they are presented in such a way that the shows are much closer to "Suddenly Susan" than anything resembling real life.

Big Brother, on the other hand, is a whole new ball game. I write well received, humorous (some would say "cruel") summaries on a popular anti-RW/RR site (I'm not smart like Pamie - I work for free and survive on fan mail only). We followed Big Brother Holland pretty closely because luckily, we had a Dutch translator in our group. In a house with no distractions and 28 unmanned cameras streaming on the Internet 24/7, you really get to know these people. The first 2-3 weeks are interesting as they feel their way around each other, then total boredom sets in and the highlight of their day is feeding the chickens. Yet, we still watched and commented.

Have you ever spent an hour of your day watching one guy peel potatoes in silence as another gets his back shaved? You will. Big Brother sucks you in like that. It's like a day at the zoo. The tiger is sleeping, but you keep staring anyway. Why? I honestly don't know. RW/RR are fun to laugh at because they are so blatently the works of a highly paid story editor who's job is to reduce the cast of "real" people to cartoon caracatures. BB is the only "real" reality show on TV, and it's success or failure will be the best barometer so far of America's true voyeristic tendencies.

Ever hear of "Da Bus" - Holland's sequel to Big Brother where the victims, I mean "cast members" are trapped in a rolling, one room Big Brother house? If BB here is the smash here that it was in Holland - and 23% of all American TV's tuned in for the first episode - chances are that next summer you will. We really *are* sick puppies, aren't we?

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

Reality TV (now there's an oxymoron!) It's certainly not real... but it would only be annoying if I actually wasted time watching...

Over the past few years I have seen parts of Road World and Real Rules (or whatever)... gee, I can remember when MTV featured music... like most of the crap MTV puts on instead of music, these programs make Fox documentaries look classy

I've not managed to see any Survivor episodes nor Big Brother... I suppose they can't be any more feeble than that Millionaire quiz show... I have now seen parts of three different episodes of that thing... If I really wanted to watch an intelligent and entertaining quiz show I'd watch Win Ben Stein's Money, much classier than that piece of brainless fluff Regis Philbin hosts...

But that's just my opinion... (I did watch and enjoy 1900 House)

Jim

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

i have to admit being on the couch for survivor. it's like that really nasty bus wreck with the nuns and a mile truck- you CAN'T not watch.

big brother on the other hand... i almost wet myself when i saw the commercials weeks ago- do these people not get the IRONY of the title of the show? we all know why they're doing it, and we're just more fuel for the fire. i personally will probably only watch it if i'm too sick to get off the couch and turn the channel.

i mentioned, a long time ago, that i used to work the rr's jon holmes... just thought i'd throw that in. he's the one that cried.

may i never find my self in front of a camera on national television, bickering about doing the dishes...

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

'Big Brother' appeals to me more than 'Survivor' does, and its the potential for boredom as well as unscripted antics that makes the difference. I watched 'Survivor' only once, and my stomach hurt for days. Stupid beach tricks? Extinguishing the tribal torch of life? Give me a break!

Besides, the show is already over, and the twits are all home giggling at themselves (or getting flak for abandoning their kids to be on the show). The fact that people are taking bets on who wins is ridiculous to me. At least a hundred people know already!

'Big Brother,' on the other hand, is scary and engaging in its extremes. I tuned into the website once and watched 'em sleep -- someone rolled over, and that was it. Later I tuned in and they were at a table talking about racism. Then switch over and two are in the bedroom talking about snack foods. (The website, I suppose, is more the heart of what I like about 'Big Brother' -- I even missed the premiere episode on TV.)

It is the closest thing to mass-media voyeurism yet. The Real World ain't real (BTW the crazy Ruthie from Hawaii was once a writer on my staff). Survivor is like summer camp (I love how Dave Letterman rags on them, on the show on his own network!). At least with 'Big Brother' you can experience all the bits -- and that's 95 percent of the bits -- they don't edit and turn into a contrived melodrama on TV.

I do think it's a fad, but in a way, it's also tapping into something that was always there. (Witness online journals, eh?) It's a given that when people tire of 'news' of the lives of the megarich and glamourous, that there's some comfort in tapping into the day-to-day adventures of your next door neighbor. Part of it, I'm sure, is to say, "What a moron," and immediately feel better about yourself.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

I found that BB is actually more interesting than other shows on TV (like comedy, and definitely Made for TV movies). There seems to be a story that you can actually follow. Cannot wait for some SEX to happen...

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

So far, we've seen the two tribes kill each other off, and then this merger is forming, but I still don't have my qestion about the last show answered!

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2000

DREW: Rumor has it that the people kicked off the island choose the next ones to go once it gets down to the weird charting. At any rate, it'll be fun. I'm so addicted.

As for Big Brother: HUGE disappointment! I watched all week, only to have it recapped on Saturday! I think that if you just tune in once a week, at the end of the week, you'll be caught up. I mean how many times do we have to see Will do the "My friends call me Mega!" bit or Jordan sneak down the hall only to be creeped out by the sound of the camera pivoting? Yeesh.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I don't really watch reality based telivision,no. It's a shame,but I don't! When I actually do get time to watch TV,I'm usually quick to turn on X-Files :) I do not watch Survivor,although I did catch an episode of Big Brother and found it extremely boring!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000