Let's Get Real

I think we're losing our grip on reality.  Reality TV, that is.

I remember when the trend started moving towards this genre of entertainment (if you can call it that).  Some network executive realized that paying TV stars a million bucks an episode wasn't cost effective and opted instead for an option that was heavy on drama/shock and light on talent.

Enter "The Real World," "The Osbornes," "Survivor" and on and on and on.

I liked "The Real World."  I liked "The Osbornes."  And even to this day I watch "Survivor" and "Amazing Race" and a handful of other reality shows.

Here's the deal.  Some of them have become more surreal than real.  They've been scripted and edited to death.  Loved the first season of "Duck Dynasty."  Uncle Si was too good to be true.  You can't script that kind of humor.  But slowly and surely, the themes seemed to be contrived, even rehearsed.  Sad, really, because they are an interesting bunch of people.  They don't need outside intervention to make them appealing.

One of our favorites is "Alaska, The Last Frontier."  It's about the homesteading Kilcher family.  Four generations have worked the land, raised cattle, planted vegetables, bred chickens, kept bees and borne kids.  While I sense a bit of scripting, for the most part it's just a peek into what it takes to live off the land in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Another one we watch is "Life Below Thirty," another series set in Alaska.  Incidentally, there are quite a few shows about Alaska...it's like it was just discovered or something.  People.  It's as old as I am.  Well, maybe a little longer.  Been around for awhile.

Anyway, back to the tundra.  These folks live in frigidly cold places and are forever talking about the pickles they'd be in if they fell through the ice or couldn't make a fire.  I'm like, "Yeah, but there's a camera crew right next to you."  Pretty sure if someone fell through the ice, there'd be at least one or two hands to haul them out.  Or hand them a lighter or one of those fire starter logs.

Here's my biggest astonishment...Drugs, Inc. I'm not sure this technically qualifies as a reality show, but it's real.  Or is it?  Ron likes to watch this on occasion so I acquiesce because he watches a lot of Food Network with me.  What I do not understand is this.  They are showing people making meth, cutting cocaine, making heroine balls...all highly illegal things.  Are the producers not responsible for alerting the authorities to this stuff?

They film cops and DEA agents conducting raids - usually resulting in nothing.  Shouldn't those cameramen be saying, "Hey, I think I might know where you could find some real thugs and massive amounts of drugs.  Follow me."

Same thing with Moonshiners.  The drug folks cover up their faces with all manner of scary masks.  The moonshiners?  They don't give a rip.  They're mighty proud of their stills and hiding places and they don't mind showing their faces on TV.  The law enforcement guys have a heckuva time finding stills hidden deep in the woods.  Again...cameramen, producers?  Do you not have a moral responsibility to help apprehend these criminals?

I don't get it.

Maybe it's just me.  But I'm thinking the REAL in reality TV has gone 'round the bend, never to be seen again.

Oh well.  Move on.  Surely there's something in the works that will prove to be even more fantastic than anything we could ever dream of!

Can't wait.