If there is one programme Steve can't stand it's the Top Model franchise. I suspect he doesn't like being in the room when it's on. I'm pretty sure he's thinking, 'how can my reasonably intellegent wife watch this?' I don't like to get into too much, because he lets me watch it and part of me knows he's right...
Why do I watch Top Model?
There's a part of me that knows - I LOVE the photography. I'm constantly amazed at rediculous looking shoots can produce the most interesting and beautiful stills. However, I'm not sure sitting through the other 45 minutes of the show is worth it. What does it say about beauty? On one hand it's 'be individual' - on the other the modelling industry is entirely about scrutinising appearance (hats off to anyone with a thick enough skin and strong enough self image to endure it). Also Top Model suffers from the same blight that most reality TV shows do...
Forced conflict...
Sigh. I was once part of a documentary. The people who made it were lovely, good people, but even with such a positive experience I was surprised how much action and dialogue was manipulated to tell the story they're were interested in, rather than necessarily what happened. It was an eye opener into the world of 'reality' TV and documentaries. I guess wouldn't be surprised to discover they're all scripted and cast like dramas.
I gave up on Big Brother years ago because I became bored with the shock tactics and editing. I've abandoned almost all reality programming but there are two I still love... America's/Britains Next Top Model and The X Factor/American Idol. (Ok technically they're four shows but I consider them two.)
I don't want to lose all sense of fun and shallow in my life but as I sipped my soup and caught an ANTM episode this lunchtime I couldn't help wondering... is it really worth watching? What actually happens? If you paired it down to the part I'm interested it in would be about 15 minutes long!
So time to confess - are you a reality TV adict? What do you watch and why? No judgement, I'm genuinely curious. If there is very little reality what is the draw? Are they the 21st Century equivalent of a soap opera or is it something more insiduous?