characterization

I think that in most RTV shows everyone can find a character that they can relate to. Because the people in these shows have different personalities and characterization, the shows are more interesting to watch. When watching a show you follow a character who you find interesting and you like and there are those characters who you don't like. If RTV shows didn't have characterization I think it would be boring to watch because all of the characters would be dull. The interviews serve to show you what the person is thinking and it makes you feel closer to them so you want to keep watching the other episodes to see what happens next. Such as in Real Housewives you can get to know each of the characters, and you want to continue watching. I think the producers want to create interesting characters to capture audience.

Characters

I think that shows that have different characters get the audience to care about them in such a short amount of time is that they put people on the shows that everyone can relate to in some way. I think shows try to cast people that have very different personalities from one another so that the audience has the ability to grow attached to at least one of these people. Different shows introduce the audience to these characters by providing background information on all of them and having confessional and individual interviews for each character. For example, on the show The Biggest Loser in the very first episode of each season a mini biography is shown for every cast member to show the audience how they got to the weight that they are. I think a lot of shows also rely on strong characterization that make the series more interesting which in tern attracts a larger audience. An example of a show with very strong characterization would be something like I love New York. The characters on that show very so unique and had such strong personalities that it made the show that much funner to watch and enjoy. Basically to wrap this up everyone is looking for someone to relate to and compare their lives to when watching different tv show, so shows try to cast unique individuals that allow different audience members the ability to relate.

Bridal Plasty

You know as I was cycling through the characters on this show, I began to think "this looks like The Biggest Loser with plastic surgery." Come to find out one of the contestants on Bridal Plasty actually is a former contestant on The Biggest Loser. Go figure (as a side note, she must not have gotten very far in The Biggest Loser...just saying.) But then I came across one of the contestants named Cheyenne. Why the H is she on this show? She is soooo attractive. She doesn't need plastic surgery in any regards. There are a couple of others just like her on the show. Women are so self-conscious, but  I think one of the aims of casting attractive women with women ranging from the so-so scale to the ehh scale is so that viewers at home have a reason to watch. It puts a spin on things. Who wants to just watch the fat chicks fight for plastic surgery? A lot of people. Who wants to have attractive antagonists to root against when they don't need it all? You can argue that the show is meant to inform people how women feel about themselves when they look in the mirror, uglier than they actually are. But for the most part I think its main aim is for pure entertainment. However, America is all about looking younger. Diet pills, P90x routines,plastic surgery, even neck slimmer adds that I see at 3 in the morning. You can really argue any of these points for the shows purpose, maybe its goal is an acclimation of all of these different purposes.

Sex Sells

I think a lot of those shows are for entertainment but also trying to sell things. The whole thing with Real Housewives and The Hills is showing how other women and in a way trying to sell to people that that is how everyone should be. It makes girls and women feel worse about themselves and makes them want to be like what they see and watch. Women are portrayed as perfect and if they aren't they look bad. They are trying to sell and to entertain.

BRIDALPLASTY!

So I keep seeing previews and reviews of the show Bridalplasty on E! and I was wondering what all the fuss was about, so I visited the website and watched some clips. First off, I was really turned off by the idea of competing for plastic surgery to look your best on your wedding day, but I soon became enthralled by these characters, the women who are up against each other for nose jobs or boob lifts. I started to think about other shows with similar themes such as Extreme Makeover, Dr. 90210, etc. or even shows that don't feature plastic surgery but advertise it such as the Real Housewives series or even MTV's The Hills. If these types of shows meet so much outspoken resistance, why are they still on the air and how are they justified by the stations that broadcast them? What is the purpose of these shows? Awareness? Entertainment? Comic relief? Are these shows aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of plastic surgery? or do you think the shows work to glamorize elective surgeries to look younger? Do you buy into these shows? What are the implications of shows like Bridalplasty? What kind of societal message do they send?

Here is the website for the show where you can watch clips and learn more:

http://www.eonline.com/on/shows/bridalplasty/index.html

Characterization in Reality TV

The other night, A & E played a particularly grave episode of "Intervention". The program featured a young teen who had squandered his education, family, and health because it was getting in the way of his dogged meth addiction. In one scene, we were given a glimpse into one of his sessions, where he nonchalantly plunges a meth-filled needle into his already speckled elbow crease. Just taking in his unkempt appearance, careless attitude, and selfishness, It was impossible for me to not feel some sympathy for the druggie.

Its this type of honest characterization that allow reality shows like "Intervention" to have a connection with viewers. We are thrust into the woeful lives of drug addicts and through peeks into their being, we begin to develop a relationship with the misguided TV characters. Ultimately, we stay glued to our TV sets and root for the show's character, hoping that they receive the rehab that the most certainly need.

Worthy Characters?

The characters on most reality TV shows are characters that in real life would not be the most popular people in the room. It seems that the most popular reality TV stars are the stars that like to cause drams which is not appretiated in real life. In Jersey Shore most of the characters i think were chosen on purpose because of the kind of personality that they carry, which is perfect for the show. For 16 & pregnant, they have to choose pregnant girls and the characters differ from person to person. Shows like wipeout choose clumsy people, while shows such as gladiator choose strong and athletic people. So it jus depends from show to show what kind of characters they contain.