Have you been keeping up with the Kardashians or sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to see who gets the next rose on The Bachelor? If so, you may be a reality TV junky.
Don’t get me wrong: I believe some of these reality shows strive to help people change their lives, whether that’s through weight loss on The Biggest Loser, or building a home for someone in need on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. But the real reality may actually be following up with these people in two years to see how their lives have really changed.
The oncology field is stressful and challenging, to say the least; you endure your own share of reality on a daily basis. Watching TV shows such as Toddlers and Tiaras or Jersey Shore may be just what you need to decompress from a long and very realistic day, but why do these shows create such hype? Maybe because they allow you to get a glimpse into the life of someone else for a while and witness their reality for 30 to 60 minutes. The only problem is that these shows are a far cry from reality.
I just have to ask: Why is it entertaining to lather an enormous amount of make-up on a three-year old and watch her prance around, only to get a tiara in the end? What are we teaching our children?
And I must say that I find it a bit insulting to my own Italian culture to watch shows such as Jersey Shore. Are these people for real? Unfortunately, I think they are.
As for The Real Housewives of whichever city this week, maybe they should actually leave their houses and consider employment away from the camera, because the housewives I know don’t look like that on a daily basis -- they actually work at home raising a family.
I’m not here to insult, but I just have to express my concern for this country and what television programming has come to. We can do better, and we have done better in the past.
What are your thoughts on reality TV shows? Do you have a favorite? If so, I promise not to criticize -- Big Brother may be watching...
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