These are all totally junk shows to begin with and, in one notorious case, boosted a NYC sexual predator, tax cheat, multiple bankrupt and serial liar into high office.
The granddaddy of all reality shows, 'Cops', got picked up during the writer's strike of 1988. The show creators tried for years to get a network to run it, until the writer's strike, when fledgling network Fox picked it up.
Zyxomma here. I tried to watch Real Housewives of NY when it was broadcast on network (I don't have cable or streaming), and was bored out of my mind. It was obvious to me that the "talent" were clueless while the producers were working from a script (yes, they pick heroes and villains and show only what supports that). That said, I gave myself a bit of a sociological education watching Love Island, because the narrator was hilarious.
I listen to "Bigfoot and Beyond," a podcast put out by Cliff Barackman and James "Bobo" Fay, two of the team members from "Finding Bigfoot." They were also considered reality/unscripted personnel, so they got minimal compensation from the show, and no residuals. It seemed shocking to me when I first heard this, because the team of sasquatch 'finders' are kinda the main part of that show, which was hugely popular and made lots of money for its makers. Respect for Ms. Frankel.
I had never seen even a clip from any of these shows previously, close as I have come was the "30 Rock" parody send-up "MILF Island."
So I watched, and I find it both horrifying and fascinating. Horrifying that so many people find this unironically entertaining (am I wrong?). Fascinating because I have been reading E. O. Wilson et al. on social evolution, and the clips I watched show unvarnished primate social conflict and grooming. Once you start (once I started) observing human behavior through a lens of primate social evolution and adaptation, it is hard to stop seeing it.
Do I need to say it? Ronnie D is a whinny bitch who is lucky to live in the USA. We will never let him get to Ceausescu levels of evil and retribution. Never forget that the fucker thinks torture is funny.
Any profession that isn't an elected one should be strongly unionized. There is so much peace of mind knowing that not only are workers earning a livable wage with cost of living pay raises, but also they have the benefits of affordable, thorough medical and dental insurance, vacation pay, and a retirement plan that makes retirement actually possible and not just a hopefully someday pipe dream.
Police unions definitely need to be overhauled and qualified immunity has to end since no other unions protect their members from criminal or civil liabilities, but if EMS and firefighters can unionize, police should be able to as well.
I worked on a reality show in the aughts. It was a home makeover show and the talent were real people who never worked more than one day, but the crew was beat to shit. We worked on flat rates and were paid as “independent contractors,” with no taxes withheld or workers comp protections. We routinely worked back to back 14-16 hour days. Reality is the dirty little skid mark of television.
I had the same experience. Then one glorious day IATSE went on strike and shut down production and forced the network to step in and mandate the union. After that we got strictly 8 hour days and weekends off because the production company didn't want to pay union mandated OT.
Good for y’all and good for IA. I imagine you live in a city where IATSE has a stronger presence than they do here in NC, or at least stronger than they had in 2004 ish. I remember getting up on day 3 of shooting and my legs buckling under me.
ST:TOS Saturday MeTV edition - The Savage Curtain. Two minutes in, on the main viewer.. Abe Lincoln. Story and half the screenplay credit to Rodenberry. Sigh.. season 2, yet.
and my favorite was "Pioneer House" - I couldn't find a link to the ones I watched - the two couples went through the worst winter in 100 years on the Alberta prairie, and it was pretty interesting. THere are other (I think later) seasons though.
As a long-time USian (born in Detroit, 62 y.o.) I can confirm the impression. These shows are weird.
And I love BBC-almost-everything. I find the police procedurals so much more compelling than the US ones, in all respects, but especially in that hardly anything is resolved with a shootout. Sometimes half the episode will be the psychological breaking down of suspects in interrogation, rather than "Dirty-Harry" type tactics.
I've seen place in other towns like that.
I remember that there was a famous club there - could it be that it was called the Silverlake Club?
Agreed. Oh, wait unionized? I thought you said euthanized. Never mind.
These are all totally junk shows to begin with and, in one notorious case, boosted a NYC sexual predator, tax cheat, multiple bankrupt and serial liar into high office.
The whole point of reality television was to avoid writers and actors.
The granddaddy of all reality shows, 'Cops', got picked up during the writer's strike of 1988. The show creators tried for years to get a network to run it, until the writer's strike, when fledgling network Fox picked it up.
I don't know. Paying them more will just encourage them.
Zyxomma here. I tried to watch Real Housewives of NY when it was broadcast on network (I don't have cable or streaming), and was bored out of my mind. It was obvious to me that the "talent" were clueless while the producers were working from a script (yes, they pick heroes and villains and show only what supports that). That said, I gave myself a bit of a sociological education watching Love Island, because the narrator was hilarious.
I listen to "Bigfoot and Beyond," a podcast put out by Cliff Barackman and James "Bobo" Fay, two of the team members from "Finding Bigfoot." They were also considered reality/unscripted personnel, so they got minimal compensation from the show, and no residuals. It seemed shocking to me when I first heard this, because the team of sasquatch 'finders' are kinda the main part of that show, which was hugely popular and made lots of money for its makers. Respect for Ms. Frankel.
I had never seen even a clip from any of these shows previously, close as I have come was the "30 Rock" parody send-up "MILF Island."
So I watched, and I find it both horrifying and fascinating. Horrifying that so many people find this unironically entertaining (am I wrong?). Fascinating because I have been reading E. O. Wilson et al. on social evolution, and the clips I watched show unvarnished primate social conflict and grooming. Once you start (once I started) observing human behavior through a lens of primate social evolution and adaptation, it is hard to stop seeing it.
"Unscripted" my shiny metal ass!
If it is scripted, they should get new writers.
Do I need to say it? Ronnie D is a whinny bitch who is lucky to live in the USA. We will never let him get to Ceausescu levels of evil and retribution. Never forget that the fucker thinks torture is funny.
Meatball's wife is evil enough to be Elena Ceausescu, too.
I had an interesting morning; I got into an argument with my Rice Crispies. I distinctly heard, 'Snap! Crackle! Fuck you!'
"Oh snap!!" *snaps both sets of fingers with a dramatic flair*
Pop pop pop!
"Hop on Pop."
Did you snap back at them?
"Come a little closer. I can't hear you. Closer. That's right . . . "
Snap.
Any profession that isn't an elected one should be strongly unionized. There is so much peace of mind knowing that not only are workers earning a livable wage with cost of living pay raises, but also they have the benefits of affordable, thorough medical and dental insurance, vacation pay, and a retirement plan that makes retirement actually possible and not just a hopefully someday pipe dream.
I suggest one cut-out: police. They should not be unionized, at least for any issues other than their pay.
Police unions definitely need to be overhauled and qualified immunity has to end since no other unions protect their members from criminal or civil liabilities, but if EMS and firefighters can unionize, police should be able to as well.
I worked on a reality show in the aughts. It was a home makeover show and the talent were real people who never worked more than one day, but the crew was beat to shit. We worked on flat rates and were paid as “independent contractors,” with no taxes withheld or workers comp protections. We routinely worked back to back 14-16 hour days. Reality is the dirty little skid mark of television.
I had the same experience. Then one glorious day IATSE went on strike and shut down production and forced the network to step in and mandate the union. After that we got strictly 8 hour days and weekends off because the production company didn't want to pay union mandated OT.
Good for y’all and good for IA. I imagine you live in a city where IATSE has a stronger presence than they do here in NC, or at least stronger than they had in 2004 ish. I remember getting up on day 3 of shooting and my legs buckling under me.
ST:TOS Saturday MeTV edition - The Savage Curtain. Two minutes in, on the main viewer.. Abe Lincoln. Story and half the screenplay credit to Rodenberry. Sigh.. season 2, yet.
Nope, The Savage Curtain was season 3.
American tv shows are so weird.
But I like a bunch of the ones that the BBC made, setting people up in historical contexts.
"Manor House" was pretty good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILfXMhFNE7c&list=PL72jhKwankOhsqYjV_d05nf1lX8H-IvO8&index=4&ab_channel=_LUNSER
and my favorite was "Pioneer House" - I couldn't find a link to the ones I watched - the two couples went through the worst winter in 100 years on the Alberta prairie, and it was pretty interesting. THere are other (I think later) seasons though.
They also did "1900 House"
As a long-time USian (born in Detroit, 62 y.o.) I can confirm the impression. These shows are weird.
And I love BBC-almost-everything. I find the police procedurals so much more compelling than the US ones, in all respects, but especially in that hardly anything is resolved with a shootout. Sometimes half the episode will be the psychological breaking down of suspects in interrogation, rather than "Dirty-Harry" type tactics.
The only reality show that I enjoy is Hamilton & The Crew reality show.
Here is a SImba pic.
https://substack.com/profile/16884722-hamilton-and-the-crew/note/c-22283981?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=a1wc2