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The American Idol thread has me wondering something.  For those of you who don't like any of the reality tv shows that are on today, why do you have to get yourselves in such a state over them?  Is it really worth all the negativity?  It is a form of entertainment, if you don't like it don't watch it.  

Look at it this way, say you don't like Friends or other programs like it, you just don't watch.  People don't rant and rave about it they just change the channel.  Why can't people do this to reality tv too?  All the negative comments makes people watch to see what is so horrible.  This would cause better ratings and the show you hate so much sticks around.

I am not trying to be b*tchy or anything, I just don't understand.
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I think the idea Dagwood is that there is too much of it, between all the reality and police/forensic shows, we dont see much "quality" scripted stuff anymore. I will begrudge you that some of the shows are good, but there is just too many of them on. Just like during the 80s there were so many evening soaps i.e. Dallas, the Colbys, Knots Landing, etc, everyone jumped on board. When this happens, good shows with a small audience get pushed aside.  >:(

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Do you think Kelly Clarkson (the last AI winner) wrote her own music for her album?  I seriously doubt it (although if I am wrong please correct me).  I am just so tired of these "corporate made" musicians that come onto the scene so well rehearsed that they're like friggin' puppets in the Industry.  Bring back garage bands & give me something original.End Quote

I was staying out of all of this but I just want to say that people like Kelly and Ruben and Clay give the songwriter someone to work with. Did you see Diane Warren on the show? She's an amazing songwriter but can't sing a note to save her life. She wrote Aerosmith's "Don't wanna miss a thing" (along with TONS of other songs...check out the Coyote Ugly soundtrack)...why do you think amazing songsmith's like Aerosmith would sing someone else's song? Because it's good. You're knocking singers for singing but you're not knocking writers for writing. Yes, I was ticked when I heard that "Unchained Melody" was going to be Justin Guarini's first single...and I yelled at the TV "Write something original for him!"...but I didn't yell at him for having a talent.

Another classic example would be when the Academy Awards decided to have the actual songwriters perform the nominated songs on the show and not the artists. Amanda McBroom did The Rose and it was HORRENDOUS. They've never done it again.  And in saying that, Bette Midler would be another classic example of an amazing singer who doesn't write. I could go on and on.

Think about this before you go knocking talent. This type of TV show isn't for everyone. But it's along the same lines as a radio station that does "homegrown" contests for bands..which have produced some amazing talent. It's a vehicle. They all have to audition to make the grade. They're after a certain type of person and nothing else. They can market them and make millions. Why do you think Kelly Clarkson's album debuted at #1? Why did it sell 1.5 million copies in just 5 weeks? It's MARKETING. Apparently they're not marketing to you which is fine. Don't buy the product. But it's working for them. And they're only concerned with them.

It's a simple rule. If you don't like it...turn it off.

Whew, I feel better now... ;)

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I remember back in the 80s, one woman was "up-in-arms" about an episode of "Married with Children" (the one where they discontinued Peg's bra-which I thought was hystical). Basically everyone told her, if she didn't like it-TURN IT OFF!!!! No one is forced to watch any television show.

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Cat, you got me thinking about how much times have changed in the last 20 years.

I remember too when there was an uproar about "Married...with children", I can't help but wonder what those people would think of the stuff on TV these days!

It also applies to music.  Remember when Tipper Gore led the crusade to censor music that she deemed "sex rock" and "drug rock"?  Thank goodness Eminem wasn't around then!

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It also applies to music.  Remember when Tipper Gore led the crusade to censor music that she deemed "sex rock" and "drug rock"?  Thank goodness Eminem wasn't around then!
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I don't believe in censorship at all for adults but I do believe in censoring things for kids. I don't want someone to tell me what I can/cannot watch or listen to. But, I wouldn't want a 5 year old to hear some of the stuff that Eminem does or watch some of the t.v. shows that are on today. I do think that having warning labels/ratings are appoprate. There are some people who don't like to hear (as Spock phrased it) "colorful metaphors." So telling people that the contents contains certain language I think is right. This applies to music as well as t.v./movies. BTW, personally I don't like Eminem and do not listen to him-but that does not mean that I would want to prevent others from listening to him.



Cat

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Think about this before you go knocking talent. End Quote

I never said these kids didn't have any talent.  What I was trying to say is that, I think there are MUCH better musicians out there that write their OWN music that unfortunatley will never have a chance because they aren't "American Idol" material.  And yes, I do think that Kelly Clarkson is nothing but a "marketing tool" for the Industry (which includes Radio & TV).  Sure she has a decent voice, but I truly don't think she could have made it on her own.  But....that's my opinion.

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It's a simple rule. If you don't like it...turn it off.
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This is why I don't watch it, I don't like it.  ;)

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Sure she has a decent voice, but I truly don't think she could have made it on her own.
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Yeah, but no one makes it on their own.

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I never said these kids didn't have any talent.  What I was trying to say is that, I think there are MUCH better musicians out there that write their OWN music that unfortunatley will never have a chance because they aren't "American Idol" material.  End Quote

And why will the never have a chance? Everyone's got a chance...it's just gonna take hard work and persistence, which is normal in the music business. There's no one standing back and saying NO! You can't be successful!! If they truly want it bad enough they'll get it. The Kelly's and Ruben's are lucky in that there's a vehicle for them to make it so much easier. But that doesn't rule anyone else out.

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Thanks for the responses, guys.  My main complaint is that people complain without watching at all.  It is entertainment and if it isn't your bag turn it off.  The people that feel like reality tv is everywhere...this is how I felt about Seinfeld.  Everywhere you looked Seinfeld, ads, people going on and on about how wonderful it is...I hated it.  I still can't stand the show and plenty of people felt the same way but you never heard people go off on Seinfeld like they do on reality shows.  I guess I will never understand. :-/
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LOL thats my point exactly Dagwood! Now lets take that the same number of ads for Seinfeld and say that is one reality show and multiply it by 5 for every network out there, (20 if its Fox :P) and you have the approximate number of ads for all the reality shows.  ::)

I admit I wasn't a big Seinfeld fan either. There were some good episodes such as "The Bet" and "Soup Nazi". I never got fully into it. For some reason I liked shows like Inside Herman's head and Home Improvement.

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LOL thats my point exactly Dagwood! Now lets take that the same number of ads for Seinfeld and say that is one reality show and multiply it by 5 for every network out there, (20 if its Fox :P) and you have the approximate number of ads for all the reality shows.  ::)

I admit I wasn't a big Seinfeld fan either. There were some good episodes such as "The Bet" and "Soup Nazi". I never got fully into it. For some reason I liked shows like Inside Herman's head and Home Improvement.
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I understand how annoying it is, it annoys me too even if it is a show I watch.  Then again, I don't see you slamming the shows.  It is the total slamming of a show that bugs me.

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I don't like the "reality" shows on the whole, but I do admit that there were a couple that I did like and did watch.

I don't complain or slam them...I change the channel.

My neighbors on the other hand do complain.

Why?

More than a few of them do not have cable or satellite dishes.  There is very little to watch during prime-time on the broadcast networks BUT "reality" shows.   And if you don't like that type of show...and it's the only thing on..... :-/

I think that is the basis for a lot of the complaints/slamming.  Lack of choice.
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Thanks, Kat, that makes sense.  I am like you, there are one or two that I like but on the whole they are dumb.  I think I just got my hackles raised by the American Idol thread where JJ65 was slamming the kids on AI calling them talentless.  Then there was the post insinuating that you don't have a life if you like reality tv.  Made me mad.

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Big Brother 54 starts tonight - guess you won't be watching it then Phil?

I have watched one or two of the reality shows such as Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity .....  I prefer the real life things such as Escape to the Country where you get to follow one family or situation for one programme.  Much better than days and days of the same boring drivel.
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I agree with you Karen the only ones I watch are things like 'Bailiffs' and 'A life of grime' I've never watched any of the Big Brothers or I'm a celebrity just doesn't appeal.  

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What pisses me off about the whole genre is the assumption that "everybody" is watching them: they make national newspaper and TV headlines of such inane banality that even though I never watch the shows, I get a load more information than I ever wanted to know about people who aren't interesting enough to fill a ten-second headline, let alone the number of bulletins in serious news programmes that should know better...

What I'm saying, I guess, is that "if you don't like it, don't watch it" doesn't hold true: I don't like it, and don't watch it but still get bombarded with trailers, "news" and other bullshit.

Phil
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I think Phil has a point. It seems the networks get one concept that seems to work and then drive it into us repeatedly with different variations. In the early 80s it was night time soaps, in the late 80s to mid 90s-sitcoms. (I could be wrong but I can remember reading somewhere that during this time there were more failed sitcoms than any other)  Late 90s till now-reality based shows. I think I am more likely to go postal at the main office of the network(s) than on the studio of a reality show that I hate the most.  >:(

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And why will the never have a chance? Everyone's got a chance...it's just gonna take hard work and persistence, which is normal in the music business. There's no one standing back and saying NO! You can't be successful!! If they truly want it bad enough they'll get it. The Kelly's and Ruben's are lucky in that there's a vehicle for them to make it so much easier. But that doesn't rule anyone else out.
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Sorry Jonman, but I've gotta go with POP on this one.Ive seen too many uber-talented people that, because of geographic location or lack of exposure, will never "make it". Likewise, I've seen lots of below average (talent wise) people, because they were lucky enough to record a song with a great "hooker line", or because some fat cat at EMI took a personal liking to them, are mega-stars today. There's something to be said for "hard work and persistance" but, like has been stated many times before, in a lot of different forums and professions, "I'd rather be lucky, than good, any day."

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Thanks for the responses, guys.  My main complaint is that people complain without watching at all.  It is entertainment and if it isn't your bag turn it off.  The people that feel like reality tv is everywhere...this is how I felt about Seinfeld.  Everywhere you looked Seinfeld, ads, people going on and on about how wonderful it is...I hated it.  I still can't stand the show and plenty of people felt the same way but you never heard people go off on Seinfeld like they do on reality shows.  I guess I will never understand. :-/
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Well, I never liked Seinfeld and don't care for reality shows either... but to each his own. I'm sure there are shows I watch that other people don't like, but I wouldn't enjoy hearing constant b*tching about them.  :P

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Thanks, Kat, that makes sense.  I am like you, there are one or two that I like but on the whole they are dumb.  I think I just got my hackles raised by the American Idol thread where JJ65 was slamming the kids on AI calling them talentless.  Then there was the post insinuating that you don't have a life if you like reality tv.  Made me mad.
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This is the crux of the matter for me.  I HATE how reality TV has taken over America.  If you don't like Seinfeld, there are other sitcoms for you to choose from.  But for the past few years, reality TV seems to be everywhere.  There is indeed a lack of choice around.  Prime time is overrun with this kind of garbage.    

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Well, I never liked Seinfeld and don't care for reality shows either... but to each his own. I'm sure there are shows I watch that other people don't like, but I wouldn't enjoy hearing constant b*tching about them.  :P
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That is exactly what my problem is.  I am glad someone else understands.  Thank you, Lester. :)

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That is exactly what my problem is.  I am glad someone else understands.  Thank you, Lester. :)
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I think what it comes down to is some people are sick of American Idol, some are sick of reality shows in general, and some are sick of those who are sick of both areas  ;D

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To each their own.  Personally I'd rather watch the Sci-Fi Channel.

*Nerd Alert*
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LOL I will take that and move it up a notch. I'd rather watch the History channel!

*Geek Alert*

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LOL I will take that and move it up a notch. I'd rather watch the History channel!

*Geek Alert*
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Shoot, I got you beat...I would rather watch C-Span 24/7

*duh, politics? what? alert*  ;)

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Shoot, I got you beat...I would rather watch C-Span 24/7

*duh, politics? what? alert*  ;)
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LOL PoP! I am suprised that you and Don Carlos don't have more threads on whats happening at the whitehouse and at the capitol building! :P