Reality shows continue to gain popularity and the cast members are instant stars. Are reality shows the modern day soap opera?
With the same story lines and cliffhangers... we are drawn into the drama, suspense, sex, lies and relationships.
"Soap opera storylines run concurrently, intersect and lead into further developments. An individual episode of a soap opera will generally switch between several different concurrent narrative threads that may at times interconnect and affect one another or may run entirely independent of each other. Each episode may feature some of the show's current storylines but not always all of them. Especially in daytime serials and those that are screened each weekday, there is some rotation of both storyline and actors so any given storyline or actor will appear in some but usually not all of a week's worth of episodes. Soap operas rarely bring all the current storylines to a conclusion at the same time. When one storyline ends there are several other story threads at differing stages of development. Soap opera episodes typically end on some sort of cliffhanger, and the Season Finale ends in the same way, only to be resolved when the show returns for the start of a new yearly broadcast" (Full Wikipedia Article).
The reality shows are now even accommodating working women, by publishing the shows during evening prime time.
According to Wikipedia,
"Reality television has faced significant criticism since its rise in popularity. Much of the criticism has centered around the use of the word "reality", and such shows' attempt to present themselves as a straightforward recounting of events that have occurred. Critics have argued that reality television shows do not present reality in ways both implicit (participants being placed in artificial situations) and deceptive or even fraudulent, such as misleading editing, participants being coached in what to say or how to behave, storylines generated ahead of time, and scenes being staged or re-staged for the cameras. Other criticisms of reality television shows include that they are intended to humiliate or exploit participants (particularly on competition shows), that they make celebrities out of untalented people who do not deserve fame, and that they glamorize vulgarity and materialism."
So the next time you are worried if Jaxx is sleeping with Kristen on the Vanderpump Rules.. just remember Stassi is being paid for her every emotion and the more drama the better.
What does the future hold for reality tv? Get ready to host your own YouTube channel offering your audience a daily subscription to your version of Housewives of (add your city her). Get enough views and an advertiser will pay for your daily drama!
I was having coffee at my favorite observatory, Starbucks, with a friend. We sat outside and the sun was glaring into my eyes. I sadly stated, "I broke my sunglasses" and moved my chair. He prompted, "Do you buy expensive sunglasses or cheap ones". I said, "I used to buy cheap ones, but would lose them and now I buy expensive ones". He asked me a very interesting question.