I learned a very interesting fact about myself this week and that is the importance that television has on my life.  I have a TV on all of the time, even at work (thank you for a job that allows for that) and have certain programs that I faithfully watch.  Of course, there are lots of them that I view for a certain period of time and then lose interest in the same old storylines but there are a few that I would never miss.  That is why this week I was so excited to know that “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” was returning on Sunday evenings and I was devastated to learn that “All My Children” has been cancelled.  This was the point where I stopped and realized that TV has such a special, personal influence on me that I had to acknowledge.  I have had a special place in my heart for the 8:00 p.m. Sunday night time slot on TV since I was a child.  The family would gather around to watch “The Wonderful World of Disney” and I would get goosebumps just seeing Tinkerbell flying by with her magic wand in the opening segment.

On the flipside of my thoughts about my favorite TV shows was the announcement that “All My Children” is being cancelled.  I have watched this show faithfully for the last 40 years.  It has been my haven through the domestic abuse years, the cancer and all of the other tough times along the way.   I continue to record the show every day and I watch it when I arrive home as a way of winding down and separating my personal time from the work time.  And I am so disturbed by this announcement that I have, for the first time ever, joined in by signing a petition to keep the show on the air. 

Although I tried watching other soaps, I was never drawn in to any of them.  With “All My Children”, there are always many storylines evolving over a realistic span of time.  There are many issues and relationships that are addressed and the performers are really perfect for their roles.  The show is believable.  It is unique.  And it is the release that I look forward to at the end of the day.  This is truly a 40-year habit that I don’t want to break. 

It may be that many people think that TV is a “bad” thing for all of us but I have found that television has always expanded my own world.  It brings forward issues that are not a part of my world and has helped me to take a better look at all sides of any issue.  It provides pure entertainment when I need the break and it showcases the talent of so many individuals.  So if you choose to perpetuate the belief that television is just for those who don’t have the taste for the superior things in life like art, the ballet, the theatre and the opera, good for you.  You have a right to make your own choices.  But if you are like me, you will be thankful for television and the shows that are special to you because this medium has provided me with a look at many worlds that I would not have otherwise known.

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With all the serious real life stuff going on in the world, it’s nice just to get away from it all by watching everyday people living in a house together to see how they’ll get along to stars competing in a dance competition. Share what your favorite reality shows are and what you get out of them. Call TOLL FREE 877-257-6516.

Why do you watch reality TV? COMMENT

Let’s qualify that title a bit.  I am not referring to those “reality” programs that have contestants eating bugs or doing stupid tricks and I am not naïve enough to believe that editing is not the single biggest component in the final product that we see in each weekly episode.  But, I have a genuine fascination with the working of people’s minds as they try to maneuver and manipulate others to do/view things in the same way as they do.

These programs break down into two categories.  The first is the talent competitions that include participants who are being judged.  My particular interest is in those judges and the commentary that they direct not only to the performers but to the other judges and most importantly, what they throw out to the audience who will be those who will ultimately cast their votes. 

I have kept a little mental log regarding the judges’ comments which are skewed toward their favorites and the ultimate viewer voting.  It is absolutely unbelievable how the audience vote is almost always the same as the judges except for one show, which I will discuss in a minute.  For me, a perfect example of that was the recent finale of “So You Think You Can Dance”.  The season leaders and consistently best performers were thrown under the bus in the last show and the resulting outcome was exactly the performer to whom the two main judges had thrown their support in that final performance show.  I must say that if it weren’t for my love of the wonderfully choreographed routines being performed by such incredibly talented dancers, I really would never watch the show again.

The only show that I have seen where the voters’ voting does not normally follow the judges’ commentary is “American Idol” and I really do find that rather refreshing.  The part that I haven’t figured out yet regarding that show is whether the viewers purposely vote against Simon Cowell because of his abrasive remarks or whether they are truly voting based upon their own favorites.  Since I have not really followed this show, I will have to do some future analysis in order to make a better determination.

The second type of shows that intrigues me is the type like “Big Brother”.  Now in its 11^th season, I have been a fan since the beginning.  In this show, they put together a group of approximately 12 individuals from various backgrounds to live together in a secluded house for 3 months.  Each week, the houseguests vote out one of the remaining group until the final two appear before a jury of the voted out houseguests who have been kept in a second secluded location after having been voted out of the main house.  The voted out houseguests determine the winner.

This is the most interesting competition to me.  I am so intrigued by the different ways in which the players choose to play the game, how and when they make alliances, how they change their approaches when certain tactics don’t work, how they backstab each other and so forth.  I have actually subscribed to the 24-hour internet feed from the house so that I can see so much more than what the edited version can ever show in 3 episodes a week.  And when that final vote comes from the previously evicted houseguests, I feel as though the winner is truly the one who should be winning the prize.

I don’t know whether others perceive reality shows in any particular way like I do or whether they just watch for the sheer entertainment value that they provide but if you do have a certain fascination with a show or a group of shows, I would really like for you to share them.

I would love your comments.