The totally off-topic thread

[TheEmu]

no! I choose to watch reality shows because they're fun! there are hundreds if them... some are good, some aren't. you can't generalize!

they're also relaxing... requiring little mental input. and depending on the show it gives us a chance to ruthlessly mock our fellow human beings

I like the amazing race... they showed this amazing nightclub in Berlin last series which is totes on top of list for my next visit there.

reality tv is extremely popular. two benefits flow from this. firstly it gives you something to break the ice in a work setting... you can talk to everyone from the chairman of the board to the elevator operator about about something (much in the same way as sport). secondly, and I suppose this is a bit specialized... knowing what's popular through reality tv is important to my job. what people watch, how they discuss it, manipulation of the show through editing (both of the participants and public response), advertising during those shows, news paper stories about them and even on line comments give me insight to a segment of the public and how they think. (all of point 2 is the exact reason why I also read the herald sun in addition to other majors)

i think some people think they come across as being intelligent, or smarter than the rest of us with comments like 'I only watch the ABC'. big whoop. who cares? there is nothing to boast about when you cut yourself off with baseless intellectual snobbery.

anyway... I digress.

reality tv rocks!!

Your building has an elevator operator??? :shock::shock::shock:

 

[TheEmu]

I loved the original American reality shows "Get Smart" and "Man from U.N.C.L.E!!!!!
That's why they won the Cold War.
Always wanted to follow in their footsteps and be a spy, but I was not funny enough.

Actually, that's pretty funny!

 

[erkpod]

To me it is a silly concept. Not believable. Poor acting skills.

I do not like the concept of reality shows.

By the way any TV show is going to have some sort of following. Even the shows that fail.

With reality shows, they aren't supposed to act.

To me, there's two types of reality show. There's the "real life" or the "tag-along" show - examples would be things like Border Security, COPS, the various airline shows etc.


Then there's other ones that have an element of reality but a lot of element of fantasy & game play. That would be things like Big Brother, Survivor (was never a fan), Amazing Race (got into that late but enjoy it), The Block etc etc. The line between reality & manufactured drama are higher on these shows.

 

[TheEmu]

With reality shows, they aren't supposed to act.

To me, there's two types of reality show. There's the "real life" or the "tag-along" show - examples would be things like Border Security, COPS, the various airline shows etc.


Then there's other ones that have an element of reality but a lot of element of fantasy & game play. That would be things like Big Brother, Survivor (was never a fan), Amazing Race (got into that late but enjoy it), The Block etc etc. The line between reality & manufactured drama are higher on these shows.

There's probably room for a real life show about suburban trains, erk - maybe you should pitch the idea to one of the networks.

 

[erkpod]

There's probably room for a real life show about suburban trains, erk - maybe you should pitch the idea to one of the networks.

Well I have started a podcast on the subject....

There are a good couple of these series about the London Underground which would be good viewing here. There's a lot of things about railways that are mysteries to people & with better information, people might cope a little better with all the first world problems things that they complain about. One thing that many railways don't do well is engaging with the public.

 

[anat0l]

Then there's other ones that have an element of reality but a lot of element of fantasy & game play. That would be things like Big Brother, Survivor (was never a fan), Amazing Race (got into that late but enjoy it), The Block etc etc. The line between reality & manufactured drama are higher on these shows.

Even reality shows which seem innocuous in intention are not free of manufactured drama, and I strongly believe this is giving the genre of reality TV a bad reputation (and let's not argue whether any reputation - good or bad - is good or not). I like the cooking shows like My Kitchen Rules and Masterchef, but they are definitely moving more away from showcasing whether the contestants can cook, towards more playing with people and their emotions, and the casting has been done as such. You hear a lot more in the media about why a certain so-and-so was a cough or what not rather than why someone couldn't sear scallops. But it's not helped by the casting and direction of the programmes who are making that kind of drama (and editing it as such).

I sometimes watch episodes of Masterchef US and I'm amazed at the directing and casting. The way some of the contestants talk about each other, you'd think that if a knife wasn't being kept in a knife block, it may just be lodged in someone's spine! (This is one of those situations which is qualified by, "If it wasn't illegal...")

That's why there are so many character questions in the applications for those kinds of reality shows. If you ever applied for The Amazing Race or most other reality TV shows, they're looking to make a cacophony of character, not a "skill off".

All of this contributes a lot to muddling to what degree the programmes are actually "reality TV", i.e. to what degree does the "reality" on the show reflect the reality in "real life" (even if you discount the fact that reality TV are contrived situations).


I miss the old days when quiz shows which primarily needed skill (like Sale of the Century, Millionaire) were the highest rating programmes on TV. Now you hardly see any of those kinds of shows these days, especially during the prime time.

 

[Mal]

Well I have started a podcast on the subject....

There are a good couple of these series about the London Underground which would be good viewing here. There's a lot of things about railways that are mysteries to people & with better information, people might cope a little better with all the first world problems things that they complain about. One thing that many railways don't do well is engaging with the public.

There have been a couple of recent series showing parts of the UK train system. Good viewing. Especially the morons who are featured.....

 

[Julesmac]

Swmbo loves Embarrassing Bodies

Yep it's nearly the most cringe-worthy thing I've ever seen! What I don't get is how you can have some kind of 'embarrassing' problem - way too embarrassing to go to the doc - but it's quite alright to flash your lady bits or gentlemanly dangles in front of a camera crew AND THEN TO A TV AUDIENCE OF MILLIONS? And they can see your face too, so certainly no chance of hiding there (actually someone told me they sign a waiver, and that the tv company agrees to meet all the medical costs associated with treatment)

 

[Shelf]

My wife echoes your comments. (I believe their medical costs are met by the producers)

 

[drross]

Our household loves embarrassing bodies. The things people put up with!!

 

[drron]

Today whilst waiting for mrsdrron who was in the fitting room trying on half the floor Macy's had put on -All Worked Up-a real life eries featuring bouncers etc.My favourite was Ron the Repo man.

 

[erkpod]

Off to Brisvegas today until Sunday.

I'm going to a music conference/showcase & then a couple of days to relax. Hopefully I won't get questioned by the AFP at BNE this time...

 

[JessicaTam]

Off to Brisvegas today until Sunday.

I'm going to a music conference/showcase & then a couple of days to relax. Hopefully I won't get questioned by the AFP at BNE this time...

As long as you take your passport you should be ok to get back.

 

[blackcat20]

DIY birthday cake

 

[JessicaTam]

View attachment 18750

DIY birthday cake

That looks seriously yum.

 

[blackcat20]

That looks seriously yum.

It was pretty awesome. First time I've made one, really happy with it.

 

[anat0l]

View attachment 18750

DIY birthday cake

I think Liliana from Masterchef Australia 2013 (Season 5) did this kind of cake for an elimination challenge (but I think it only had 4 layers). It was her kids' favourite birthday cake. She was unfortunately eliminated on that cook (but not because she didn't make a good cake, it was simply because the other contestants did a better job with their dishes).

 

[drron]

Had dinner at P F Changs Dallas.They give you a fortune cookie at the end.Mine had this message-a crab wonton a day keeps the doctor away.
What!They don't want me there.
No way as I earn Aadvantage miles there!

 

[amaroo]

Off to Brisvegas today until Sunday.

I'm going to a music conference/showcase & then a couple of days to relax. Hopefully I won't get questioned by the AFP at BNE this time...

Bring sunscreen - 32 tomorrow

 

[JessicaTam]

Bring sunscreen - 32 tomorrow

Currently raining in Falls Creek and 3 degrees C.

Should have gone to the MEL drinks instead.:evil: