The Age Of Manufactured Drama
Whenever I write one of these blogs, one of the things I try to keep in mind is timeless relevance. I don't want to try and write a piece of how much I like my new car or my favorite TV show, because I know there is the possibility that someone will come along in 10 years and read this and wonder, 'what the heck was this guy talking about?'.
However, this might be an exception to that rule. Last night the wife and I watched the opening episode of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars". We have watched this show ever since my wife and I took tango lessons about 3 years ago. Trust me folks, ballroom dancing is NOT easy. So since we sort of considered ourselves arm-chair experts, this show had a certain charm. Although, I have to admit that it was getting a bit long in the tooth after last year and I hadn't planned on watching it this year.
Fast forward to last week, and I read online that two of the 'stars' had been injured in training and they would have to find two replacements pronto. So I was curious who they were going to be.
The rumor was that one of them was going to be Melissa from the final episode of "The Bachelor” that just wrapped up last week. Sure enough, half-way through the two hour opening special, they announced that she would be competing with only 5 days of practice.
Now for the unknowing who read this in 10 years, this is the culmination of a long, long soap opera that has been unfolding for the past 3 years on ABC. Let me give the time line of events that lead up to last night:
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"The Bachelor" - Season 11: Brad Womack chooses neither Deanna Pappas or Jenni Croft on the last episode of the reality TV show, "The Bachelor". (He basically wimps out and fails to launch.)
One of the rejected Bachelorettes, Deanna Pappas is chosen for the following season of "The Bachelorette".
On "The Bachelorette" - Season 4, Deanna Pappas, rejects Jason Resnick at the end of the show for Jesse Csincsak, a snow boarder.
Jason Resnick is selected as the next bachelor on the following season of "The Bachelor".
On "The Bachelor" - Season 13, Jason ends up choosing Melissa Rycroft as his fiancé over Molly Malaney, with some misgivings (and a lot of crying on the part of Jason), not to mention a SURPRISE appearance by Deanna Pappas!
On the rap-up show for "The Bachelor", Jason dumps Melissa on national TV and races back to Molly, supposedly because Melissa turned out to be a bitch.
Then last night, only a week after being dumped on National TV, Melissa is brought back as the replacement for an injured contestant on "Dancing With The Stars" - Season 8.
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This whole affair spans more than 3 years of television and 3 different television shows.
I believe that this signals the end of the gestation period and gives birth to a new genre of television program. The manufactured real life drama. In the olden days (Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire, Big Brother and Survivor), the concept was one of voyeurism and competition as would-be reality stars usually pursued the goal of wealth. At that point, reality shows could be seen as the culmination of the 'Game Show' genre on television.
But it has now morphed into something different. The 'players' on Survivor aren't playing so much for the million dollars at the end, as much as they are creating drama and intrigue in their interactions during the show. The more drama you create, the more likely you will be invited back to be on a follow up "All Star Show".
Now, with "The Bachelor / Dancing With The Stars" tie-in, you have rejections / redemption / drama and suspense all rolled into one theme that spans seasons AND shows on the same network.
We are watching characters that we are supposed to believe are just like you and me (we all take candle lite baths with a camera crew, sound man, makeup artist and director in attendance). The 'contestants are put through trails and tests and either end up living the fairy tale or being shot down in flames, over seasons if not decades on television. It is almost a serialized version of the film "The Truman Show" come to life.
I fully expect to see Diana Pappas, Brad Womack and maybe even Jason Resnick in the studio audience this season just to add some more spice to this whole bizarre Tolstoy-like saga.
I have little doubt that Melissa is going to go far in the competition, and if she actually wins, ooooo baby.....she could then become the Dancing With The Stars champion Bachelorette for the 2011 season of "The Bachelorette". This saga may never end.
Do you really watch all these shows?
ReplyDeleteGotta say, that sounds out of character for you?
My favorite reality show is "The Amazing Race" simply because of its' lack of drama. You finish last...you get booted. The cynic in me still believes that they (the producers of the show) are fucking with us, but what can you do?
I do love Dancing w/the Stars, but in my ADD afflicted middle years, I now typically wait until there are about 4-5 contestants left before I tune in. I suppose I prefer the talent over the soapiness.
ReplyDeleteBut I am loathe to admit that my guilty pleasure is America's Next Top Model. I have to choke that out after years of bad mouthing reality shows.
Maybe it's my advertising background but I love to watch these mousy women step into hair and makeup and come out looking so amazing.
And Paulina's honesty has added a new dimension. She told one candidate that she had a "weird transvestite thing going on". She was spot on.
You nailed this! "..Over seasons if not decades on television" made me laugh. :-)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say that I haven't watched this whole saga unfold, but...
Um, isn't Holly Madison suppose to be on the show too?
ReplyDeleteeither way, yes, it seems very out of character for you, Mr. Bruce!
ok, good luck to everyone ;)
Earl: Like I said, Dancing with the Stars is more of an interest in having learned to Tango. The Bachelor was more of a nod to my wife that likes the show. My interaction with it is usually yelling at the screen, when they are frolicing on the beach or in a hot tub and reminding my wife and other viewers that there are at 'least' 12 other people just off screen with cameras, lights, sound booms, and directors. It is hardly spontanious, it is overly scripted. I find it more of a farce and comedy than reality.
ReplyDeletePyzhan: Dancing has gotten a bit long in the tooth for me. When we do watch it it, it is always recorded, so we can buzz through the commericals. Cuts the shows running time by almost a 1/3. As for Next Top Model, I can only take it in spurts. The women are so vapid and shallow, that it gets depressing that our species has de-evolved to this level.
Jennifer: I fully expect there to be a Bachelor "All-Star" show in the works, where Deanna, and Jason, and Melissa and Brad all get back together for a group pillow fight, hot tub, camp out weekend. I know I would watch, just to throw eggs at the screen.
Mrs Hall: Yes, Holly is on the show as well, which means that Hef will no doubt be in the audience. Based on her first round on the dance floor, I expect her to be booted in the 3rd or 4th week.
Can't say I've ever had any interest in so- called reality tv. But I do like "so you think you can dance," because there's no stupid backstabbing drama crap going on, AND the people who make it really are very talented, unlike 90% of American Idol contestants.
ReplyDeleteMost TV just makes me a little nauseous.
Sadly.... I love this shit.
ReplyDeletei am an admitted reality show whore, but i do NOT watch the bachelor or dwts... i dunno why, neither one just never grabbed my interest...
ReplyDelete