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Is reality tv sinking to a new low???

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2005-3: Is reality tv sinking to a new low??? users admin

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Archive through February 23, 2005Kep42125 02-23-05  8:38 am
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Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 9:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kep, there is a place over in the Trading Spaces/Changing Rooms thread. You can join all us saps over there!

Erikbarmack
Member

02-20-2005

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 9:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I feel that way about Xzibit's show on MTV, PIMP MY RIDE. But maybe it's just 'cause I like cars.


Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ok so this book is about a guy who goes on this reality show which is about deflowering a virgin?

Jan
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's how Amazon describes it, Ms M:

"In Barmack's glib, ironical debut, Joseph Braun, a lost, unemployed slacker, transforms himself into Jeb Brown, a more confident and less ethnic version of himself, in order to weasel his way onto a reality TV show. "The Camera loves honesty. The Camera seeks integrity," says one production assistant—and Jeb plans to deliver it. The show is called The Virgin, and on it our purported hero must compete against various stock characters—Shep, the cowboy; Favre, the football player; Cody, the "man-child"—for the right to woo and deflower a 26-year-old virgin. The story hews closely to the slow winnowing down of the show's contestants as Madison, aka the Virgin, chooses among her various suitors as they take her on staged dates in semiexotic locales. Aiming past a too-easy satire of reality television, Barmack reaches to make the book a parable of a generation looking for an identity. No one here is what he seems to be. By the end, "Fat Jack... is no longer fat," teetotaling Greg the Christian is washing "greasy chicken bits down with beer," and, in the ultimate twist, the Virgin is something else entirely. Though the story moves quickly and the prose can be wryly comic, the book, like its main characters, is a bit confused as to what it wants to be."

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I guess I'm having a problem with the deflowering a virgin thing. But that's for another forum.

Thanks Jan.

Mak1
Member

08-12-2002

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 11:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I like glib, ironical debuts that are a bit confused, so I ordered it today.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 11:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
my take on the book, and why i ordered it. especially after the "who's your daddy?" show, the book comes to the point, of where do reality shows stop? the premise of "the virgin" show is so preposterous that we think it couldn't happen. but as erik has stated, alot of the "off the wall" concepts he came up with while writing the book, did eventually appear on reality shows.

i too like want to read a glib, ironical debut. and since the writer has joined us, give him my take on how i perceive this genre.


Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 11:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think I'll order it myself. See Erik, you’re picking up sales by the minute!

Seriously, I know how tough it is to get started as an author and this sounds like it could be a good read.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 5:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yall let me know how it is.

Erikbarmack
Member

02-20-2005

Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 10:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow -- thanks, guys! Your support is unbelievable.

A few things ... on the premise of the book: Landi is right -- I wanted something that was just on the other side of believability. I think that interesting satire comes when you take an idea to its extreme conclusion (see: BRAVE NEW WORLD), and so that's what I tried to do.

Disturbingly, the twist that's at the end of the book did, in fact, happen overseas -- but I didn't find out about it until after the book was finished.

And also, for those of you who think that the premise of the show is too unreal -- I have to let you know that there was a show pitched to ABC last year in which a virgin (a male) gets to date a bevy of beautiful girls. The twist? They were all ex-porn stars who wanted to settle down.

So no, you can't make stuff up that's weirder than what's happening now.

Finally, I want to add that I wasn't JUST trying to write a satire. A big part of the book deals with characters who try to change their identities in public. It is not, in other words, bubblegum fiction, and many who have read the book have been surprised by its darker edges.

But I blather. Thx to all of you who are taking a read.

-ESB
http://www.barmack.com



Wilsonatmd
Member

01-23-2001

Friday, February 25, 2005 - 9:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You're kidding about that ABC show...FOX would probably do it, but not ABC (Though they picked a C-list actor for Bachelor 7, so who knows).

And the changing identities theme is a vital part of the story. When people say "it's just the editing" when you see people like Jonothan/Victoria on TAR6, and friends of people on shows saying "they're not like that in real life", but maybe it isn't.

Maybe it's the TRUE personalities of people coming out just because they THINK they want to be percieved in a certain way because they'd be viewed on TV by a large amount of people. They want to change what people think of them in real-life, so they become this "other person" on shows like these. In reality, they've been putting on this facade in their real life, and only in front of the cameras does their TRUE personality show. Like the old saying goes: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." You can fool your friends and your family all of the time with this facade, but in front of the cameras, you can't fool it, even when you are trying to or want to....

Erikbarmack
Member

02-20-2005

Friday, February 25, 2005 - 9:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wilson:

I'm totally with you there -- that's a huge part of my book.

But it also points to a flaw in the genre -- the shows get worse when people try to game the system.

Consider Puck on Real World 3. Or Fabrice on The Bachelorette. Or most of the contestants on Apprentice 3.

All of these characters became very aware of the camera, and how they may or may not manipulate it. This leads to TV, in my opinion, that's considerably less interesting because at the end of the day, we still want to believe in the illusion of story (a love story, an aspirational story, whatever).

-ESB
http://www.barmack.com

Wilsonatmd
Member

01-23-2001

Monday, March 07, 2005 - 2:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Some general news....

We got another 2-time participant on reality shows....Remember "who's Your Daddy"? (I wish I didn't remember it) Well TJ, the woman finding her father, is going to be in another series, this time for Court TV called "Impossible Heists", where she's part of a team trying to recreate famous robberies....starts 3/15.

http://courttv.com/onair/shows/impossible_heists/



in other stuff...

-MTV is filming a reality series called "That 70's House" where they take 12 unsuspecting contestants (who think they're going to be on a Real World typs show), and put them in a house straight out of the 70's (no cable, cellphones, computers, etc.) and they have to dress, act, and talk like they're in the 70's. They have challenges themed to the time period (example: a roller disco contest), players are eliminated, until one wins a cash prize.

-NBC is working on a show patterned after the movie "National Treasure" and the book "The Da Vinci Code": Teams travel around the world trying to solve puzzles to find a tresure, using real life landmarks and folklore as the basis for the game. NBC apparently has greenlit the series for 10 eps, possibly airing in the summer.

-and TBS is doing a pilot that can really change someones life...2 neighbors who don't really see eye to eye are put into a series of challenges...the winner gets glory, the loser has to make the title of the show true.."Loser Leaves Town"

Wilsonatmd
Member

01-23-2001

Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 4:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Who thought craft-making was a contact sport.....

Mak1
Member

08-12-2002

Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 5:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I just finished The Virgin. I actually laughed out loud when the twist was revealed, just picturing that particular group of contestants' reactions. As I read it, I was thinking that would be only slightly out of the realm of possibility for reality tv. That really happened, Erik?!

I found myself wondering what type of background research Erik did, too, because the manipulations of the storylines seemed completely plausible. Most of the contestants seemed familiar, because of the type-casting we're used to seeing on most of the shows.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes quirky characters, dark-edged humor and behind-the-scenes type stories. This was right up my alley. The show recaps were great as the recap writers became more and more disgustedly incredulous.

I hope Beach Girl isn't real, but I saw a girl used as a Living Table on Surreal Life, so I guess it wouldn't be that surprising.

Erikbarmack
Member

02-20-2005

Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 1:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Mak:

Thanks for the kind words. (If you posted that on Amazon, I'd be a happy man.)

Onto the good stuff:

1) Yes, the twist happened in England. If you want to know more, send me an email (erikbarmack@yahoo.com).

2) In researching the book, I interviewed two producers and six contestantants (some from the Real World, some from Temptation Island, some from The Bachelorette). I wanted to write a satire that wasn't totally unbelievable. Much of the behind-the-scenes stuff was pulled straight from my interviews.

3) Beach Girl is, in fact, real. She is at The Standard Hotel in West Hollywood. In fact, I had a book signing at that hotel and a woman came up to me and said, "You don't know me, but I'm Beach Girl." But before I could answer, she'd turned and gone back to her tank.

Thanks again for taking a read, Mak.

-ESB
http://www.barmack.com

Wilsonatmd
Member

01-23-2001

Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 12:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This is another of the "Why would that person want to be a reality show host?" stories...concept is good, and it is only a pilot, but still, strange....



http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=pr&id=20050317nbc01

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 1:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Teams travel around the world trying to solve puzzles to find a tresure, using real life landmarks and folklore as the basis for the game.

Now, this sounds interesting (and watchable).

Mak1
Member

08-12-2002

Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 2:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My pleasure, Erik. Do you have another book in the works?

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 2:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i finished it also, and i just can ditto exactly what mak said. besides, beach girl knows who you are!

Erikbarmack
Member

02-20-2005

Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 1:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Beach Girl DOES know who I am -- it's true!

Landi, thanks for taking a read.

Mak, I have another book in the works -- it's called TAKING A KNEE, and it's about a group of guys who play fantasy football. It'll be out next year.

After that, I'm going to take a crack at writing a more serious novel. Thx again for the feedback, everyone!

http://www.barmack.com

Laura11103
Member

08-13-2002

Monday, March 28, 2005 - 3:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hi Erik, I'm reading The Virgin now, am just about 20 pages in so far but am liking it a lot, I've been a reality show junky from the beginning when Real World Season 1 came out hard to believe the craze that's taken over the world, thanks for the read, I'll let you know when I'm done (and make sure I put a review on amazon).

Wilsonatmd
Member

01-23-2001

Monday, March 28, 2005 - 4:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
3 new possible shows in the works, all by CBS....

One of the new shows, "Reunion," will be hosted by actress Melissa Gilbert ("Little House on the Prairie," Hallmark's "Thicker Than Water"), according to The Hollywood Reporter. It will help people track down family members with whom they've lost contact. The "Big Brother" duo of Arnold Shapiro and Allison Grodner are executive producing.

(not too sure about this one)


Separately, Grodner is also producing "Crossroads," which will give people a chance to see what their lives might have been like had they made a different choice sometime in the past. A group of experts will help construct an "alternate reality" for each participant.

(now this one I'm actually intrigued by. It's certainly a new concept, but it'll depend on how the "alternate realities" are presented)

The third show, called "Shenanigans," will follow the staff -- some of whom are improv performers -- at a chain restaurant of the same name in the Midwest. "The Restaurant" producer Ben Silverman, along with "Cheers" veteran Phoef Sutton, Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey ("Scare Tactics," "Who's Your Daddy") and Howard Owens are producing.

(you want some ham to go with that cheese sandwich?)

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 1:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
"Reunion" sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen. Yeah, it'll all look good on camera, but I can just see all the articles written afterward in which a lot of criticism is thrown around.

"Croosroads" might be good if they really take risks. I'd rather see something intense like someone spending a week in a prison to get a taste of what life had been like had they made different choices as opposed to something lame like a woman who could have gotten pregnant in her teens spending the day taking care of a current teen mom's baby.

"Shenanigans" sounds stupid.

Erikbarmack
Member

02-20-2005

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 10:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Laura:

Thx so much for taking a read. Feel free to email me your thoughts.

-ESB


Hummingbird
Member

08-21-2002

Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 5:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
"concept called Make Me A Mum that would feature men competing to father a child and take part in a 'sperm race'."

This reminds me of an anatomy teacher I had in college who was teaching human reproduction in a creative way. He said, "People, imagine that we gathered a thousand men down in the parking lot, stripped them naked, didn't give them any food and water, and told them they had to run from here (Kentucky) all the way to California. Well, about a month from now, some fool would make it."
He compared this to the journey a single sperm (a cell designed for a single purpose and containing no way to provide itself with nourishment)makes to fertilize an egg. I will never forget that analogy.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 6:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ROFLMAO -- Too funny Hummingbird. Sounds like a teacher I'd enjoy.

Wilsonatmd
Member

01-23-2001

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 2:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
some new shows this summer on ABC....

"The Scholar"-10 high school seniors who excel in their schoolwork and extra-curricular activites but who can't afford college compete for a full ride (scholarship and all expenses-$250,000 worth) at a major univesity...the losers presumably go to work at McDonalds. Steve Martin for some reason is an executive producer. Starts June 6th. (Could be interesting--the premise is admirable at least)

"Welcome to the Neighborhood"-Seven familes from various backgrounds compete for a house in a neighborhood...and the other people in the neighborhood decide who ultimately wins. No start date scheduled yet. (Doesn't sound good)

and 2 British formats:

"Brat Camp"-6 out of control teens are sent by their families to a "theraputic boot camp" in a last-ditch attempt to help turn their lives around-Arnold Shapiro and Alison Groener (the Big Brother producers)are executive producers. Scheduled for July. (Have heard of this series, some will say it's good, others will say it's exploitive...)


"Dancing with the Stars"-6 celebrites are teamed up with professional ballroom dancers. Every week, they'll dance live on air, and the home audicence decides who stays and who goes. Starts June 1. (It's a hit in England....who knows here?)