wealth and reality tv
Reality Blurred recently linked to a great article in the Los Angeles Times about the failure of The Princes of Malibu, the recent reality show featuring Brandon and Brody Jenner (sons of Bruce Jenner) and their angry stepdad, composer David Foster. The show lasted only a few episodes before being pushed off onto the Fox Reality Channel amid allegations that the action on the show wasn't exactly "real."
This is a claim I've also heard recently made in reference to Laguna Beach, and I think the article subtly raises the question of whether or not this is a positive direction for reality shows to take. Is this genre of shows where real people play themselves in somewhat staged situations even really "reality"? (Obviously not, I guess.) But what else can we call it? I'm generally not a fan of this reality subgenre, with the exception of those shows that are also competitions (like Real World Road Rules Challenge) and the "what happens in Cabo stays in Cabo" episode of Laguna Beach.
But the main question of the article relates to the intersection between wealth and celebrity and reality television, and attempts to answer a question I've often wondered about. What drives relatively famous and wealthy people (and their children) to develop their own reality shows? Why is some fame and forture not enough?
This is a claim I've also heard recently made in reference to Laguna Beach, and I think the article subtly raises the question of whether or not this is a positive direction for reality shows to take. Is this genre of shows where real people play themselves in somewhat staged situations even really "reality"? (Obviously not, I guess.) But what else can we call it? I'm generally not a fan of this reality subgenre, with the exception of those shows that are also competitions (like Real World Road Rules Challenge) and the "what happens in Cabo stays in Cabo" episode of Laguna Beach.
But the main question of the article relates to the intersection between wealth and celebrity and reality television, and attempts to answer a question I've often wondered about. What drives relatively famous and wealthy people (and their children) to develop their own reality shows? Why is some fame and forture not enough?