Let's go back a few years to the beginning of television programming and "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." A situation comedy that had a real family portraying fictional versions of themselves. Confusing? Maybe, but this program is what I consider to be scripted reality TV. This all American family was adored by television viewers and remained on TV for 14 years. The boys David and Ricky, teenagers at the time of the premier, grew up in front of an audience eventually getting married and including their wives on the program.
Today, reality TV has moved to an unscripted version but edited for TV allowing the viewers to witness only what is viewed necessary by program producers. An example would be "Jon and Kate Plus Eight." My daughter and I love to watch all those kids playing, eating dinner and basic daily activities.
What are some of your favorite family programs and why?
Today, reality TV has moved to an unscripted version but edited for TV allowing the viewers to witness only what is viewed necessary by program producers. An example would be "Jon and Kate Plus Eight." My daughter and I love to watch all those kids playing, eating dinner and basic daily activities.
What are some of your favorite family programs and why?
My sister and I used to watch “Full House” every morning, and we loved it! I think it is interesting to see families on TV that are similar to their mine. It is a feeling that we are not alone; there are other families out there that are the same as mine. They have problems that they struggle through and bonds with each other just like we do. These shows depict a more typical family but they don’t try to be the perfect family, they have their own problems that they must overcome. Now there are so many reality TV shows out there because people really enjoy watching what they believe to be real TV. Even though many of the characters in these shows are influenced to be a certain way, it is still amusing to watch these characters interact. I wonder how these families function without the cameras. Do they still act the same way? Are there lasting effects on these people from being constantly in the public’s eye, and are they able to be themselves? These are all questions that would be interesting to know about these TV families.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much the editing and even selection of these families compares to what used to be done in script writing. Ballenger is showing us how much the presentation of something matters as much as its content.
ReplyDeleteI am entirely ignorant to family television today though. From the little bit of reality tv I have been exposed to, I really question its "reality". The assume same needs are present to make a reality show good as with unscripted shows; characters to both enjoy and not geared to relate towards their intended viewers, a conflict/resolution scenario of some sort for each episode, an overall point, message or something to gain from the story, you know those basic blocks of story telling. How much of that is determined in the selection process, then perhaps in "prepping", and finally in editing? I know it would be hard to make my day to day life into an interesting weekly show.
Recently I was reading a book "Living Room Lectures: The Fifties Family in Film and Television" by Nina Leibman. Leibman's book takes an indepth look at the different types of family programing, family comedies, domestic comedies and other comedies. One point that Leibman brings up is the role of the mother in all family based programing and the non-focus on the role. The mother is presented with no interests other then taking care of the family. Even something as simple as a phone call, has the mother talking about her husband's schedule or the son's prom date. Dinner scenes were shot with the mother waiting on the family with an empty chair at the table indicating that eventually she may sit down.
ReplyDeleteIs this a realistic comparison to your family? It's up to the individual to decide.
There are some interesting essays in "Text Messaging" about how "real" reality TV is. Check them out!
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