You are so right! TV and internet -both have influenced our lifestyles in their own different ways. Both have proven to be the evil necessities of our age. : P

The not-so-recent trend on TV is of hosting reality shows -such as game shows, musical shows, talent hunt shows, adventure shows etc (for instance: American Idol, 30-Seconds to Fame, Big Brother, MTV Roadies, Fear Factor, etc). The primary objective of all TV channels is to increase their TRP, but the significance of providing entertainment to viewers and opportunities to new talents cannot be ruled out, too.

In talent hunt (particularly musical) shows, the winners not only make big careers, but also make fortunes in professions of their own choices. But my concern is about those who lose despite having a bundle full of talent. They often lose not because of their lack lustre performance or bad luck ...but because they could not so powerfully influence the viewers (who play a significant role in deciding their fates by the inevitable process of voting). Some participants are even observed playing nasty emotional games to win over the audience.

I think we should be equally concerned about their state of mind after they lose the game inspite of theirs and viewers' hyped aspirations!! We have learned through the years that such frustrations could be killing....

(However, the positive side of this phenomenon is making our young generation tougher, smarter, and practical through this hard process of transformation!).

Just think...

reality shows do have a effect on the childrens lives but dont you think its the way they are brought up that matters in the UK for years we have the largest one parent famlies so the children have been brought up on the streets we call them the key hole children only seeing there parent on the dole so by the time it comes time for them to work they know all the doges to get out of it so watch TV or on the computer in the day and act out some of what they see on the streets excample we had a show that had young children pelting firemen as they tried to put out fires .so now we get fires set so they can leed the firemen into traps .

think on that

Reality shows have very little affect to children's lives because they are too busy playing video games/listening to their mp3 players to watch a bunch of older people dancing and singing old songs.

I blame parents for not being involved enough to explain to their kids why they shouldn't do things and instill values for other people's property and rights.

If parents aren't parents, how can you expect your kids to grow up and be responsible?

My words put in a better way
xxx

Well written but nothing new. TV moves in cycles. Variety/game shows were the norm in the 70's and 50's. 80's and 90's were the TV series, drama-comedy and investigation series. Within a few years, variety shows will start dying off and TV sitcoms will replace them again.

They're making come back of crime investigations and comedies in the next few years. And reality shows and variety shows will die off. The public is getting bored with all the reality shows. If you thin about it, how many teenagers sit at home and glued to the TV set watching people sing and dance or juggle? They'd prefer to be out with friends. The reason so many people, find the net so popular is because, there's nothing good to watch on TV.

That's a well-researched statement. But try to look at it from the participants' perspective. What happens to the best performer whose dreams get shattered because a majority of viewers voted her/him out on the scale of popularity. I've commonly observed some participants using emotional gimicks on the sets to win over the masses' favor.

Isn't TV about perception? Many great artist are never heard by mainstream audiences, many singers with very little talent are famous not because of talent but because of successful marketing just like many products are marketed successfully due to the consumer perception that he should like it just because everyone else likes it according to the commercial. Most mainstream music artist are successful only due to the record industry launching successful ad campaigns. An example would be the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Hanson, Menudo, Madonna, Cher, etc. Its not always about being the best, its about convincing the public that you're hot and somehow better than the rest. TV reality shows are no different. Actors on TV or actors (contestants) create an avatar that they want people to see and identify with so that they can sell themselves. Its not about being real, its not about talent, its just a walking talking commercial trying to sell you something and in this case, its the person instead of a product.

You're so right. Most of the TV show producers are interested in their TRP and not in showcasing the best talent. It's all business ...and they'll do all that sells. Even the artists will go extra miles to be at the top ....even at the cost of being tagged unfair. Those who can manage their image wisely get all the success.

But the lead question remains unanswered ....those who are talented ...and fare ...remain sufferred?

Television has nothing to do with talent. Television from its early beginning has been a way for sponsors to promote their products and used for product placement.

I don't understand why you're angry with television, its a producers job to promote whatever sells. Its just the media to showcase something that everyone wants or show them that they need whatever they're selling. Its like a kids' advertisement for toys. The child runs to you and says "mommy, would you get me (whatever the commercials had on it)" You ask them why they need it and they don't know. They could Barbie or Dora on a bulldozer and kids would want a bulldozer. Any product or person, no matter how good or talented cannot become sold to the masses without advertising. Its just the way it is.

Angry ...because I so dutifully used to watch my favorite reality shows till a time when I noticed a few of best performers rolling out only because they couldn't get enough public opinion in their favor.
That was when I stopped watching reality shows.

LOL! Stop watching reality shows! Start watching sitcoms like I do! Reality shows is like watching soap operas except that characters die off faster.

I used to watch American Idol but that show is getting too overrated, contestants that I thought were the best got booted off and they kept the ones that got more scream from the audience.

I have studied American Idol since the beginning, there are ways to manipulate the audience to support whomever they want to go on and win. The contestants are helped (with song choices and vocal coaches for their choices) and my question would be was the song choices suggested the best one for that contestant? Was the vocal coaching the best it could have to highlight the contestant's skills and not emphasize their shortcomings in vocal range. Have you listen to the music and background singers? Whoever controls the mixer controls the sound quality of the performers. The judges can manipulate the audience by saying good things or saying mean things which sole purpose is to create audience action and opinion. If they feel the performer was adequate, all Simon has to do is to put them down severely to make you pity them and vote for them. They show family members on the cameras and tell how certain contestants are people who had been down on their luck and this could be their only chance to somebody or else they have to go back to their old job of being a waitress or waiter trying to support a family on meager wages. They also manipulate the contestants' clothing, makeup, hairstyles to sway the people at home to like one more than the other. They point out severe flaws on one contestants and ignore severe flaws from another. They make excuses for some contestants' poor performances and emphasize slight flaws in others.

You have to remember this is not a talent competition, this is entertainment. This is above all else about money.

I could have realized this already or would have waited for your opinion ...that makes no sense because my opinion is very small and voice feeble. If that wasn't the case the number of SMSs beingreceived by these companies wouldn't have continuously increased. People are mad about these game shows and feel their opinions carry weight. They do ...when a majority gets flowed with the wave in favor of a particular contestent ...but usually it's about mass appeal.
If the contestent/organizers/judges have succeeded in winning public opinion in favor of participant of their choice ...their job is done.

Mostly the winner is the most undeserving one ...this is called shock treatment ...that increases TRP and wins viewers' confidence.

So ...I have given up all TV shows and spend my time on zorpia instead! LOL.

Couch potato ...is a funny, yet lovely name ...that you give to yourself.
But don't you think the technology is making us all exactly that? We do nothing the day long -in the workplace or at home ...except for sitting. We don't move out ...don't go to our friends' places and socialize (it's a torture when someone invites us for a meeting, function, or a cremony) ...we barley know our neighbors ...!
And the situation will only worsen with time.... how pathetic!

and to add another on the list it "destroys" your imagination turning into a little robot

Exactly. Your imagination takes you just as far as your favourite TV program allows you. You become a slave.

Oh, but I so agree. Have you noticed some change in your mom's behavior ever since this lady Satan called Ekta Kapoor took over the TV and started showing her verses, Z?

Roflmao at the lady satan!! its not anymore now though :D

and meh mom just watches it to kill time!! :D and my mom is so educated not to take the crap of satans soaps in her life

Mine is too, and she as well watches her soaps equally religiously. I wish all moms were educated so that Her influence didn't show on their behaviors! The darned girl is deliberately polluting the mindsets of Indian ladies.

Oh! sure it happens!! i just couldnt laugh on my mothers comment when she said! that some BA in some soap of her doesnt die though her husband her son her sons son died lol

And then I decided to start watching reality shows instead until they also became crap.
I noticed that she borrowed most of her ideas from The Bold & the Beautiful! :P

Lol!! wish there was something called reality show :D oh it would be so fun <3

Absolutely true for the shows that depend on public opinions or which are intended to garner public money by way of votes.

I slightly differ in opinion about the action reality shows like Fear Factor or Dare to Win, though (so long they are not directly relying on public money to run their shows ....lol).

All these are nothing but stupid things.. Nothing meaningful comes out frm all these...Sorry to say
Lopa

But I find people addicted to it the way we are addicted to zorpia ....hahahaaaaa!

No nohhhhhhh i am not addicted....but i love Zorpia
Smilesssss
Lopa

I know you are not addicted. You only love it to the extent of addiction. lol.

Hahahaha.... is it??