I'm sure that more than a few of you have seen this show, and I was wondering what most folks opinions are.

When I first saw commercials, I was apalled. Reality TV has gone too far, parading people's deepest pains in front of millions of couch potatoes all over the civilized world. And, after seeing it, I pretty much reinforced that feeling. However, like a bloody car wreck, I just couldn't turn it off, and ended up watching a boy genius turned gambling addict manipulate his parents into paying his bills in exchange for getting help. :rolleyes:

Do you think subjects like this are acceptable for Reality TV? Where would you draw the line?

Personally, I think the whole genre of Reality TV is a new low for a medium that excels in new lows (and Intervention represents the lowest of the low...so far.)

What's your opinion?

:wall:

The Rev

(BTW, none of my criticisms of Reality TV extend to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. That show rocks! :rockon: )

I watch it every week. I don't see the big deal. If being on TV is the only way some of those folks can get thier loved ones to get help, I'm all for it. I've saw that episode you mentioned, other gamblers, pill heads, sex addicts, coke addicts, and shopaholics. Some of them got help, some didn't. I don't think the show is making fun of these people's problems; just showcasing it in exchange for free help. I don't see a problem with it.

I never heard of it, but I've always hated reality TV, even way back in the 1970's, with crap like Real People and The Gong Show littering the airwaves. I avoid the genre completely. I've even gotten tired of Queer Eye.

My two cents, Rev.

Yech. :no:

I see enough desperate, miserable people in real life, thanks very much. I don't have a particular beef with "Intervention" but I don't watch it. Come to think of it, I don't watch any shows with real people in them, even fictional ones.

"Area woman constantly mentioning she doesn't own television." :p
-paraphrase from onion.

ebola

If being on TV is the only way some of those folks can get thier loved ones to get help, I'm all for it.

Good point.

:beer:

The Rev

Intervention doesn't irritate me as much as Growing up Gotti.. but then I've only ever seen the previews for both. Neither are on my list of things to watch.

"Area woman constantly mentioning she doesn't own television." :p
-paraphrase from onion.

ebola

Was that pour moi? Oh, I own one all right...I'm just obsessed with animated shows, not actual people. No TV snobbery here. I spend hours staring at my furniture.

I think I'm just oversensitive [in the pathetic wuss way, not the imaginative touchy-feely way]. When we were watching the trailers for "Intervention" I was just reminded of all the Vancouver junkies and all of our friends who are in various stages of collapse...M and I looked at each other and turned it off, stat.

I hate reality TV...

There has been 2 or 3 good reality tv shows in the past 5 years .... tops. The other 197,328 (ish) are C R A P. Chuck this one on the pile, right along with Swan.

There has been 2 or 3 good reality tv shows in the past 5 years .... tops. The other 197,328 (ish) are C R A P. Chuck this one on the pile, right along with Swan.

Yeah, The Swan WAS kinda creepy.

"Bob won't see Heather until their wedding day, when she'll be totally unrecognizable to him due to extensive cosmetic surgery from our crack team of surgeons!" (Little do the contestants know that we've replaced their regular doctors with last week's winners on Iron Chefs)

:worried:

The Rev

I just saw a commercial for "princes of bel air" or something of the sort. I don't like most of the reality tv shows, but shows like that take the cake. Why on earth do I want to see someone who has gazillions of dollars and can afford everything . . . PLUS they are getting a gazillion dollars more for being on a stupid reality show . . .

I watched Nanny 911 last night. Not too bad, but after watching the hellion boys run loose, I would have really liked to have handed out some spankings. The parents were just idiots to ever let it reach that point.

I think intervention is more for showing people how dangerous and scary and sad and pathetic addiction to drugs can be and trying to dissuade people from doing them, and show that in every case there are people who care and love you and can help you, rather then just parading this individual's issues around on screen.

I hate reality TV, but I do find myself getting surrounded and sucked into it. I'm with you on the Nanny show, Tame. I also like Queer Eye. And I liked the one where guys had to dress in drag. But mostly I stick to my cartoons.

I quite like Intervention actually, that and American / Canadian Idol are they only reality shows I watch.
And I am not ashamed. :smoke:

At least there's a purpose for that one, even if it's exploitative like the rest. I was fascinated seeing the anorexic and alcoholic episode.

I watched Nanny 911 last night. Not too bad, but after watching the hellion boys run loose, I would have really liked to have handed out some spankings. The parents were just idiots to ever let it reach that point.

Are you talking about the one where the parents let the kids eat candy and junk food ALL DAY LONG? That was insane.

Of course, to me, one of the really great things about that show is how the nannies show how simple it is to have a peaceful, controlled household WITHOUT using physical violence...but that's just me.