By reading this blog you all can see that I clearly watch numerous reality TV shows. For the most part I like them a lot. However, sometimes the reality TV shows that are created by producers and TV networks make me wonder where did all of their creativity go. MTV has a new reality TV show dedicated to pop sensation Ke$ha. The name of the show is called "Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful life."
The episode I saw was about Ke$ha being on tour through out Europe and Asia. One of the interesting parts of the show was when Ke$ha revealed her yearning for a male companion and how she was eyeing one of her male drummers. Everything else in that episode was pretty simple and non-interesting (at least to me). Hopefully the rest of the season becomes more exciting and keeps enough interest in their viewers for a second season.
Reality TV is cool wen done properly. Not everyone is fit for reality TV and not because someone is a famous celebrity doesn't mean he or she would make for great reality TV. Watching that episode and snippets of other episodes of that show made me think about what was TV before reality TV became so popular. The fictional shows that are on TV now are pretty good, but they don't compare to the family sitcoms or other TV shows that were popular before reality TV.
Now, I'm not complaining because, again, I'm a fan of reality TV. When I watch reality TV, however, I want it to be worthy still. This meaning I would like a reality TV show not to be boring. One of the key elements in reality TV is something that sparks great interest or controversy from or within the viewers. Reality TV shows that are hilarious or drama-filled or very emotional are the top shows of their networks i.e. "Teen Mom," "Housewives of Atlanta," "Jersey Shore" (when it was on TV still), "Bad girls Club." These are worthy reality TV series.
The question then becomes: Is reality TV taking over television in general? This isn't a new found question because this genre of television has been popular for years now, but sometimes I contemplate this thought as I'm watching girls fight each other or teenage girls worry about who their next boyfriend will be instead of focusing on their child. I guess time will only tell the nature and future of the color bars on the tube.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Welcome to Womanhood
Yayy! We have our own show!
I know boys and men all over the country were extremely excited when MTV2 created the reality TV series "Boy Code." Though I never watched an episode I heard it's hilarious and very relatable. On April 23, 2013 MTV premiered the same show for the opposite sex, "Girl Code!" To be honest, I wasn't going watch it because I didn't think it would be anything interesting but I was wrong. I saw one episode and I was extremely impressed. It's not only hilarious but the subjects the ladies talk about and the advice they give are extremely true and relatable as well. Almost every girl and young woman can agree on what these women talk about and their opinions.
Some of the cast members include Allison Carter, Carly Aquilino, Nessa, Esther Ku, Jamie Lee, and some male cast members such as Charlamagne, Chris Distefano and many others. The topics of discussion include bathroom etiquette, snooping, self-control, size of a man's genitals, and other "female" issues or concerns.
Girl Code sneak peak
I know boys and men all over the country were extremely excited when MTV2 created the reality TV series "Boy Code." Though I never watched an episode I heard it's hilarious and very relatable. On April 23, 2013 MTV premiered the same show for the opposite sex, "Girl Code!" To be honest, I wasn't going watch it because I didn't think it would be anything interesting but I was wrong. I saw one episode and I was extremely impressed. It's not only hilarious but the subjects the ladies talk about and the advice they give are extremely true and relatable as well. Almost every girl and young woman can agree on what these women talk about and their opinions.
Some of the cast members include Allison Carter, Carly Aquilino, Nessa, Esther Ku, Jamie Lee, and some male cast members such as Charlamagne, Chris Distefano and many others. The topics of discussion include bathroom etiquette, snooping, self-control, size of a man's genitals, and other "female" issues or concerns.
Girl Code sneak peak
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Undercover Boss
How would you feel if the CEO or a high executive from the corporate position of your job came to the place you worked and pretended to be an ordinary worker to see how the company is running? I'm guessing the emotions that may come to mind are deceived, tricked, confused, nervous, anxious, surprised. Well the workers that receive visits from their bosses on the TV show Undercover Boss know exactly what these emotions feel like.
Undercover Boss is a CBS channel Emmy award-winning reality TV series that is created by Stephen Lambert. In the show senior executives go undercover in their own companies to examine the work flow of the company to see how the company REALLY works and figure out if it needs improvements. During the show, the workers who are introduced are either extremely good workers who deserve more credit and recognition or workers who need more guidance. At the end of an episode the boss uncovers his or her façade to the associates he or she was working with and creates improvements for how the company should be running or rewards the associates for being apart of making the company run smoothly.
I really admire this show because its something positive about reality TV. Nowadays, reality TV is all about drama and violence. In a television studies or video productions mentality that's acceptable because that is truly what people want to see when it comes to reality TV; drama and violence sells just like sex.
However, this show changes lives in a positive way. Senior executives who are extremely wealthy and live in a fancy house don't get to experience the "nitty gritty" of their companies. A lot of the bosses are usually surprised when they meet their workers who are struggling or have overcame some kind of adversity in their lives, but are still positive people at work. This TV show expresses that people who work hard in life get rewarded. Some people receive cash awards, others may receive a vacation, a promotion, or some advancement in their personal lives. The show has a very good motive and teaches life lesson on both sides: the senior executive and the worker.
Undercover Boss is a CBS channel Emmy award-winning reality TV series that is created by Stephen Lambert. In the show senior executives go undercover in their own companies to examine the work flow of the company to see how the company REALLY works and figure out if it needs improvements. During the show, the workers who are introduced are either extremely good workers who deserve more credit and recognition or workers who need more guidance. At the end of an episode the boss uncovers his or her façade to the associates he or she was working with and creates improvements for how the company should be running or rewards the associates for being apart of making the company run smoothly.
I really admire this show because its something positive about reality TV. Nowadays, reality TV is all about drama and violence. In a television studies or video productions mentality that's acceptable because that is truly what people want to see when it comes to reality TV; drama and violence sells just like sex.
However, this show changes lives in a positive way. Senior executives who are extremely wealthy and live in a fancy house don't get to experience the "nitty gritty" of their companies. A lot of the bosses are usually surprised when they meet their workers who are struggling or have overcame some kind of adversity in their lives, but are still positive people at work. This TV show expresses that people who work hard in life get rewarded. Some people receive cash awards, others may receive a vacation, a promotion, or some advancement in their personal lives. The show has a very good motive and teaches life lesson on both sides: the senior executive and the worker.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Paris is Burning
A couple of days ago I watched an amazing documentary called Paris is Burning. The documentary was directed by Jennie Livingston in 1990. Paris is Burning is about the ball culture and homosexual, transgender, and transsexual lifestyles of African American and Latino men in the boroughs of New York in the mid-late 80s.
This documentary focuses on several key characters who talk about their involvement in balls which can also be considered drag queen show and how being or gay and/or a drag queen has affected their lives. Some of the characters in the documentary include Pepper Labeija, Dorien Carey, Octavia St. Laurent and Venus Extravaganza.
Paris is Burning explores controversial themes such as gender discrimination, HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, transsexual changes, poverty, as well as the battle between race, wealth, and power. Livingston did a great job exposing these issues in the African American and Latino GLBT communities.
One of the most striking, yet frustrating, things I found interesting is how these black and Latino gay and transsexual men in this documentary viewed beauty and who had beauty. These young ethnic men saw white wealthy women as the epitome of beauty. Octavia St. Laurent idolized white models and acknowledged them as the ultimate beauty. There were no images of black models and successful black women for these men to look up to and be inspired by. Most of these men were struggling with their identity as far as gender and sex, but being secure within their own skin of being a black man seemed to me as another indirect issue they had.
There were may social and political issues that could be pointed out in this documentary but this one was the most relevant to me. I think these issues are what made the documentary so good because it made the viewer think about the issues back then that are still occurring now. In addition, it gave viewers insight to some of the functions of the African American and Latino GLBT communities in New York in the 80s that can be seen today in various GLBT communities around the world. I would definitely recommend viewing this documentary. I saw it on Netflix, but is also on Hulu.
This documentary focuses on several key characters who talk about their involvement in balls which can also be considered drag queen show and how being or gay and/or a drag queen has affected their lives. Some of the characters in the documentary include Pepper Labeija, Dorien Carey, Octavia St. Laurent and Venus Extravaganza.
Paris is Burning explores controversial themes such as gender discrimination, HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, transsexual changes, poverty, as well as the battle between race, wealth, and power. Livingston did a great job exposing these issues in the African American and Latino GLBT communities.
One of the most striking, yet frustrating, things I found interesting is how these black and Latino gay and transsexual men in this documentary viewed beauty and who had beauty. These young ethnic men saw white wealthy women as the epitome of beauty. Octavia St. Laurent idolized white models and acknowledged them as the ultimate beauty. There were no images of black models and successful black women for these men to look up to and be inspired by. Most of these men were struggling with their identity as far as gender and sex, but being secure within their own skin of being a black man seemed to me as another indirect issue they had.
There were may social and political issues that could be pointed out in this documentary but this one was the most relevant to me. I think these issues are what made the documentary so good because it made the viewer think about the issues back then that are still occurring now. In addition, it gave viewers insight to some of the functions of the African American and Latino GLBT communities in New York in the 80s that can be seen today in various GLBT communities around the world. I would definitely recommend viewing this documentary. I saw it on Netflix, but is also on Hulu.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Message To You
This post isn't about TV. I would like to talk about something different. It touched me deeply that I want to share it.
On Monday (April 15, 2013), I went to the movie theater and saw Temptation. It is Tyler Perry's latest masterpiece. I was excited to see this movie from the very first time I saw the trailer. It seemed like it was going to be something different from his other movies. The topic was different and so were the actors. I must admit seeing Kim Kardashian having a legit acting role in a Tyler Perry movie made me a little skeptical, but it was well worth it.
I was blown away! Besides the moral of the movie, the theme of the movie is often something the audience and Tyler Perry fans are going to appreciate. I say the word appreciate because the theme of Temptation is certainly unique from family values, religious beliefs, or humanitarian actions and people want to see that a producer or screenwriter can be versatile in their move topics. However, those were still prevalent themes in the movie they just weren't the central theme. The acting was great! Tyler Perry always has amazing actors. In my opinion Kim Kardashian wasn't a bad actress, but he part didn't require to much acting skill because her character seemed very similar to her true self. Lance Gross, Jurnee Smollett, Ella Joyce, and Robbie Jones were outstanding!
I don't want to give away the plot of the story, but the actors and Tyler Perry do an amazing job of displaying how powerful temptation is. What happens in the movie happens to people everywhere all of the time and it's very unfortunate. This movie has surely made me evaluate some things in my life, but I like that. I Love a movie that makes me think profoundly about what is going on in my life and what is occurring in the world. Anyone can benefit from watching this movie ad learn extremely serious life lessons.
Message to you: Dear readers, do not be tempted by what looks good or sounds appealing on the exterior. Get to know the interior before making any sudden decisions because you will find your self in a very compromising position.
On Monday (April 15, 2013), I went to the movie theater and saw Temptation. It is Tyler Perry's latest masterpiece. I was excited to see this movie from the very first time I saw the trailer. It seemed like it was going to be something different from his other movies. The topic was different and so were the actors. I must admit seeing Kim Kardashian having a legit acting role in a Tyler Perry movie made me a little skeptical, but it was well worth it.
I was blown away! Besides the moral of the movie, the theme of the movie is often something the audience and Tyler Perry fans are going to appreciate. I say the word appreciate because the theme of Temptation is certainly unique from family values, religious beliefs, or humanitarian actions and people want to see that a producer or screenwriter can be versatile in their move topics. However, those were still prevalent themes in the movie they just weren't the central theme. The acting was great! Tyler Perry always has amazing actors. In my opinion Kim Kardashian wasn't a bad actress, but he part didn't require to much acting skill because her character seemed very similar to her true self. Lance Gross, Jurnee Smollett, Ella Joyce, and Robbie Jones were outstanding!
I don't want to give away the plot of the story, but the actors and Tyler Perry do an amazing job of displaying how powerful temptation is. What happens in the movie happens to people everywhere all of the time and it's very unfortunate. This movie has surely made me evaluate some things in my life, but I like that. I Love a movie that makes me think profoundly about what is going on in my life and what is occurring in the world. Anyone can benefit from watching this movie ad learn extremely serious life lessons.
Message to you: Dear readers, do not be tempted by what looks good or sounds appealing on the exterior. Get to know the interior before making any sudden decisions because you will find your self in a very compromising position.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Wicked Single...I think Wicked Not
Let's talk about one of VH1's newest reality TV show series, Wicked Single. For those who haven't seen it, it's a reality TV series about several friends who live in Boston and how they interact with each other, party, and work in the city. Now, being a native of Boston, MA I thought I should at least watch one episode to see how it is. I'm not a fan at all. These are the problems I have with the show:
1. Most of the cast members are not actually from Boston. They are from suburban towns or cities in MA such as Franklin and Hingham. Only one character is from the city of Boston.
2. Their "Bostonian accents" seem a little exaggerated. I know a great deal of people from Boston speak like "paahk the caah on the street (park the car on the street)" but NOT EVERYONE has this accent.
3. It's boring! I saw one episode and I was more embarrassed than I was impressed. There is no drama that is reality TV worthy and the partying that is seen isn't exciting. It makes me wonder why they would make a reality TV series out of these people lives.
I understand why the producers named the show Wicked Single because there are many people from the state of MA who used the word 'wicked' to describe something extremely good or outrageous. However, most people who live in the city such as places like Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, South Boston, don't use the word 'wicked' as much as the show and producers make them seem. Moreover, people who live in Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury don't have an extreme Bostonian accent like how the cast members of the show do.
If the producers actually picked people who live in the city, there would be a much more diverse cast as well. Despite what many people think, there are more races and ethnic groups living in Boston and other parts of MA than just Caucasian people.
Just wanted to share my thoughts about this show, that's all.
1. Most of the cast members are not actually from Boston. They are from suburban towns or cities in MA such as Franklin and Hingham. Only one character is from the city of Boston.
2. Their "Bostonian accents" seem a little exaggerated. I know a great deal of people from Boston speak like "paahk the caah on the street (park the car on the street)" but NOT EVERYONE has this accent.
3. It's boring! I saw one episode and I was more embarrassed than I was impressed. There is no drama that is reality TV worthy and the partying that is seen isn't exciting. It makes me wonder why they would make a reality TV series out of these people lives.
I understand why the producers named the show Wicked Single because there are many people from the state of MA who used the word 'wicked' to describe something extremely good or outrageous. However, most people who live in the city such as places like Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, South Boston, don't use the word 'wicked' as much as the show and producers make them seem. Moreover, people who live in Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury don't have an extreme Bostonian accent like how the cast members of the show do.
If the producers actually picked people who live in the city, there would be a much more diverse cast as well. Despite what many people think, there are more races and ethnic groups living in Boston and other parts of MA than just Caucasian people.
Just wanted to share my thoughts about this show, that's all.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Seeing the Artist but Knowing the Person
I totally admire VH1 network for their Behind The Music TV series. It allows us viewers and fans too watch the lives of our favorite musical artists and see how they made it to the career paths they did. Some people are actually incredibly surprised to witness how some of their favorite artists used too look in high school or their real names. I find it very interesting because it proves that everyone has their own life story of where they came from and where they ended up regardless of economic status or pop culture fame. Behind the Music reminds us that celebrities are people too and went through the same struggles that we did or sometimes even worse.
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