How REAL is REALity TV?
Chelsea Goldston, opinion editor

The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, The Real World. Reality television: Is it truly unscripted or could it be unrealistic?

Do the women of “The Bachelor” honestly have no idea about what they are auditioning for?  Do the contestants of “The Biggest Loser” truly stick to the strict diet and excruciating workout?  If so, what is the secret behind their rapid weight loss? 

Members of “The Real World” seem to just live each day as it comes, or do the producers of the show instigate conflict to catch the attention of more viewers? 

Why can’t reality television be realistic?  With new ideas for the next top reality show, you can’t help but wonder why producers are labeling these shows as “realistic” when reality is not being perceived.

What are the requirements for reality television shows?  How important is appearance?  Producers of MTV’s “The Real World” claim

“We never choose anyone for The Real World solely on the way that they look. There are many factors that go into each casting decision and we are being very honest when we say that personality comes first. We want dynamic, outgoing people that can't help but be themselves regardless of their race, ethnicity, or appearance.” 

How many ugly people have you seen on “The Real World”?  There are times when MTV selects gorgeous people, and then there are those not-so-gorgeous people.  But have you ever seen an overweight, unattractive looking person at one of “The Real World” houses?

“The Bachelor” seems to almost always have beautiful women with amazing bodies.  The only thing that really sets them apart is their attitudes.  Do the producers of the show initially select women with different personalities?  They choose a few with a kind personality and great sense of humor, mix them among the sarcastic women with appalling attitudes, and WOLLAH! DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA!

Here are a few of the requirements needed for “The Bachelor”:

• All applicants must be single. To qualify as “single”, the applicant must not currently be involved in a committed intimate relationship, which includes: any marital relationship (whether or not the parties are separated or currently in the process of divorcing or annulling such marriage); any co-habitation relationship involving physical intimacy; or a monogamous dating relationship more than two (2) months in duration.

• Individuals with children are not eligible.

• Applicants must never have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, other than a minor traffic violation. Applicants must not have ever had a restraining order entered against them.

• All applicants understand and acknowledge that participation in the Program, including, without limitation, the activities and events arranged by the Program coordinator, may expose applicant and other participants to the risk of death, serious injury, illness or disease and/or property damage. Applicants must be willing and able to participate in physical activities such as: skydiving, snow skiing, ice skating, Para-sailing, water skiing, rollerblading, and the like. Applicants must sign a release attesting to the fact that the applicant understands and knowingly and willingly agrees to assume such risks.

Amy Winter from offourbacks.org stated that, “Unlike the latter shows, where participants go under the knife, the transformations on “The Biggest Loser”—a show where fat people compete to lose the most weight, while being coached by “celebrity trainers” and tempted by “disallowed” foods- are left to willpower and self-denial.” 

I find this very well stated.  She also wrote that “The Biggest Loser” is completely dependent on the assumptions and misinformation about weight and dieting that saturate mainstream media, reinforced by the increasing hysteria about the “obesity epidemic.”

The argument goes something like this: Fat people are fat because they eat too much and lay around all day, and fat is ugly, plus unhealthy! If fat people just worked out and didn’t eat so much, they could become thin and beautiful like the rest of us, and all their problems would be solved.” 

The problem with the stereotype that “slimmer is better” is growing further and further away from the truth.  Two-thirds of America is overweight. Hence, the slender appearance of lean people is becoming more and more unfamiliar.  So many people are accustomed to spending hundreds of dollars on losing weight, instead of trying to better their life without worrying about their appearance.  Oddly enough, the thin people in this country seem undernourished, while the overweight seem healthy.  Do the contestants of “The Biggest Loser” want to better their lives or just lose weight to look better?

The point of reality television is to bring in viewers by making reality TV seem real.  Producers want the viewers to think that shows apply to them.

So the question remains… Is reality television truly based on actual events and actions of every-day life?