Love Reality TV?
September 19th, 2018 by Proprietor
This is a list of reality television shows that I enjoyed, and still enjoy watching. Some are available on streaming media, while others I purchased years ago, and one or two, I managed to acquire via bit torrents.
The easy to produce, “Unscripted Television” or Reality Television as it started out being called has infested the American television landscape. Granted back in the infancy of television there was Candid Camera, but the total absorption of television and morphing into the current landscape began around 2000.
Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire aired on Fox, and was a fiasco. There was Survivor on CBS, which started a whole craze of sorts. Then the whole television landscape began to change. VH1 from 2006-2010 became my must watch network with a variety of “Of Love” style shows, a few mentioned here. There were other shows on various networks, such as TLC, History, Animal Planet, etc. that I watched, eventually many channels dedicated to certain style programming switched to reality television.
In some ways it is sad that there is no longer any originality or even good scripted television. Granted, it is very costly to produce a program, but many people have shifted their watching style to binge watching. Streaming media services have developed their own forms of programming and cater to that type of watching style. Cable networks, such as HBO, have taken over good scripted television. Interesting how pay channels, like HBO, do not mind investing large sums of money into scripts, while networks with revenue driven finances have moved toward unscripted television. Streaming media services, which make money largely on subscriptions are also investing money into scripted shows.
One might argue that due to how people watch content dictates the shift in who produces scripted vs. unscripted content.
Some of the reality television shows I listed are still running on their respective networks, except, having cut cable six or seven years ago, I have not really kept up with them. Some I can watch on Hulu, the ones that I cannot watch anymore I have downloaded via various methods or I purchased. All of the ones I have listed are ones that conform to my previous post about Television Shows concept. This list is just my opinion, and if you want to watch these shows, give them a shot.
1. Miami Ink – When TLC announced this show, I made note to watch it. At the time I was considering or thinking about a tattoo. Then I watched the show. It was dynamic. Four friends open a tattoo shop in South Beach. The show ultimately lead to my decision to go to South Beach for vacation, because it looked like an awesome place, and it was. I eventually got a tattoo a few years later. The first few seasons were incredible. Very raw and dealt mainly with tattoos, why people got tattoos, and the creativity involved. Then the show slipped more toward drama, eventually the main stars wanted nothing to do with the show, and it ended. This show spun off several other shows. NY Ink was the attempt to reignite a used wet match, yes, I watched it, but it was lacking in any real power, it tried to stay focused on tattoos, but soon collapsed into drama. I purchased the first seasons of Miami Ink on Amazon, and enjoy watching them from time to time.
2. LA Ink – The spin off show of Miami Ink, it starred a former artist from LA, who put together a talented crew. The show did focus on tattoos, but was heavy on drama, and dramatic story telling. A person who was on a reality show at the number three spot, spent over a season on LA Ink as a shop manager. My opinion has softened somewhat on LA Ink, I am missing one season, which is not for sale on Amazon.
3. Rock Of Love – Starring Bret Michaels from the hairband, Poison. Because of my age, Bret Michaels and Poison have a special place in my history, and I enjoy the music. The reality show featured some gorgeous, and not so women competing to be Bret’s woman. It was interesting that as the show evolved through three seasons, things became more risqué. You can watch the unedited versions of the show on Hulu. I have the censored versions downloaded. To be honest, it is nice to see some boobies in a show, yet boobies are not the only reason to watch the show. One contestant went on to be in LA Ink, another came from the number four show, and managed to be on several other shows in this list, eventually getting her own show.
4. Beauty And The Geek – Started on one network, then moved to a merged network, the first season was one I never saw. I think I watched the second season during a marathon, and decided to see the third. Eventually I managed to own the first season on Amazon, and bit torrent the other four seasons, so I can watch them whenever I desire. Watching the seasons is interesting, since you can see how the producers were trying to keep the show fresh. The fourth season featured a male beauty, and then the fifth season sort of jumped the shark. It would have been nice to see the show released in a box set with some outtakes. The Beauty vs. Geek talent show from season 5 in it’s entirety would have been interesting to watch, and the comedy routines form season 3 might have some appeal.
5. Pit Boss – A little person talent agent who ran a pitbull rescue. Shorty Rossi was dedicated to his cause. The show was refreshing in some ways, very interesting in many ways. Unfortunately Shorty came across sometimes as so obsessed with his mission, he did not treat people well. It is a wonderful show to watch. It is one in this list that I do not have downloaded nor can I find it on streaming networks.
6. I Love Money – Created by the “Of Love” genre creators of VH1, this show took people from various shows, and they competed for money. $250,000 in money! There were four seasons, though the third never aired. Some of the people were just as genuine as they were on previous shows, others became more annoying, and it became a very entertaining mix. Season 2 was strongest, and the last season, which would be 4, was the weakest. Still a great watch if you can find the shows. I have the first two due to purchasing and downloading, the final one I got through bit torrents.
7. Flavor of Love – This is the show that launched all the other “Of Love” type shows that made VH1 a must watch channel for me for several years. Flavor Flav tried to find the love of his life from 20 women, whom competed in various challenges. The show lasted three seasons, so he was not very successful. It was still very entertaining. It can be seen on Hulu, and is available to download at various sites.
8. MythBusters – When this show launched on Discovery, it made science fun. Because it gained in popularity and following, one can see the evolution of the show, and willingness of the network to pour money into production as seasons rolled by. Due to having cut cable television six or seven years ago, I missed a few seasons, but I caught up due to Hulu. Now the show has ended. It is sad, but I understand how the two main characters grew tired.
9. Deadliest Catch – Discovery made crab fishing interesting. It is a brutally dangerous job, and the men who work on the ships are extremely brave. I have not viewed recent seasons, and I have tried to catch up on Hulu, but that seems to be a difficult task. There has been drama off the screen as well, and things have changed dramatically since I was last capable of viewing the show. Still incredible to watch, because I have viewed a few new episodes when I was staying in a hotel for work related training.
10. Daisy Of Love – A spin off “Of Love” show. Daisy De La Hoya was one of two women from season two of Rock of Love to end up with her own show. Daisy was the petite, tattooed, sultry blond with a chipper personality. She did choose the wrong guy for her, but the show itself was entertaining.
11. Pawn Stars – Being a frequent Las Vegas visitor, when History announced this show, and the obvious play on words, I was interested. I have passed by Gold & Silver Pawn many times, but never stopped in. Once the show became popular, it became impossible to see the shop. Many of the items that show up are interesting, as are some of the experts. Managed to catch up on the show via Hulu.
12. Storage Wars – Who thought auctions of storage units could be interesting? A&E did. The first few seasons were indeed interesting. Then it sort of faded, and drama ensued. The show still holds some interest for me, but the recent seasons I have managed to watch via streaming media have indicated the show has simply jumped the shark. New people are not as interesting as the original cast. One woman has moved from a spin off show to the main show.
These are my views and opinions on reality television, and shows I actually do watch or re-watch from time to time.
Thanks for stopping by.