s it worth watching a reality show?

Introduction:

Reality shows have become one of the most popular trends on Indian television these days.
Almost every channel is airing at least one reality show at a time with such enthusiasm that
some of the regular good soaps are being pushed back. People have shown like for reality
shows. The TRP touches sky in no time and everyone seems to be generating good output
from these shows.

However, there is a considerably large section of people who oppose and despise reality
shows as something that would spread like viruses and have bad effects. There are
reasons behind all that hatred for they believe these shows are so designed to make the
reel appear as real, when most of the part is pre-planned, creating illusions that makes
youngsters star struck.

Yes:

1. Entertainment: The very reason why most of us would be willing to spare a couple of

hours after having a hectic day at work, watching a reality show is because we need our
daily dose of entertainment and leisure. For some of us who simply want to kill time at the
end of the day, these shows are a good escape. One thing that cannot be denied about
reality shows is that their entertainment level is quite high. Their TRP touching sky is not
just the gift of luck but their entertaining capability. They feature physical tasks and
competitions that are fun to watch, not to forget the all too real looking arguments.

2. Recognition and motivation: The best thing about reality shows, especially the talent
hunting ones, is that they are successful in passing on a good message that even a
common person could get fame and popularity if they are willing to try harder. We have
seen stars emerge from reality shows – people who had plethora of talent but were not
recognized until a reality show happened to them. Ayushman Khurana, the heartthrob
singer and actor might not have been what he is today, if it wasn’t for his Rodies fame.

3. Opening up: Not everyone is expressive and bold enough to open up about their
problems and struggle in life. While some always rant about their problems, some are shy
and keep things to themselves. For introverts, reality shows have always proved to be a
boon. Living with strangers, facing real life challenges makes them come out of their shy
zone and socialize with people. Socializing and communicating is an important aspect of a
person’s personality which automatically gets enhanced in such shows.

4. Break from life after life shows: Reality shows are the best thing that happened to
Indian television. Those lengthy soaps and serials that continued from one generation to
another and then to another lifespan were infuriating and boring at the same time. The
same stories everywhere in every channel, a tortured daughter-in-law and a sadist mother-
in-law made most people abominate television for the same reason. That’s when reality
shows came and brought relief.

5. Real life advises: Some reality shows can have therapeutic effect on people. Good
morals and behaviors are rewarded while bad comportment and cheating is punished.
‘Interventions’ and ‘Celebrity Rehabs’ are good shows that showed how people could get rid
of their addictions and how easy and friendly it can be to live in a rehabilitation center. A
similar reality show on Indian television, few years back, showed how obese people could
counter their eating habits and lose weight while staying healthy and fit.

No:

1. Not so real after all: These shows that pass for ‘reality shows’ are not so real after all.
There are scripted, and create fake situations with such precision that it passes for real.
Recently, there was a lot of ranting when Prince Narula won Big Boss 9 with claims from
fellow participants about the show being scripted from the beginning and that it was already
decided who the winner would be. Deception and fiction is supposed to come from soaps
and serials and not from reality shows that claim to bring you things as it happens in real
life.

2. Melodrama excess: These days reality shows have also adopted the melodramatic
nature of the tiresome saas-bahu serials and they have completely outdone themselves
while adapting this feature. Too much added melodrama has made these shows seeming
like fiction already. People watch reality shows that has their favorite celebrity out of
curiosity of knowing the real life person but what they get is an elaborated and scripted
character who makes and breaks her own image just for money. A couple gets married on a
reality show all of a sudden and people go gaga over their romance only to later discover
that they filed divorce soon after the show ended. Disappointed to extremity.

3. Waste of public money: All those shows like Big Boss that ask for people to vote and
save their favorite contestant from being eliminated are simply earning with less budget.
People vote in large numbers. Both telecom company and the show gets all the money
spent on messaging while the eliminated and the winner gets decided with no involvement
of voting count. Aman Verma, who was very much liked by people gets eliminated in sixth
week and later opens up to clarify that it was all scripted right from the beginning.

4. Galling effect on people: A guy utterly crazy about a particular reality show, tries to get
selected auditioning numerous times, and then names his newborn after the show’s name.
How maddening can it get? The huge crowd outside audition centers of reality shows,
standing hours in scorching sun and winter fog, is the living proof that these shows have a
real galling effect on fans. Some leave their jobs and responsibilities to participate in these
reality shows that asks them to live in-house for three or more month without interacting
with their families.

5. Abusive language: Those advocating for it to be perfectly fine to abuse in aggression as

people would do in real situations are totally forgetting that these shows are watched by
children and minors too. They would beep the phrase or word but that only makes children
more curious.

Conclusion:

Reality shows might not be all that real but they are very much a thing these days. You can
hate them all you want but you cannot ignore them. They are popular because they are
being liked and getting good ratings from people. If people are irked by these shows they
can show their anger by not watching and rating them anymore but that doesn’t seem to be
happening since more and more such shows are coming up each month, scrapping the
traditional serials for good.