The State of Reality TV

By Virginia Prescott on Thursday, August 7, 2008.
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When reality TV first hit it big almost a decade ago, many rolled their eyes, groaned, and wondered if television could get any worse.

But for everyone who hated the new trend, plenty of people clearly loved it – after all, it’s still going strong today. But for those who wondered if it could get any worse, well, now they have their answer: yes.

Shows like Wife Swap, The Baby Borrowers and I Love Money make some critics long for more innocent days, when watching people eat worms on Survivor was as repulsive as it got.

Today on Word of Mouth, we talk with two women who do not apologize for their love of the genre. Eileen Doherty and Laura Murphy give us the low-down on the newest offerings from the producers of reality television. Laura and Eileen co-own Best Company Ever, a production company based in New York and Los Angeles.

(Photo by leunix)

Sorry that the interview got cut off - I would like to have heard the rest and to know if Laura and Eileen had anything to say about "Cougars - NYC," which will follow over-40 women who date younger men. To quote Kate Harding over at Salon's Broadsheet, "Next stop, MILF Island."

The reality is that "reality" television is completely removed from "reality'. Most of it is manipulated for the screen by producers. It is just another form of human exploitation for an audiences''enjoyment' so that people can escape from reality. Very very sad.

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Word of Mouth is all about what's new. Online and on-air, the show looks at our fascinating and ever-changing world, and puts the latest ideas under a microscope. Word of Mouth investigates everything from science and technology, to health and the environment, to new trends in popular culture. The show airs Monday through Thursday at noon and is hosted by Virginia Prescott.

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