Reality Shows

I have only seen a few Springer shows. But I still know that if my significant other (whether of two weeks or two years) asks me to go on the Jerry Springer, I'm not going to be dumb enough to go. I figure that the guys/gals who end up being embarrassed on the show are lied to about why they're on the show, but how gullible does one have to be? I can't imagine what story would be so tempting that I'd risk it. But then again, how many of those people are putting on a act to get on TV.

It's one thing to pull a stunt to get on Jerry Springer, but it's another to get engaged. Take "Married by America" back in 2003. The basic plot is that short segments on several men and women are shown, and then the viewers can call in to vote for who they think should get engaged to whom (and pay a couple of bucks per call while they're at it), and then the most voted couple agree to get married. It's one thing to go on a blind date, but another to get engaged solely based on the judgement of people who sit at home and spend some $20 on a show (that's if they only vote once per couple). And that's not even considering how many jokers are sure to call in to set you up with some asshole.

And then there was "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?", where some women agree to marry some millionaire sight unseen. Now, while it's not something that I'd be a part of, I can actually see this as being a reasonable option for some people. How many good looking women are simply looking to marry a rich man? So for them, why not simply cut out all the dating, get hitched to some loser, get the money, and have a 'headache' from then on out? The guy was just some goofy looking putz, who's only real chance for marriage is that some girl will do so for money anyway. So, why not be a part of that show and get to pick the one you think looks best? It's about as close to an actual marriage that some of these people will get to.

I still watch a few reality shows, but not many. Shows like "Amazing Race" that are mostly based on competition instead of any "voting off" crap, or "dating" shows.

---jps