Comments on: Why Romance Writers Love Reality TV

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:11:48 +0000

Aren’t those dancers great, Andrea? But I don’t TIVO. If I miss it, I miss it. Life is too short to work backwards>

Thanks Lynn. I never could do the court shows but I know many folks who do. They were really the opening act for reality TV, weren’t they? I remember when People’s Court debuted and what an uproar it caused. Real court proceedings on TV? Now we don’t even blink.

By: Lynn Emery

Lynn Emery — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:28:41 +0000

I love your breakdown of the similarities. I’m a court TV junkie, love The People’s Court. Got hook on Project Runway for a time as well. Great post!

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:11:41 +0000

Barbara, I’m not a fan of the “hook up with someone” shows either. Had trouble watching premiere of BABY BOOMER last night. Intrigued but it didn’t grab me.

TOP CHEF is tops with me too.

By: Andrea Jackson

Andrea Jackson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:42:37 +0000

I loved the post AND the funny/revealing responses. Good topic, Pat. And I have to agree with you. My addictions are AI and Survivor. And I just discovered So You Think You Can Dance. *sigh* At least my Tivo keeps me from living around their schedule.

By: Barbara Samuel

Barbara Samuel — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:19:23 +0000

Reality tv is almost all I watch. Gotta say I do not love the bachelor shows, but I make up for it by being completely hooked on Make Me a SuperModel.

Top Chef is my #1, followed by Survivor. Bummed out that Amazing Race has been missing for so long, though.

By: LaConnie

LaConnie — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:48:29 +0000

Hi Patirica:

Love your post!!

And you are so right about reality shows and romance.

Now if I can get my kids to leave me alone for just a little while, I might be able to watch a show in peace and write a scene without bring up a fight

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:33:48 +0000

Bettye, L&O got me through many sleepless nights with my now teenager. In fact, I first watched them in syndication on A&E.

But even with all the variations–SVU, Criminal Intent, Trial by Jury, etc–after a while it starts feeling all the same for me.

By: Bettye Griffin

Bettye Griffin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:50:30 +0000

“Do you watch reality television?”

Uh-uh. I’m a Law & Order junkie. That show has everything I need to inspire fiction writing – dry humor, sparkling dialogue, conniving minds, a gamut of emotion, and at least one dead body!

But I’m glad the whole book storyline construction thing is clearer with reality TV for so many of y’all!

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:55:24 +0000

Donna, this is the worst kept secret in writerdom!

A lot of folks complain about the quality of TV programming. But I like mine either extremely informative as in PBS specials or completely mindless, as in reality TV (and sitcoms). For deeper entertainment, I read.

By: Donna Lea Simpson

Donna Lea Simpson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:20:54 +0000

Y’know, I thought I was the only one, that it was my ‘guilty secret’, my junk TV addiction… sigh. And then you go and ‘out’ a writer’s weakness!! LOL.

But truly, I am Reality TV Junkie with a capital Junk. I watch AI, Survivor, BigBrother, Bachelorette, House Hunters, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent, etc.

My latest fix ended last night, Canada’s Worst Handyman… holy catfish! Talk about ‘types’. The Worst Handyman prize was given to a fellow by the name of Joe ‘The Bullet’ Barbarro (sp??), and the only handyman tool he wielded with authority was a sledgehammer.

And that’s the secret of my addiction; watching the ‘types’, and how they interact. I believe very little of it is ‘reality’, but even the choices the editor and producers make are revealing, I think, in terms of popular taste. It’s junk food for the mind, but then, I do love popcorn and chocolate, too! Ultimately, it’s harmless, I think, because I also like more ‘worthy’ shows like John Adams, good movies, historical documentaries, etc.