Interviews

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Do you enjoy watching reality TV shows? Why or why not? Why do millions continue to watch such shows?

1. Reality TV shows are mostly scripted.
2. Reality TV is entertaining even if it isn’t realistic.
3. Reality TV teaches people about real life.
4. Watching reality TV can be relaxing after a stressful day.
5. Reality TV encourages unhealthy competition and stress between people.
6. Some reality shows can be educational.
7. Reality TV is more entertaining than traditional television shows.
8. Producers often edit shows to create drama.
9. Reality TV influences how people behave in real life.

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:

• scripted (adjective): planned or written in advance even if it appears natural
  – Many viewers believe reality TV is partially scripted to create drama.
• rivalry (noun): strong competition between people or groups
  – The show created a rivalry between two contestants.
• binge-watch (verb): watch many episodes of a show in a short time
  – She binge-watched an entire season of the show in one weekend.
• vapid (adjective): lacking interesting or meaningful content
  – Critics say some reality TV shows are entertaining but vapid.
• backstabbing (noun): betrayal or deception, often secretly
  – The show was full of backstabbing between contestants.

Now, watch the interview and answer the comprehension questions. You can also turn on the automatically-generated captions for the video once you start it.

Randall: In this video, aubrey, let’s talk about reality TV. I think some people really enjoy it, and other people hate it. What do you think are some of the positive or negative ideas associated with this media type?

Aubrey: I think we can all agree, at least I believe we can all agree, that reality TV is kind of stupid, but it’s fun sometimes, and as long as you’re aware that it’s usually pretty scripted or at least you know it’s done in editing so that there’s some kind of story going on, then it’s definitely something that can be enjoyed. Like, I like shows that are a little more informational, like, “Hey, here’s my weird store; here’s my pawn shop. I’m going to tell you things about the stuff people bring in.” That that’s kind of fun, but I do have to admit that I’ve watched several seasons of America’s Next Top Model, just binged them, and that show is so dumb.

Randall: And what’s dumb about it?

Aubrey: I mean, they’re . . . they’re doing all these like, competitions and, oh, there are these rivalries between these people that who knows if that was actually even a thing in real life, but it’s so vapid, but fun. I don’t know. I feel my brain cells dying when I watch that show.

Randall: And the thing I don’t like about reality TV, in some cases. I like the idea that you mentioned right at the beginning. But for me, any type of reality TV, whether it’s backstabbing, deceit, just to, you know, get people to laugh or to ponder, you know, the complicated scenarios that are being presented. I just don’t find that interesting.

Aubrey: Backstabbing and deceit to get people to ponder the complicated scenarios that are being presented. I feel like that’s not the right genre. We’re not talking about the same thing here.

Randall: Well, I’m talking about reality TV. Like you mentioned. Maybe I was watching one like Survivor. Do you know that one? [Mhm.] Okay. Where the the goal of the show is to eliminate people along the way until you’re the last person surviving. And when I watched that show one time it was like, you know like backstabbing, competition as well. But you know people talking behind each other’s back. Planning, how are they going to knock off the next person? I just don’t find that very interesting because I would never want to have that type of relationship with other people.

Aubrey: Oh yeah. No Top Model does that all the time. It’s terrible show. I love it so much.

Randall: Well, thank you Aubrey for sharing your thoughts on reality TV. The good, the bad, and the very ugly.

Intermediate Level:

1. Why does Aubrey say reality TV can still be enjoyable?
2. What does Randall dislike about some competition reality shows?

Advanced:

1. Discuss why reality TV is popular even if viewers know it may be scripted.
2. Analyze how editing and storytelling shape viewers’ perceptions of reality.
3. Evaluate whether competition-based reality shows encourage negative social behavior.