They Got Me.

[Deleted]

The current "theme" on TV is reality shows. I have to admit that over the years I've made fun of them & even sometimes made very very small comments about people that get hooked on them. That's because I never saw the draw or interest in any of them. Then as things happen, I was in the mood to watch TV & nothing was on BUT there was an old movie that I wanted to see coming on later. Rather than dead air I started flipping through channels & happened on Polygamy. It is basically the story about a Mormon community, how they live their lives, & plural marriages & dealing with them. I was hooked on the show within 10 minutes.

First off I should say that I've known a lot of Mormons over the years & never met one that I didn't like. I admire their dedication to their way of life. Understand I'm not saying anything one way or the other about the religion, just the people that I have known. And I never really gave serious thought to plural marriages except 1. When I was younger I thought - Every man's dream (sex all the time) & 2. As I got older, every man's nightmare (2 of them mad at you). The show addresses what you have to do to make a plural marriage work both as relationships & financially. Darned interesting. Then it addresses the side stuff like young men working for the community doing stuff for the community (a requirement). The fact that the women pick the husbands (I didn't know that) & not the other way around. The marriages being approved by the elders, etc. I just found the whole thing interesting.

So anyone else out there that watches it? Are you hooked on another reality show & if so why?

[Green Eyed Lady]

Is Top Shot considered a reality show?  I never miss that one.

[alabamagal]

We don't watch any "traditional" TV shows, meaning the sitcoms or dramas. We are hooked on

Food Network Shows - Chopped, Next Food Network Star, Nest Iron Chef, Secret Diners
HGTV Shows - Love it or List It, Property Brothers

We also watched Finding Bigfoot for a while. I guess it is reality show, but it is more of a comedy for us.

[sheilaincali]

I'm embarrassed to admit that I was fascinated by the British version of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.  The American version seemed fake and I didn't care for that one.  But the British one was fascinating.  Aside for the money they spend on this huge weddings they tried to give viewers an insight into the Gypsy culture.  I live in middle America so it was an eye-opener to see the cops raiding the home sites and people yelling vulgar names at them. 

But alas- we dumped cable 7 months ago so I don't think I'll get to see it again unless it shows up on Netflix.

[Gardening Grandma]

I cannot stand reality shows.  I wish they'd go back to quality programs.  We watch less TV than ever. 

[Tennesseer]

You may be watching a sanitized show on FLDS Mormons and polygamy.

Under Warren Jeff's rule as president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), many if not most of the women had no choice to who they were spiritually married. This included girls as young as fourteen who were required to sexually submit to the much older 'husbands'. They were simply 'given' to the men. Jeff's is now in prison for various crimes, mostly related (directly or indirectly) to sexual assaults of young girls within his branch of the FLDS.

Another thing about these 'polygamous' marriages/relationships. No U.S. state recognizes plural marriages. A FLDS man can only legally marry one woman. So the other women are considered his spiritual wives. Many of these spiritual wives have children with these men. Some of these men and their spiritual wives game the welfare system. As these women are not legally married, they and their children can collect various welfare benefits as the women are considered single mothers with no means of income to support themselves and their children. It's a racket fully taken advantage of by some.

And let me be clear: I am not speaking of the LDS church but the FLDS church.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 21, 2013 9:30:57 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

I cannot stand reality shows.  I wish they'd go back to quality programs.  We watch less TV than ever. 

WHAT??? And make the networks actually hire creative writers?

How about a compromise: a dramatic (or comedy) about reality TV shows. The new series could roast reality TV shows.

[dannylion]

I never miss Mythbusters--love all the science-y stuff (and yes, the explosions).  Also enjoyed Dirty Jobs very much and was sad to learn it had been canceled.  I like cooking competition shows like Iron Chef America, Chopped, Food Network Challenge, and the like.  I also like Trauma: Life in the ER as it is/was filmed in real ERs as things happened.  True Stories of the ER just reenacts incidents, which is not as interesting. 

I don't care for the train-wreck or carny-people shows (housewives, weddings, failing businesses, and other types of reality crap featuring clueless, self-absorbed, or just plain mean twits), and avoid the ones that exploit psychologically fragile people (hoarders, addictions, etc.) 'cause they're just sad. 


Don't watch much broadcast TV except for Big Bang Theory.  I wish another show like Firefly or Babylon 5 or Stargate would come along.  I loved those shows.  The current crop of SciFi programming doesn't appeal to me very much.  Except for Warehouse 13.  That's pretty good. 

[InsertCoolName]

I love all kinds. Big Brother. The Bachelor/ette. Ghost Hunters(if you want to laugh til you cry, watch Zak and his bros!)

I also have recently fell in love with Girl Code. LOL

But I have been told by many people that I am sick and twisted. I'm OK with that, but other's who aren't may not find all those as funny as I do.

[steph08]

I always watch The Amazing Race - best reality show out there!

I love HGTV - Property Brothers, Love It or List It, etc. I know it is all staged, but I like to get design ideas.

Giuliana and Bill - love them!  They are too cute and not trainwrecks or anything. I actually learn from their show sometimes.

I will also admit to watching the Kardashians.  

[kent]

Jun 21, 2013 9:02:46 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Is Top Shot considered a reality show?  I never miss that one.

Kent  GEL  That's one of my favorites as well.

[Deleted]

my shows

person of interest
csi new york
ncis
criminal minds
elementary

DW's shows
so you think you can dance
chopped
top chef
master chef
iron chef

she also will occasionally watch housewife shows, and tells me how lucky i am she isnt like "them"

[Tennesseer]

Jun 21, 2013 9:49:41 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

What hasn't already been done? What haven't we gotten bored with? It has anything to do with the writers not being creative. I think we simply have become bored with everything that has been created. Even the Internet has become boring to me. Maybe we should get our butts off the couch and find something better to do with our time?

While I'm not sure how to even phrase the information to research it on the Internet, I once read there is only one simple musical melody and all the rest of the melodies are variations of the original. Yet music continues to be written with a fresh, original sound.

The same can be said for writers of novels, movies, television shows and the like. There will always be something to write about and given a fresh perspective.

[Gardening Grandma]

Jun 21, 2013 9:49:41 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

What hasn't already been done? What haven't we gotten bored with? It has anything to do with the writers not being creative. I think we simply have become bored with everything that has been created. Even the Internet has become boring to me. Maybe we should get our butts off the couch and find something better to do with our time?

I never got bored with "West Wing" or "Harry's Law".  More. and more, we are turning off the TV and reading instead.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

We watch Hardcore Pawn.  I know it's scripted but we like watching the drama and crazy ass customers.

[greeniis10]

I love "Fast and Loud" and "Counting Cars".  Oh, and I've only watched parts of "Street Outlaws" but I'll be catching more episodes of those as well.

[Sam_2.0]

I love the Polygamy show! And things like Taboo, Locked Up/Abroad, and Hoarders. Maybe because I enjoy people-watching and figuring out what makes people tick, and seeing the very different lives that others lead. DH thinks I am crazy for watching Hoarders. It completely grosses him out. But I love the story of the people and love it when they can get the help they need and actually make real changes in their lives. That, and the show really makes me not obsess about my house being perfectly clean Glass of wine + Hoarders is my favorite way to "clean" the house - because after 30 minutes, whatever I am sitting in the midst of pales in comparison.

I also like the property shows, and the DIY decorating shows. It's fun to see people be creative and turn junk into really pretty items.

[Bob Ross]

I like Game of Thrones.  That's reality, right?  Like in Europe, or something?

[wyouser]

Jun 21, 2013 10:41:00 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

I like Game of Thrones.  That's reality, right?  Like in Europe, or something?

I'm a sucker for English accents(Thats Euoropean too)  So I gotta watch "Varney And Company"

[thyme4change]

You are talking about the National Geographic one, right?  I watched that.  As always, I ask the question about what they do with the surplus men.  It is a big problem for me - as those types of cultures have a history of discarding their excess boys to fend for themselves because the birth rate is roughly 50/50, so you can't have a 3 to 1 ratio of wives to men without recruiting a significant number of women into the faith.  But, they don't really do that, so instead they just rid themselves of 2/3rds of their boys.  <br><br>I don't theoretically have a problem with plural marriage, if it really is a choice for everyone involved.  I joke often with my husband that I would be happy to have a sister wife and she can do all the chores.  If we could identify which of these groups are abusing young girls (like Warren Jeffs) and halt that, but leave the others alone - no problem.  

[Abby Normal]

DS is 11 so we watch alot of reality tv.  Amazing race, Survivor and Top Shot are his favorites.  

When I was really ill a few weeks back, I hate to admit I watched Toddlers and Tierras and Dance Moms.  Not much on during the day.

[movingforward]

Jun 21, 2013 10:17:07 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Jun 21, 2013 9:49:41 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

What hasn't already been done? What haven't we gotten bored with? It has anything to do with the writers not being creative. I think we simply have become bored with everything that has been created. Even the Internet has become boring to me. Maybe we should get our butts off the couch and find something better to do with our time?

I never got bored with "West Wing" or "Harry's Law".  More. and more, we are turning off the TV and reading instead.

I was so pissed when "Harry's Law" was cancelled .  Do you have Netflix?  You might enjoy The Killing and House of Cards.  I also get a lot of stuff from the library.  I just finished Homeland Season 1.  That was pretty good. 

[Tennesseer]

American Horror Story. Good show.

[thyme4change]

I'm watching House of Cards now.  I'm proud that "Hollywood" has created a show where we actually get to see politicians acting as they truly do - but also that the main character is a democrat.  Usually the bad guys are republicans and the democrats are all wonderful people who are trying to do the right thing, but being held down by the system.  Not this dude - acting only in self interest.

[movingforward]

Jun 21, 2013 11:37:12 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

American Horror Story. Good show.

I enjoyed the 1st season.  Haven't watched the 2nd season yet but kind of on the fence about the psych ward storyline. 

[movingforward]

I just finished season 3 of Downton Abbey.  Great season overall but not so sure I like the way it ended.

[thyme4change]

Rukh - I used this phrase often when watching reality shows:  "I don't know how they manage to squeeze 8 minutes of content into a one hour show, but they did it."

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 21, 2013 10:12:00 GMT -5 kent said:

Jun 21, 2013 9:02:46 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Is Top Shot considered a reality show?  I never miss that one.

Kent  GEL  That's one of my favorites as well.

I want Gary to win and I'm glad to see Gabby doing well.  Wouldn't you like to have taken a turn with that Gat?

[souldoubt]

Current theme...were you previously not watching TV for the last so many years? 

Anyways I admittedly like watching some of the stuff on HGTV.  Partly because I bought a place in the last year but also because I'm a sadist and want to kick myself seeing what I can get for X dollars across the US and globe.  I DVR House Hunters International, Hawaii Life (damn I want to move there) and will also watch Love It or List It if I see it on just to see what houses go for and how much they improve a place with the budget given.  As far as the trashy stuff on E, Bravo, etc I would rather take a bath with my toaster than watch any of that and boost their ratings. 

[Abby Normal]

The reality shows I like the best are the competitions in things I have no talent in.  Cupcakes Wars, Project Runway, Chopped- even Top shot.  I appreciate the ability some people have and I find it fascinating to watch.  But    I generally DVR them and watch them when I have nothing better to do.