Admittedly, I do not watch reality shows. Not because they aren't enthralling, hilarious, scandalous and entertaining - but because I don't have enough time to do anything these days - and often reality TV only seems to highlight everything that is wrong with our society.
Case in point: I read today that a couple had sex on a show called 'Love Island.' In full view of their fellow contestants, who all share the same room. Incredibly, the guy had already had sex that week with another contestant in the same bed. (One can only hope he bothered to change the sheets between girls but is doubtful). With girl two it was dark, but no doubt the sounds of their activities would have alerted their bedroom buddies as to what was going on - and the cameras on the TV show are able to see through the dark - giving all their families, friends and colleagues a glimpse at their most intimate moments. Alarmingly, during his previous encounter, the fellow housemates had 'rate' their performance as they shagged.
HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE TELEVISION?
Now, I'm no prude. I will also confess that my guilty pleasure was Celebrity Love Island, back in 2006. I was feeding my newborn son at ungodly hours and the shenanigans of these muppet D list (or Z list) celebs in a luxury beachy resort kept me entertained. Even then, Rebecca Loose - or Loos or whatever she was called - famed for having an 'alleged' affair with David Beckham, had the decency to go to a toilet cubicle to get frisky with human sperm bank Callum Best. (Known for... er... well nothing but sleeping with starlets I think and always having a tan). She even had the sense to un-mic herself - obviously a pro at such illicit stolen moments. At the time it was scandalous. Well until she appeared on another show and masturbated a pig (they were running a farm obviously). I didn't catch this momentous piece of TV but at the time I remember thinking that we were stooping to an all time low with such 'entertainment.'
I had hoped the reality TV bubble would burst when it got to Big Brother 75 or whatever - I mean how many wannabe tragic 'I'm crazy meeeee' types could we dig up?
But when I read the double standards of some beauty queen being de-throned because she got frisky on TV (same show Love Island - or maybe should be called 'Peep show Island') but the guy is seen as stud, it makes me realise how the old double standards for men and women still exists.
But that's another issue. What concerns me is my kids are growing up in a world where it is deemed acceptable to screen people having sex - and also that there are people willing to do this. Who in no way seem to care about their future job prospects, relationships, families, or the fact that this footage will HAUNT THEM FOREVER.
I don't obviously watch this trash - I'm not judging those who do. I am judging ITV2 and any programme makers who seem to think this is what the British public want to watch; because the thought process will be - let's go bigger and better and wilder to attract more viewers and hype and column inches. What next I fear....
Recently I found an old Elle magazine dated in 1992. In it Vanessa Paradis is talking about wanting to have many kids, Tess Daly is a model and mercifully silent, Colin Firth has just landed a big role as John McCarthy in a new drama called 'Hostages.' It was the year BBC's Elderado was launched, Blind Date was still the riskiest show on TV and we all fell in love with the brand new show 'the Big Breakfast.' In those days, without the infinite amount of channels to choose from - the 4 we had didn't have to up the stakes to make headline worthy TV. Blind Date simply relied on humour and innuendo and ran for 18 series.
I have never missed the 90s more...
Case in point: I read today that a couple had sex on a show called 'Love Island.' In full view of their fellow contestants, who all share the same room. Incredibly, the guy had already had sex that week with another contestant in the same bed. (One can only hope he bothered to change the sheets between girls but is doubtful). With girl two it was dark, but no doubt the sounds of their activities would have alerted their bedroom buddies as to what was going on - and the cameras on the TV show are able to see through the dark - giving all their families, friends and colleagues a glimpse at their most intimate moments. Alarmingly, during his previous encounter, the fellow housemates had 'rate' their performance as they shagged.
HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE TELEVISION?
Now, I'm no prude. I will also confess that my guilty pleasure was Celebrity Love Island, back in 2006. I was feeding my newborn son at ungodly hours and the shenanigans of these muppet D list (or Z list) celebs in a luxury beachy resort kept me entertained. Even then, Rebecca Loose - or Loos or whatever she was called - famed for having an 'alleged' affair with David Beckham, had the decency to go to a toilet cubicle to get frisky with human sperm bank Callum Best. (Known for... er... well nothing but sleeping with starlets I think and always having a tan). She even had the sense to un-mic herself - obviously a pro at such illicit stolen moments. At the time it was scandalous. Well until she appeared on another show and masturbated a pig (they were running a farm obviously). I didn't catch this momentous piece of TV but at the time I remember thinking that we were stooping to an all time low with such 'entertainment.'
I had hoped the reality TV bubble would burst when it got to Big Brother 75 or whatever - I mean how many wannabe tragic 'I'm crazy meeeee' types could we dig up?
But when I read the double standards of some beauty queen being de-throned because she got frisky on TV (same show Love Island - or maybe should be called 'Peep show Island') but the guy is seen as stud, it makes me realise how the old double standards for men and women still exists.
But that's another issue. What concerns me is my kids are growing up in a world where it is deemed acceptable to screen people having sex - and also that there are people willing to do this. Who in no way seem to care about their future job prospects, relationships, families, or the fact that this footage will HAUNT THEM FOREVER.
I don't obviously watch this trash - I'm not judging those who do. I am judging ITV2 and any programme makers who seem to think this is what the British public want to watch; because the thought process will be - let's go bigger and better and wilder to attract more viewers and hype and column inches. What next I fear....
Recently I found an old Elle magazine dated in 1992. In it Vanessa Paradis is talking about wanting to have many kids, Tess Daly is a model and mercifully silent, Colin Firth has just landed a big role as John McCarthy in a new drama called 'Hostages.' It was the year BBC's Elderado was launched, Blind Date was still the riskiest show on TV and we all fell in love with the brand new show 'the Big Breakfast.' In those days, without the infinite amount of channels to choose from - the 4 we had didn't have to up the stakes to make headline worthy TV. Blind Date simply relied on humour and innuendo and ran for 18 series.
I have never missed the 90s more...
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