Has "Reality" TV gone too far?

Question

Has "Reality" TV gone too far? After a good portion of the US set aside time to worry about a little boy who was supposed to be floating away in a weather balloon, I was wondering what your thoughts were.

I was curious whether other countries had similar television programming and how it is perceived where you live.

Balloon Boy

Yes. Somewhere about the 2nd or 3rd day that it got air time. - samdie, OCT 19, 2009

Answer 1

Has "Reality" TV gone too far?

Absolutely!

Answer 2

Oh, this was all over the news in Spain too!! I was in a cafetería at that time and was asking the guys...but what is that thing doing there. And people thought over here too a child was inside. Astonishing...now they say it was a set-up.

This guy should pay, silly joke, but I must say, he did become famous.

Answer 3

Yes, reality shows are out of control!! I remember Anna Nicole Smith having a show...what an absolute mess that poor girl was and her young son witnessed it all.

I avoid almost all TV, with the exception of "The Simpsons" and "Are you smarter than a fifth grader."

Answer 4

Criminal charges are likely to be filed soon and this case will end up in court. I don't think this type of hoax really counts as reality TV. With that said, I don't really care for "reality" TV and find that it doesn't have much reality in it.

Japan probably has the most bizarre TV shows ever.

I know the event itself is not reality TV. I was referring to the fact the parents did all of this in an attempt to get their own TV show. - Nicole-B, OCT 19, 2009

Answer 5

It seems there's a sudden inflow of reality shows these days. People bring in almost everything imaginable and unimaginable in TV just to get attention and famous. Not sure where it will stop but there's no ending in sight.

It's becoming absolutely bizarre:(

Answer 6

What is the difference between reality TV and 'normal' TV? They are both the same to me in my mind except reality tv I consider boring where as make believe tv I consider sometimes entertaining...

Answer 7

Actually, I think we, the viewers went too far in allowing ourselves to accept those shows as "reality," when they are obviously anything but.

Marketers home in on what makes the most money. Shows that are watched most are the ones that provide the most revenue.

If no one were to watch a show, it'd be off the air before you could say "reality show."

It's our fault too.