The Bad, Ugly, Truth about Reality TV Families
By: Katelynn Havener
Sources of Topic:
http://m.zimbio.com/Kim+Kardashian/articles/GbNDYQwriUK/Does+Reality+TV+Ruin+Lives
http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-social-media-in-national/real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-armstrong-suicide-is-reality-tv-ruining-lives
The controversy that has put Bravo TV at possible fault for death. Prior to the phenomenon of all of the various Real Housewives series, this unconventional entertainment channel was not known for any particular show. However, after the success of Real Housewives of New York and Orange County, the station’s popularity has since skyrocketed. I myself am one of the Real Housewives junkies, Beverly Hills being my favorite. I wanted to discuss the controversies of reality television, as I personally feel that I have watched the lives and families of this cast unravel and be completely torn apart. Just months prior to the suicide-death of Russell Armstrong, fans watched as Kelsey Grammer (most commonly known for his psychiatrist role on Fraiser) angrily left his bitter, severely under-weight wife, Camille. All the meanwhile, Camille took her newfound divorcee energy and got right in the middle of Taylor and Russell’s private marital affairs. After hearing accounts of her good friend’s struggles with domestic assault, Camille was the only cast member to speak up on getting Taylor help. In a bizarre turn of events, Camille ended up with a lawsuit for perjury from Russell, and less than two weeks later the Real Housewives husband was found hanging in the multimillion dollar home the couple had shared with their 5 year old daughter, Kennedy. The show explicitly revealed Taylor and Russell’s counseling sessions, helped cover up Taylor’s bruises during make-up before filming, and aired Camille’s attempted intervention of Taylor. The season has ended as Camille now battles in court with Russell’s family, and as a little girl is left without the role of a father figure. Who here is to blame?
Real Housewives is just one show which demonstrates and highlights stars at their ultimate worse. The entertainment values for the viewers and fans of reality TV could in fact be putting reputations and now lives of those being filmed at stake. Which brings the question; Are the producers from all of these shows bringing cast members to behave and act irrationally? Would all of the divorces still have come about if a camera had not been shoved into their homes? Would the Jersey Shore ‘family’ be just as classless and entertaining if they were not one of the top shows to ever air on MTV? I myself am on the fence. Personally, I think you’re already insane if you are letting a camera invade your house 24/7, to only be turned off if you need to pee. Conversely, I also feel that the producers bring a reality star to their brink as a means to make money. As a RHOBH ‘activist’, I believe this past season should not have even been aired given the series of traumatic events. Not to mention that the show doesn’t even seem to have shed a tear about one of their near and dear wife’s battle with physical abuse, or that an innocent child will forever have to live with the death of her dad becoming a now very public affair.
Questions to Consider:
1. Do you believe reality TV has slowly ruined the lives of those being taped? Or do these stars set themselves up for disaster?
2. If you do follow reality TV, what examples of a family or a personal life have you seen exploited?
3. Was Bravo TV a factor in Russell Armstrong’s death? Do you believe they owe the Armstrong family an apology?
4. What crisis PR would you implement if you worked for Bravo TV, and had to deal with the backlash of the show?
I believe that if you are willing to let a camera film your private life and the lives of your beloved you have to deal with the consequences. It certainly dose ruin the lives of the people involved because they forget what really "real" is and are lost in a world where drama and fame overpowers everything else.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot expect your life do continue the way it used to be when you practically "acting" out your private life in front of million people that only expect chaos. You can even go as far as unconsciously choose to take irrational decisions that will harm your family in order to impress and entertain the public.
I remember watching one of these shows with my ex-girlfriend couple years ago. Now I cannot remember the name but I found most parts to be fake and absurd. They edit the bad parts to look even worse and edit the nice moments to be fantastic. Since then I have decided that Reality shows are not my cup of tea.
TV Bravo and other channels in general do not hesitate in showing bad news because people watch it. Nobody wants to see normal stuff it’s the exciting, crazy, weird stuff that intrigues people's interest. However in my opinion they should have stopped the show due to the tragic accident. Do they own the family an apology? I do not think so. A married couple that knows their love and relationship is in trouble does not allow a camera to film these moments that decide life important decisions. I think it’s ridiculous, I mean who in their right mind does that?
TV Bravos PR should not publicly apologize to the family, because it would look like they are to blame. Instead privately apologize for their loss. I also do not think that people believe it’s their fault therefor I would not make a too big deal out of it but rather focus on giving the family some privacy out of own will.
Reality television requires stars that are all about drama to be entertaining. These individuals wouldn’t have a show in the first place if they were not this breed of entertaining. I feel as though these type of individuals are utterly doomed for social issues simply due to their dramatic personalities and lifestyles they lead. Putting a camera in their face only gives people like this an avenue to overplay these characteristics and get themselves in trouble. I don’t watch reality television so I really haven’t witnessed events like this before. I can comment that legally Bravo has no obligation to Russell Armstrong or his family. His actions were obviously of his own accord and shouldn’t be blamed on anyone. I am sure that the shows contract has clauses or waivers included that stated that the actions of show participants were of their own. If I were Bravo TV I would have not aired the serious, or at the very least cut parts of the footage out to avoid this part. It seems to me airing what led up to a suicide is a little on the tacky side, however this is reality television we are talking about.
ReplyDeleteSociety is driven by making money. I think that stars see reality TV as a way to make more money. They don't perceive that this opportunity could be negative because they see it as something easy. I do feel that TV can ruin the lives of those being taped because TV has viewership in their best interest and seems to forget that they aren't dealing with actors, but rather real people and real lives.
ReplyDeleteI've followed Jersey Shore since it first aired and all viewers have watched Ronnie and Sammy's rocky relationship. Their full blown fights have been aired along with their most vulnerable points. Many of the stars on the show admit at some point that they need to "go home so they can get better." I think they realize that the environment of reality TV is not a place where people can get well. You have to have tough skin to be in this business because otherwise you'll end up deeply affected. Vinny is an example of someone who admitted that he has severe anxiety and he too realized that he needed to exclude himself from healing to fix his problems.
I think Bravo was a factor in this suicide. The producers of reality TV shows are most worried about gaining viewers. For this reason, they add or egg on drama. It seems to me, though, that they forget about ethics completely. Anybody could have known that this situation was unhealthy. The producer(s) could have recognized that and done something about it. It could have been predicted that consequences might follow the types of troubles they were having. I don't understand why the producers didn't care enough to recognize this or help them, but once again we are mostly all driven by money.
I think that Bravo TV needs to publicly apoligize for not stopping an unhealthy situation. Bravo owes the suicide victim's family an apology and they also need to take responsibility for some of the blame. They were presented with an ethical choice and they failed to act ethically. Now they need to accept the consequences of this and deal with it head on. The should also post an apology on all of their social media sites and should possibly consider helping unsuccessful suicide victims in some way. I feel like this would show respect to the deceased and his family.
I think these reality tv stars are smart. They know sitting around all happy go lucky is not going to work. They need to add the shock value and be over the top that is how they get more money, a higher viewership, and more seasons of their show. People would not watch Jersey Shore or the Real World if they just sat around every episode and got along. That's why they all thrive off the drama, it keeps them in the spotlight and relevant. These people are setting themselves up for disaster, reality tv is not a new thing, we have seen villains and victims since its existence so they know exactly what they are getting themselves into and you cant be on reality tv forever so they figure get in make their quick couple millions and then bow out. They will have to learn to live with whatever part they chose to play and then they will finally just go away or go to VH1 for a has been show.
ReplyDeleteKim Kardashian's marriage, all the relationships on Jersey Shore, The confessional on Real World I mean the list can go on. These people are trained to lie and the sad part is we know the truth for the most part. Take the Situation he is constantly playing people in the house and is the master manipulator of the "he said, she said" fights. Take when they were in Italy saying he called the Unit to call Jionni about him and Snooki allegedly hooking up, he told Sammi and she told him she was going to tell Snooki, so when she did and she confronted him, he turned it all on Sammi that she was lying and causing drama. These people are tapped and they know exactly what they are doing.
3. I don't watch this show, but from what I can get these are just money hungry people, it is probably his own fault. It's easy to blame it on Reality TV because he was on it, but in reality he did this to his family not Bravo and that is inexcusable.
4. Bravo had a double edged sword. The death of a cast member should not have been aired, but that was a huge grab for many people to watch not only the season, but the series. People want to know people want to see this unfold, I think they should have done some suicide awareness, the way the teen mom shows do sex and pregnancy awareness during every episode. This should have been a situation that they brought awareness to the issue at hand.
What ever happened to real TV, not reality TV. I believe reality TV slowly does ruin those lives because they lose track of what is real and what is just amplified for television. I also believe that the stars, if you want to call them that, set themselves up for it. It is their decision to go on the show, but I would say most of them do not understand what they are getting themselves into. The people that get on television and advance in television are fine, they go from reality shows to movies and can be talented in both. The ones that stay in reality shows and that is all they do or know are the ones that find themselves having some issues.
ReplyDeleteI don’t follow reality TV, I agree with Arsen and believe that it is a big joke, and would rather watch more interesting shows on television. Any reality TV show the person/family is exploited. That is what attracts people to watch. Some people, like the Kardashians, live off of the attention and feed off of it in order to consider themselves successful. Others are not as fortunate and the pressure and troubles get to them and the crack.
Bravo was not really a factor in Russell Armstrong’s death, the show he was on was on Bravo. People understand and are told upfront of the consequences and the issues that are going to be on the show, and if you are having trouble or whatnot and can’t handle it, then it is your responsibility to leave. If drama and bad issues are not for you then don’t go on a reality TV show about it. You cannot hold Bravo responsible for his death. They should not have continued the show in my opinion, I think that once something like that happens you need to cut the show and move on to something else.
1.I feel that when a person decides to let someone tape their everyday life then it is their own fault if their life gets ruined. When signing up for these shows many people know what they are getting themselves into, reality tv has been around for a while now and it is no surprise that there will be drama created for these people by the tv shows also, so I guess there is a mixture of both.
ReplyDelete2. The first one that comes to my mind is the most obvious Teen Mom, these girls sign up for a show about being teen moms and expect people to not say anything bad or hurtful about them when they are complaining about not being able to go party or smoke a joint. This is just one example but to me it is rediculous, of course there are good moms who deserve to be commended on being a mom at such a young age, but the others who think that they can do whatever they want and still get the "good mom" title...is aboslutely rediculous to me, just because your on tv, doesnt mean you wont get a reputation. But in the end this is what sells isnt, no one wants to see a group of great teen moms with no problems, that wouldnt sell. Its the drama from all of these reality shows that makes the money and brings them back season after season
3. I am sure the reality show added some extra pressure to Russell Armstrongs life, but I dont think Bravo could be blamed for his death. Russell signed up for the show knowing what his was getting himself into, unfortuntely his death came from im sure, a number of different reason. I do feel however that Bravo could have aired the episodes in a kinder way or not at all, giving the family some space and time to greave on their own.
4. For PR I would sent out a condolense announcment, to show that that BRAVO does care about the people on their reality shows and to not take death lightly. I would also make it a point to make a stament about where to get help for depression or suicical thoughts.
1. I believe that reality TV has ruined the lives of those being taped but at the same time those people are to blame as well. While the producers push for the shots and almost don't have any compassion for those people they are filming they are trying to entertain the public. The people on the show are to blame as well. These people agree to have their families and lives exposed to the public for their own personal gain. These people know full well what to expect when they are doing the shooting for the season. Now neither of these groups are free of blame because at some point compassion and basic human decency need to take over because if it doesn't more deep dark personal situations will be aired because the producers are trying to satisfy the viewer and the viewer loves to see the drama of the show.
ReplyDelete2. Watching reality TV gives the viewer a direct look into these families most personal information. Nothing is held sacred for these people and everything they do can potentially be aired and exploited. All aspects from personal information or issues to sex lives and even the peoples feelings towards others are broadcasted to the world for everyone to see. The idea of privacy is lost once the people sign the contract to be followed around with cameras at the producers discretion.
3. I do believe that Bravo did have an influence in Armstrong's death because they knew what was going on and chose to air it regardless of what affect it would have on the people involved.The networks decision to air the episodes did have an impact on what happened but there was more going on in his life that caused him to do what he did. The TV show was not the only thing that influenced it.
4. What crisis PR would you implement if you worked for Bravo TV, and had to deal with the backlash of the show?
If I worked for Bravo I would send out my apologies to the family for bringing their pain to the eye of the public. Then I would implement changes to the station that would bring back that sense of human decency that would not allow these things to be shown. That is what I would do but I am also not a fan of the housewives show. I'm sure Bravo will deal with situation in a way that benefits everyone because while I don't personally like the shows there is a huge fan base for those shows and I don't see Bravo passing on the opportunity of making money with those shows.
1. I am leaning more towards the statement that the people who chose to do reality TV shows sign themselves up for the outcome of the season. No one forces the cameras into the homes of these once unknown actors, it is the decision of the actors to allow camera’s into their lives. I think the problem that many of the actors run into is the blinding light that influences them to forget where they came from, and why they began the show in the first place. There have been so many stories of lives being turned upside down because of disastrous turn of events that lead famous actors to drug/alcohol problems and sometimes even the awful events of death. I don’t think anyone takes into consideration that by allowing cameras to be present in their lives which never were before can harm or change the lives of the people they live with from what they have ever known.
ReplyDelete2. If there is one show that I find myself to “follow” it would be Jersey Shore, I was completely against it at first I thought a show about drunken nights and GTL was ludicrous but I found myself being hooked. This is a perfect example of lives that have been exploited, or in a sense lives that will forever hold a reputation due to the show that they have chosen to be on.
3. I personally don’t watch the Real Housewives but I don’t think in any way that you can blame Bravo for the death of one of their actors, nothing that happened seemed to be influenced by him participating in the show. I think that too many times people look to blame the network for the outcome of their TV personalities but it’s no fault of the network it’s a sad event but the death shouldn’t be placed upon the shoulders of the network.
4. Since I don’t watch the show I can’t say I saw the actors make-up or if there were any hints leading to the suicide, not that anyone can really tell what is real or not from a TV standpoint but I feel as if there is a little blame to be placed on Bravo just for the fact of them covering up bruises or not paying attention to the well being of their actors. If there were in fact information that abuse, or any suicidal attempts were made that they should of brought professional help to the set. If not, just like Ed Baia mentioned they should do what many reality shows do now and put up messages about help and what is and isn’t right and maybe such a tragic event could have been avoided.
Do you believe reality TV has slowly ruined the lives of those being taped? Or do these stars set themselves up for disaster?
ReplyDeleteI believe that the reality TV shows that are being taped have ruined lives of some that are taped. I think that its because they find it necessary to show every minor detail about their relationship the good and the bad. With that being said people whom watch the show and are required to make drama act upon the bad parts of the reality shows. This makes for the people whom are being taped to feel the pressure to makes is known of the real truth. They get caught up in all their lies or the lies that are being told besides on the TV show, that they don’t know which it the real truth. If you do follow reality TV, what examples of a family or a personal life have you seen exploited?
The reality TV shows that I follow hate to say it but it draws me in are the Kardashians. I have seen their lives unwind from Kourntey having her baby to Kim getting her divorce. Was Bravo TV a factor in Russell Armstrong’s death? Do you believe they owe the Armstrong family an apology?
The TV must have be a strain on their marriage. I don’t believe that it was because of the show that resulted in his death.
Brovo should create a formal letter of apologies
1. Do you believe reality TV has slowly ruined the lives of those being taped? Or do these stars set themselves up for disaster?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that anyone made these reality stars exploit their lives to the public. I think that they definitely made a conscious decision in signing on to a show such as Jersey Shore, The housewives, Kardashians, etc. Where Katelynn is correct, the only time you possibly get alone is when you go to the bathroom. Those reality stars keep signing onto the seasons for whatever reason- the popularity, the money, the attention....but they know what they are doing and they are setting themselves up for it. Do i think that they know that their lives can be ruined? No. I don't really think that anyone would sign onto a TV show knowing that their husband is going to hang himself, but they definitely sign on knowing that their life is going to be COMPLETELY out there.
2. If you do follow reality TV, what examples of a family or a personal life have you seen exploited?
I remember when Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson got divorced the main reason was because of their newlywed show that they had. I don't know the exact specifics but I do know that the show completely ruined their relationship.
3. Was Bravo TV a factor in Russell Armstrong’s death? Do you believe they owe the Armstrong family an apology?
This is extremely hard to say, because no one was making the family stay on the show ( that I know of?) I mean, I'm sure they signed a contract, but if a guy is suicidal, come on. None the less, they didn't pull out of the show so, in one way or another the show definitely contributed to the distress of the family. They probably probed situations for added drama as producers probably do in all reality shows, and situations that the station put upon the family definitely did not help whatever Armstrong was going through. It's so sad. Whether or not Bravo thinks they should owe them an apology, they definitely should show some remorse if they know what's good for them.
4. What crisis PR would you implement if you worked for Bravo TV, and had to deal with the backlash of the show?
I think that if I worked for the PR of Bravo I would release some type of statement. I wouldn't say we were to blame but at least mention how sorry we are about the situation, and as Mackenzie said, they should send out formal letters of apologies to the family members. I am kind of shocked to hear that the show just aired like nothing with the women sitting around talking about his death(or so I heard). I think that the season should have immediately stopped. So some type of apology should be in order.
1. Do you believe reality TV has slowly ruined the lives of those being taped? Or do these stars set themselves up for disaster?
ReplyDeleteBottomline these stars set themselves up for disaster. Doing reality is a risk people take to be famous or gain exposure of some sort and it could end bad or good for that paricular person.
2. If you do follow reality TV, what examples of a family or a personal life have you seen exploited?
I do not watch reality TV at all, I used to but I didnt find it interesting anymore so I stopped.
3.Was Bravo TV a factor in Russell Armstrong’s death? Do you believe they owe the Armstrong family an apology?
I do not watch this show but I do think it is his fault because it was his decision to go on the show.
4. What crisis PR would you implement if you worked for Bravo TV, and had to deal with the backlash of the show?
I would release a statement simply saying that they wish the family well and that their hearts go out to them.
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ReplyDeleteWith so many reality television shows today, it is true that producers have been guilty of creating, intentionally, corrosive environments in order to differentiate themselves and to gain a loyal following of “junkies” that will secure them a paycheck and yet another season of airtime. Knowing this, we must question ourselves, as viewers, whether or not it is ethical to support programs that, at best, place individuals under the constant stress of hyper self-awareness through surveillance, and at worse, purposely sets in motion circumstances that upsets a natural harmony in order to incite disastrous calamity amongst its own cast members. It is without question that to agree to submit oneself to these conditions, that the potentiality for dramatic fallout between family members and or friends is high, more likely inevitable.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, I have no qualms with someone signing a contract with a television station in exchange for a paycheck, for there is no chance that they, as autonomous adults, are not aware of the probable repercussions they are likely to endure in the following months. If you’re a budding “Situation,” by all means, subject yourself to the extremely critical viewership that is the world of junkies at the expense of living an unfulfilling, monotonous existence of GTL. But, when one involves the life of a child (or 8 children for that matter) by signing those papers, as a couple, you are including the life of a yet to be fully developed, innocent human being to perhaps the most toxic upbringing conceivable and your parental capacity should be considered highly suspect.
Here is where the ethicality of such shows should be called into question and where I find issue. The death of Russell Armstrong is a testament. Though his abusive relationship with his wife is inexcusable (a likely culmination of his demanding career, financial difficulties, or possibly even an aggressive nature), the show highlighted negative aspects of their relationship and revealed intimate processes that, if left private, may have led to the successful rehabilitation of his violent tendencies. Was his suicide the result of taking part in The Real Housewives? It is hard to say what a man who finds himself at that point is wrestling with, but I think we can all safely agree that it certainly didn’t help and probably exacerbated all of their problems. Now, the real victim, Russell’s daughter, not his wife (who, in the very beginning, traded privacy for paychecks) will grow up fatherless. That’s the real reality. Bravo’s not to blame here. It was the two individuals who picked up the pen and signed their names on the dotted line.
In my opinion, the reality television producers AND the stars (or soon-to-be-stars) are at fault. Anybody who has tuned in to a reality TV show such as "The Hills" can attest that it is only demonstrative of "reality" to a certain degree. Yes, everybody experiences a bad break-up, a falling out with his/her best friend, and family drama sooner or later in life. However, it is important to keep in mind that reality TV producers have ONE objective, and that is to make money. With that being said, it should come as no surprise that in order to do this, they need to over-dramatize the situation at hand! And face it -- this is what keeps us tuning in every week.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody remember when Lauren Conrad was promoting a new MTV reality series that was intended to chronicle her career as a young, up-and-coming designer? Shortly before the series was supposed to air, MTV decided to cancel it. The reasoning behind their decision? They thought the content was too "high brow." As a result, they offered LC the "opportunity" to change the show by incorporating more of her personal life and relationships. When she declined, so did MTV. And there you have it -- the proof is in the pudding!
I do not watch RHOBH, but I do not doubt for a second that the reality series contributed to Armstrong's suicide. The depths of his personal life (including his marital affairs and evidence that he beat his wife) were exposed to millions of people, all watching with scrutiny. I can imagine how somebody living under the watchful eye of both the media and the public could eventually implode.
In my opinion, it would be in Bravo's best interest to issue an apology to the Armstrong family. In fact, it is shocking to learn that they haven't yet. I believe Bravo is partly to blame in this matter, because they undoubtedly saw that the marriage between Russell and Taylor was headed for disaster. On the other hand, I also understand that more drama leads to more viewers which eventually leads to more money for the network. Where do you draw the line, though? More importantly, where does ethics come into play?
http://www.celebuzz.com/2011-02-04/lauren-conrad-angry-over-abandoned-reality-series/
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