there's a difference between shows about real things, like cooking, or decorating, or manufacturing . . . and shows about people set up in contrived situations to compete and connive against each other. I won't watch any of the latter. I blame MTV.

Nah, blame Japan. They're the ones that popularized the format years and years before it ever caught on here.

I think you define reality TV differently than I do.
The ones I named as liking are the really low down dirty ones that you all hate.

I will even kill time watching My Super Sweet 16 and The Newlyweds if I am somewhere with MTV and nothing else on (usually waiting for my parents at their house and not wanting to get interested in a proper programme).

What can I say - I'm like a person who only reads magazines, but will occasionally pick up a good book. Except that's my TV taste - dross, dross, dross, sterling comedy, documentary, dross, dross. That's how I can easily cope without one at present.

That one cracks me up mostly because it's Philly I think. Although people getting booted anywhere is probably funny...

I haven't and did not know that. I'll have to keep watching... ;)

I endure those because it's easier than fighting with jinx.....and they're awful. both of them. I would punch any or all of the judges/hosts... including Tim Gunn.... right in the labia if i ever saw them on the street.

here's my favorite reality tv.....and it is real.

See? The Japanese completely own us.

Its really funny when other people get hurt.

The ones that weren't knocked unconscious all came up smiling... they look like they're having a blast. They probably won't even sue.

fucking totally. remember when i fell in the woods.....it's still funny to me event though it was me....because i can watch it on video, and laugh like it's someone else.

Ditto on Iron Chef, I'm not big into Mike Rowe, but I will watch Man vs. Wild any day since Bear Grylls gets near naked every episode!!! I don't really care for reality shows as you know some people act like asses just because they are on TV. Ninja Warrior is pretty cool, too...but I don't really consider that reality TV. I used to watch the show where the Brit nanny would stop by and help out but then it just angered me knowing it's not the kids being horrid creatures as much as poor parenting....in my opinion atleast. I think most reality TV brings out the worst in people. I used to love watching What Not To Wear but Stacy just gets plain 'ole mean now...

The teams-of-competitors show that doesn't suck is Total Drama Island.

And which "reality show" am I not going to watch, except maybe half of an episode to confirm my expectations of it? BFF. This is after all a project Paris Hilton said yes to. Vapid, do you think?

Dude. :eyebrow: It's an animated, fictional "reality" show.

As a kids' show, it's a terrible example of how to act ditzy, rude, and conniving. As an adults' show... it just isn't one. Next you're going to start telling us that you watch Hannah Montana for the musical lyricism.

I actually haven't watched much TV in the last two years. Not much being perhaps 4 hours total in the last year and a half.

My wife was childhood friends with the host of that show, Ben Bailey. For the last couple of years, we have been getting e-mail updates about his career from my MIL who is still friends with his parents, and when he got that Cash Cab gig, it was big news. I've only seen it once or twice (no cable in our home) but it's a neat show.