Most Popular TV Shows

[dgs49]

Over the past several months I have noticed that a very large percentage of my age group (old) enjoy watching these "reality" real estate programs.

I regularly watch "House Hunters" and "House Hunters International," and occasonally watch some of the similar genre programs, like the new one, "My money, your house," or whatever it's called, and the ones that feature that Holmes guy badmouthing the work of other home improvement contractors. (I personally use these as fill-ins between House and NCIS reruns).

I was in a pretty diverse group of people over the weekend (politically speaking), but almost every one of us seemed to be a regular watcher of these programs.

I also heard a lot of discussion about some of the other garbage programs about pawn shops and bidding on storage lockers.

In a way it's a shame. They can put together a program like this on a shoestring budget, and it goes toe to toe with programs that employ dozens of actors, technicians, writers, musicians, and whatnot. If I were a television actor it would piss me off.

Do the denizens of this cave also watch the real estate programs?

[Crackpot]

Storage wars is oddly addicting it's odd that it's a combination of still and dumb luck and like this place it's a study in personality disorders.

[Liberty1]

I also love a lot of those shows, even though I believe they are largely staged.

I believe the problem is the lack of immagination on coming up with any new ideas for shows these days, unless it involves the low life pop culture of today they've got nothing.

I still prefer 60s through some 90s re-runs to most current programming, with the exception of the pawn/storage etc genre.

[Scooter]

I actually watch quite of few of these, most Canadian produced and I don't know if they are broadcast in the U.S. Love It or List It, it has two hosts, one a realtor and one a designer. Someone whose home is not working for them anymore gives each of them a budget and a wish list, the realtor tries to find them a new home and the designer tries to remake their old home, based on their work the homeowners decide whether they can love their home again, or if they will list it. Income Property, has a cute host who helps homeowners redesign potential or existing rental units in their homes to get or increase rental income. Mike Holmes hosts a couple of programs here as well, with the same schtick about how other contractors got it wrong, but I have learned a lot about proper construction techniques and how to deal with contractors from watching.

[dales]

Has broadcast television REALLY changed since 2000?

When I visit my daughters and they have the television on, it looks to me like the same old crup.

[loCAtek]

I tried getting into that reality show, 'the Pawn Stars' about a family of pawnbrokers, but it was nothing compared to the Antiques Roadshow. Too much drama, and not enough history about the items.

'American Pickers' - Mike and Frank, know wtf they're talking about and go in depth about the antique Americana and the people who love it.

[dgs49]

I've been watching called (I think) "Hardcore Pawn," about a pawn shop in Detroit. It is so bad I feel like I need to take a shower after watching it. But I can't change the channel.

[loCAtek]

Had to check that out on YouTube...

~Heh, I've been in enough real pawn shops these past coupla years (don't own any more gold) to wonder, why do they put up with that? Unless, it's for the ratings, like on Springer.

To be honest, if you're going to sell off stuff, particularly jewelry, then go to a good pawn shop; the kind with a gate you gotta get buzzed through. They might not buy your stuff, but if they do, they'll give as fair a price as you're going to get.
Those 'We buy gold' companies that have stalls in the mall, will really rip you off.

[dales]

I agree, Loca.

I do business with a pawnbroker here in Antioch.

Low key business, no flashy display cases, and I have NEVER been ripped-off by them.

My old man's watch is the item that has saved my @ss many times near the end of the month!

[loCAtek]

As for my fav 'reality shows', whenever I get the chance; 'Deadliest Catch'; which started out from 'Deadliest Jobs'[citation needed]; which started out from 'Dirty Jobs' ...all hosted or narrated by Mike Rowe.

That sheets so real, folks die on occasion ...and oh yeah, I find Mike sexy as sheet!

[loCAtek]

Hey dgs49, remember that lady tattoo artist, Kat Von D and her reality show LA Ink?

...well, it's been canceled, and good riddance! Everyone associated with it [except Kat] was quitting left and right, because it was such trash. If you recall my posting about it on CSB, I said that this spin off of Miami Ink, was over-sensationalized, and for that, poorly acted. I had enjoyed Miami Ink for the human drama; the true life stories of why folks would get permanent body art, and of course for the craft of the inking itself.
LA Ink was so phony, I heard from a friend who traveled to Los Angeles and saw Kat Von D's tattoo parlor ... that the place was a movie set/meat market with wanna-be's camped out front 24/7. The producers didn't care who you were, just that you looked good. They would troll the crowd and pick out 'beautiful people' rather than interview interesting people for tattooing on the show ...then the drama was artificially scripted in. Kinda like Jersey Shore with needle guns.

From a review on Yelp;

Seriously though, this is the Disneyland of fucking tattoo parlors. I'm by no means some old school legit tattoo guy but this place is representative of every single thing I hate about LA. That makes me sound like a cock but seriously - there's not a lot I hate about LA, it just so happens all of it is in this shop.

Kat Von D herself, seemed to be flailing to keep interest in the show, by breaking up with a new celebrity boyfriend every season.
First Season: Her first husband - Oliver Peck, World famous tattoo artist.
Second Season: Alex 'Orby' Orbison, Roy Orbison's Son
Third Season: Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue
Fourth Season: Jesse James, formerly married to Sandra Bullock

Married to one; engaged to two. The red flag of a split always seemed to be as soon as she'd get tattooed with their name, or face, then the relationship was doomed. That chick turned into a walking poster child for tattoo regret.

Finally Corey Miller, the cool, consummate professional, who was the one really holding the business together had enough, and turned in his resignation this summer.
Kat knew she couldn't hold it together without him (and maybe saw how her show stank, anywayZ) and pulled the plug on the series.

Why all this buzz about a show, you can't watch anymore?

...because you can! Corey Miller is back! Working for none other than;
Ami James - the originator of the first Reality TV tattoo parlor, Miami Ink, himself!

TLC - The Learning Channel, came to its senses and re-hired Ami to do NY Ink, same thing, different city ...but with class. Thank Dog, I missed real people and real working artists with principles.

Their clientele may not always be pretty, but their stories are beautiful things;

NY Ink: First Season


Frankly, I'm very happy for Ami, that he's finally being appreciated for his heart and sincerity for the artistic expression, and for out-lasting that sell-out Kat.

[Joe Guy]

I actually watch quite of few of these...

(suddenly, dgs49 began to question his own sexual identity)

[Lord Jim]

Barely being able to pick up a hammer without hitting my thumb, I have to say that these home improvement "reality" shows really do nothing for me....

The only reality show I've really enjoyed and watched on a regular basis is Deadliest Catch....

(Accept of course for the NBC To Catch a Predator series...that was a laugh riot....)

[The Hen]

Biggest Loser and Masterchef are the two 'reality programs that Gob and I enjoy.

One program to slim you down and get you fit, another to potentially put all the weight back on.

[Sean]

I don't like 'reality' TV but I do have an idea to improve The Biggest Loser:

As a contestant is voted off the others fall in, rip him/her apart with their teeth and bare hands and eat the bugger. The one who gains the most weight by eating the most of the losing contestant gets a chocolate cake.

Why not just bring 'reality' TV to it's obvious conclusion: Bloodlust and murder.

[The Hen]

No, no, no.

Combine both programs and serve the eliminated contestants with a nice jus made from the 'Mystery Box'.

[loCAtek]

Why does that sound like the latest 'Saw' movie?

[loCAtek]

Speaking of blood and guts, as stated in another thread, I really enjoy;
Dr. G. Medical Examiner; it's very educational and not at all that gruesome. In spite of the fact, that her job is to dissect and inspect dead bodies, the point is to focus on the investigative side of forensic science. She's really a medical detective; examining the clues and evidence for the probable cause of a person's death. This is how it's done in the real world, it can be dirty and tedious, but must be done with patience and professionalism.
Of course, they present the more interesting cases, she's had to investigate, but they're not always homicides. Sometimes, they're just mysterious circumstances of hidden disease, unknown hazards or other unfortunate combinations of events. The smallest details, not always the most sensational, can reveal how a person's medical condition suddenly turns fatal.
That's fascinating scientific study, but also there's giving the next of kin a step towards closure. Just knowing why, can make a big difference in being able to accept it.

Actually, this show is more documentary, but it's billed as a reality show. Fortunately, it does reflect real life.

Video

FWIW I must have learned something, did OK on her quiz: 11 out of 14

[Joe Guy]

(I've never heard of the show but I got them all right)