Reality Rocks Expo: The sad reality of it all
The inaugural Reality Rocks Expo hardly found its groove the second day. The crowd was fairly anemic Sunday in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The biggest line of the day wasn’t for meet-and-greets with the likes of Ray J (“For the Love of Ray J”) or Omarosa (“The Apprentice,” “The Surreal Life”), rather it was for a casting call for The Hub’s new music competition series “Majors and Minors.” And panels still drew sparse crowds — only they appeared larger because rows were roped off in the bigger rooms.
A rockin’ hit or not, it gave us these gems:
— During the “Where are They Now? Catching up with Reality TV Stars and Their Lives Today,” Omarosa, who launched her unscripted career after appearing on the first season of “The Apprentice,” touted that she has appeared on more than three dozen reality shows: “I took lemons and made a hell of a glass of lemonade.” And unfortunately, there isn’t likely an end in sight. She warned/told the sparse crowd: “I believe there are 15 minutes of fame for me in every hour.” Oy. Can someone take out the battery on that clock?
— It can’t be a good thing when “Hottie” Schatar Sapphira (“Flavor of Love"/"Charm School" alum) can draw a bigger crowd than fellow scheduled performer Blake Lewis (“American Idol”), with a song and performance like this:
— We would like to thank organizers for stationing the WeTV/Wedding Central booth just feet away from the “Cheaters” booth. Also, if there is someone out there that actually purchased one of the hand-painted Joey Greco bobbleheads for $24, please identify yourself.
— ShowTracker loves when TV comes full circle. But for Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha Stephens on “Bewitched,” to find herself at “Reality Rocks” is … strange. Even stranger that it’s in relation to her appearances on “Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship” and “RuPaul Drag U.” How did that happen?
— Yvonne Villarreal
Photo: Moderator Michelle Collins, left, and TV personality Audrina Patridge speak at Reality Rocks Expo — Day 2 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Credit: Getty Images.
The reality is, there is no real reality on "reality" shows. Producers egg on the participants to get into heated talks; footage is edited to become fodder for additional arguments; where 23 hours worth of shooting in a day nets about 10 minutes of arguments or "issues", those "issues" become the fake focal point of the day.
Reality shows may be the "creative" force in television today, but they are tanking real creativity and the appreciation of intelligence in this medium.
Posted by: John De Salvio | April 11, 2011 at 05:29 AM
They are not reality, they are game shows
Posted by: t misso | April 11, 2011 at 08:46 AM
I'd like to say I can't wait for the day that every "reality" show goes off the air and Hollyweird starts producing quality sitcoms again, but I doubt that will ever happen. Too many empty-headed, low-IQ tv drones sit in front of drivel like Jersey Shore and these Housewives shows rather than spend time with their own children or have a date night with their spouse. Welcome to America, Land of Human Leftovers.
I cancelled my cable/tv service a year ago because out of 400 channels, 395 of them had a reality show on at any given time. No thanks. I went back to reading instead and will never subscribe again. There's Netflix and lots of sitcoms from the 70's, 80's, and 90's on dvd to pass the time - with no reality show carnies or annoying commercials to deal with.
As an aside, I've been watching old episodes of 'Alice' - one of the best sitcoms ever on television without being vulgar or exploitative and it speaks volumes that in 1973, Florence Jean Casselberry, with her frumpy beehive hairdo, polyester pantsuits, and white nurse's wedgies, was considered one of the sexiest and most confident women on television. What do we have today - Snooki and these drama queen Housewives.
Posted by: Phillygirl | April 13, 2011 at 08:55 AM