I hate reality shows. I watched one episode of Survivor and hated it. I watched one episode of The Great Race when I knew they were going to be in Brazil ---saw almost none of the country and never watched again. I don't watch American Idol, Big Brother, American's Top Model, Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, The Apprentice ---none of those. I would never watch The Bachelor ---choosing a partner on a show like that is so unreal, I don't know how it fits into the "reality" category.But one of my guilty pleasures is America's Got Talent. I'm not sure why it has struck such a chord with me, but at least part of the reason is that I like seeing someone who has talent, but has never been "discovered," making it big.
What I especially like about the show:
I like the variety of acts. Idol has only singers, but I like seeing comedians, magicians, dancers, ventriloquists, acrobats, and even some of the more bizarre acts.
And even though he is often booed by the audience, I think Piers Morgan is nearly always right in his assessment of the acts.
What I don't like about the show:
Too many acts make it to the edited TV broadcast who should be weeded out even before getting to the stage. Only the very best of those who audition ---and there seem to be thousands, so surely there are hundreds who have decent acts ---should get on the broadcast. Then the judges should weed out those who don't have that "something special" that makes for star quality.
There should be a separate Kids Got Talent. Too many very cute children get sent on to Vegas, but they really aren't talented enough or have enough experience, poise or stage presence to win. Cute should not be enough. I'm not sure what the cut-off age should be, but anyone under 18 should probably not be performing on Vegas stages, so I would say anyone who is not of legal age, should not be permitted on the show unless, perhaps, they are in a group that includes mostly older members.
Meanwhile, even with it's flaws I do enjoy America's Got Talent. I usually tape it. As soon as a bad act comes on, I fast-forward through it. Therefore, it takes me 30 minutes (or fewer) to watch an hour-long show.
Do I vote? Not usually ---the voting is usually closed by the time I watch my tape. Do I have favorites? Of course. Usually they end up in the top 5.
2 comments:
You know ... I never watched this show ever. Maybe I'll give it a try!!
I'm like you: I usually eschew "reality television." Last summer, however, one goofy reality show had me in stitches. It was "I Survived a Japanese Game Show." Did you happen to see it? It was so insanely ridiculous and funny, that I could not help myself. I watched it religiously every single week. It became an event at our house. I even blogged about it.
As far as "America's Got Talent", I remember it being very cruel last year when they told an entire planeload of contestants IN THE HANGAR AT VEGAS to simply get back on the plane; that they had already been cut. Wow. Do I recall that correctly? Yikes.
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