One of my favorite Reality TV shows is now on its 5^th Season.  This show airs on Sunday nights and it is “The Celebrity Apprentice”, starring Donald Trump and several real celebrities.  The famous contestants this season are:  Victoria Gotti, Tia Carrere, Penn Jillette, George Takei, Teresa Giudice (coincidentally, a Reality TV Star), Dee Snider, Michael Andretti, Paul Teutul, Sr, Patricia Velasquez, Debbie Gibson, Lou Ferrigno, Adam Carrola, Arsenio Hall, Aubrey O’Day, Cheryl Tiegs, Clay Aiken, Dayana Mendoza, and Lisa Lampanelli.  (Campagna, 2012)

Donald Trump started working in the real estate industry in Manhattan in 1971.  He is now one of the most well known real estate developers.  Donald’s first success was transforming a famous hotel at the edge of bankruptcy into The Grand Hyatt.  Not only is Donald Trump known for his success in the real estate industry, he is also known for his lavish lifestyle, his tough business practices, his private jets, private helicopters and his beautiful women.  This is exactly what stereotype exists for “real estate tycoons”. (Donald Trump, 2012)

After much success, Donald Trump built a $200 Million building as a monument of his success.  Trump Tower opened in 1982.  The building was 58 stories tall with a 6 story atrium.  This atrium accompanied a waterfall reaching 80 feet tall.    Donald Trump is known internationally as being one of the most successful businessmen of all time with an average net worth of approximately $2.9 Billion and now has several Trump Tower and Casinos. (Donald Trump, 2012)

Donald began starring in a reality TV show called “The Apprentice” in 2004.  This was a very popular show that allowed individuals from all over to compete with other business people to become one of Donald’s Apprentices.  Donald earned two Emmy Awards for “The Apprentice”. (Lee, 2012)

While competing in given tasks, the competitors are also raising money for charity.  Every task that they are set out to work on and complete raises a considerable amount of money.  The team that raises the most money wins that particular task and receives all of the funds for their team captain’s personal charity.  As each team (usually this starts out with the men against the women until it becomes uneven) nominates a team captain, the team captain is ultimately responsible for the success of their team. 

The losing team is called back into the “Board Room” with Donald and his associates.  He usually has his son and daughter with him as they visit each team while they are competing.  They give feedback to Donald Trump as he makes his decision of who to fire from the losing team.

Reality TV reflects many rituals as we see in real life.  These are often overly exaggerated.  For example, with “The Celebrity Apprentice”, rituals include job interviews when applying for a job.  All contestants on this show are working towards the job of “Celebrity Apprentice”.  This ritual is drawn out throughout the entire show.  Another ritual that “The Celebrity Apprentice” conveys is charity work.  This is a great example of working hard to give back to others that are in need and also to a charity that you believe in.  Would we have thought that Donald Trump would be so open to giving to charity?

Rituals are everywhere within Reality TV.  These rituals are the same as our daily rituals.  Reality TV shows the daily events of people just like us.  For ratings, these rituals are overly exaggerated. 

Looking at another reality show “The Bachelor” as an example; Dating is a ritual.  This is overly exaggerated as well.  How many people really openly date over 25 people at once that are basically stored in one location?  This is a ritual but it is exaggerated.  “The Bachelor” is leading up to a wedding.  The show goes through all rituals within the marriage process including meeting, dating, meeting parents, being engaged and ultimately marriage, but in warp speed.  A lot of folks also stereotype Ben, “The Bachelor” as this great catch.  I think this show makes him look like a real jerk.

There are many stereotypes of Reality TV.  There are so many different reality shows.  What is entertaining for one person may not be for the other.  I would say personally, I have seen some of “The Real Housewives” shows.  I could not continue to watch these shows because there is entirely too much drama.  I love reality competition shows such as “Celebrity Apprentice”, “American Idol”, “The Voice”, “The Bachelor” and “Big Brother”.  Some people believe these shows are staged or edited for better ratings.  I believe there may be some truth to that.  I enjoy the entertainment. 

We can stereotype the competitors all day.  We may not think that certain celebrities would fit into the business world even though they are very successful.  I was definitely proven wrong with Brett Michaels and his role on “The Celebrity Apprentice”.

Celebrity Reality TV shows another side of the people that we think we know just by how we have seen them.  Our assumptions are not always correct.  I cannot wait to see how this season of “Celebrity Apprentice” pans out.

References

Brown, R.B.(2005).  Profiles of Popular Culture.  Madison, Wisconsin:  Popular Press

Lee, A.(2012).  She Knows Reality TV Magazine.  Retrieved March 4, 2012, from:

            http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/category/celebrity-apprentice/

Campagna, A.(2012).  Donald Trump talks about upcoming season of “Celebrity Apprentice”.  Retreived March 3, 2012, from:

            http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/donald-trump-talks-about-upcoming-season-celebrity-apprentice-02-16-2012

Donald Trump.(2012).  Biography.com.  Retrieved March 4, 2012 from:

            http://www.biography.com/people/donald-trump-9511238

My topic is Reality TV.  I admit that I am a Reality TV junky.  There are several reasons that I am drawn to these types of television shows.  The biggest reason I watch is for the entertainment factor.  There always seems to be some surprising drama on these shows.

Take for example The Bachelor.  Are you serious?  There is a group of women on The Bachelor that are looking for love from the same man, this season it is Ben Flajnik.  Ben is one of the men from the last season of The Bachelorette who was sent home after proposing.  He was one of two men left on the show. 

Throughout the show, the contestants live together in the same house as The Bachelor lives off site.  There are similarities with every show.  There is always at least one person that is already in a relationship and they get sent home because of this.  Sometimes they are accused of being there for the wrong reasons.  There is always a surprise guest, like an ex girlfriend, that shows up about ¾ of the way through the season to throw everyone off guard.  There is always one girl labeled as the “crazy” girl that seems to stay on the show until the end.  Is this staged? 

The people that are sent home seem to always be so torn apart, even if it is only the first or second week there.  They seem to have thought this one person was the one for them even if they haven’t been on any dates at all.  They often leave the show crying into the camera wondering what is wrong with them.  This is so pitiful.  This often makes me think about this entire show.  If The Bachelor is so special himself, what makes him come on a TV show to find a wife?  Why can’t he just find one on his own without a show throwing 25-30 beautiful women in a house competing for his attention?

Also, speaking of the dates, do you really think that a normal date would be something as extraordinary as what they do on this show?  I think I might fall in love with someone just because of a date on a private island after being flown there on a private helicopter.   

Searching Reality TV websites, you can learn the latest about all the Reality TV Shows and all the people we have come to know.  These folks are real people, just like us, that turn into Reality TV icons that we just cannot stop talking about.  Right now you can see that the contestant that is causing the most drama on the Bachelor will be on the Women Tell All Special which leads me to believe she will not be the one that Ben chooses to be his wife.  (Thompson, 2012)

Reality TV shows, like The Bachelor, is pure entertainment for me.  With lives being so busy, watching reality TV shows gives busy adults time to gaze into other peoples’ lives, daydream a little, bring in the drama, be amazed by the one contestant that seems a bit “crazy” and hopefully realize that even though this is Reality TV, it is still just a show.

Brown, R.B.(2005).  Profiles of Popular Culture.  Madison, Wisconsin:  Popular Press

Thompson, M.(2012).  She Knows Reality TV Magazine.  Retrieved February 26, 2012, from:

http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/category/the-bachelor/

Icon Analysis

American Idol is a reality show where singing auditions all over the Country are judged by three famous judges in search of one “American Idol”.  When the singers make it through the first auditions they break the group down each week until they get down to the top 24.  The show allows the top 24 to compete and potentially to be voted off, until the final person will be named the next "American Idol".  This person will be all set with a recording contract and a great career ahead.   American Idol is currently on its 11^th Season. 

I enjoy watching American Idol, especially at the beginning of the auditions.  You never know what you will see.  The coolest thing about this reality show is the fact that America Votes once the finalists are determined.  The judges give construction feedback as the weeks go on.

FOX.(n.d.). American Idol.  Retrieved February 23, 2012, from http://www.americanidol.com/

Superman is well known for the Big “S” on the front of his shirt.  This super hero was created in 1932 and sold to DC Comics in 1938.  Superman was born in Krypton and was transported to Earth as a baby.  He was adopted and raised by a farmer and his wife as Clark Kent.  Superman uses his super powers to help humanity. 

This icon is very familiar to me.  Superman’s Icon never seems to get old.  It seems like there have always been Superman pajamas and Superman Costumes ever since I can remember.

Younis, S. (2007, January 1).  Superman Homepage.  Retrieved February 21, 2012, from http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php

 

This TIVO Icon represents one of the coolest things ever for busy folks that enjoy watching certain TV shows and would like the flexibility of watching these shows at their own convenience.  TIVO works with Cable and Satellite companies with a receiver that you can program to record any show you would like up to the capacity of the device.  You can record more than one show at once and program this to happen without worrying about missing a show.

After having TIVO, I don’t know what I would do without it.  This little icon is definitely my friend.

TechTarget.(2005).  What is com. Retrieved February 22, 2012, from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci548191,00.html

Defined in “Profiles of Popular Culture”, “Popular culture is the system of attitudes, behavior patterns, beliefs, customs, and tastes that define the people of society.”  Popular culture influences people in society.  Popular culture is ever changing.  There are many parts of popular culture that I truly appreciate and grasp and there are other parts that I need to know when to say enough.  (Brown,2005)

Popular culture in the workplace is very important.  As the ways of communication change and evolve, businesses must keep up with these changes.  Strong businesses were built on strong values.  These companies must keep up with popular culture in order to market their customers and compete with the new companies that are developing.  

 Communication between customers is important to companies.  Blogs and internet communications such as Facebook and Twitter allow people to communicate and discuss the likes and dislikes of companies.  Now more than ever, companies must remain on their toes and provide what customers are looking for.

TV Reality Shows such as “Big Brother” are very popular in this day and age.  Big Brother is a show where 14 people live in a house together.  Each week, someone is voted off.  All battle for a cash prize of $50,000.  People can watch their every move in the house 24/7 by webcam.  This show has 3.2 million viewers.  The age group of the viewers is 24-70.  The reason for the wide age range is because the age group of the contestants are of all ages.