Okay, I just read something that blew… my freaking… MIND! It was
a story about a New York City “Reality TV School” where they
actually train people “to audition and act for reality television.” Soooooo… is this how it’s gonna be? Are we finally admitting
that reality television isn’t even slightly real and that the
only difference between Project Runway and Ghost
Whisperer is that the purple-faux-hawked designer “Suede” is a
better actor? Does this also mean that MAYBE instead of vying against
20 other contestants for a million dollars, reality stars should be
receiving the same pay as their actor AND SCREENWRITER counterparts?
Dig this factoid: Did you know that only 5 of the top 15 shows of
last year were scripted? That means it’s only a matter of time
before the contestants on Survivor or some other reality program
form an alliance and walk off the show until they start getting paid
what they’re worth!
So what are you waiting for, reality stars? Are you going to accept
this obvious inequity? Are you going to continue to be paid
significantly less than regular actors and writers for
significantly more work and tons more humiliation? Isis from
America’s Next Top Model, you should walk up to Tyra and say,
“Girl, I ain’t even about to get fierce until I get paid!” Rise
up against the system, reality stars! Fight the power! Take back your
destiny! Si se puede! YES… YOU… CAN!
Okay. Here’s some stuff coming on TV this week:
• Vice-Presidential Debates (All nets, Thurs Oct 2, 6
pm). If she doesn’t pull a John McCain and try to chicken out (BAWK!
Buck-buck-buck-buck-KAW!!), veep-
wannabe Sarah Palin will take on
Democrat Joe Biden in a no-holds-barred Alaska-style cage match. Watch
as Palin tries to augment her mannishness by comparing herself to
animals wearing makeup. (“I’m a pit bull with lipstick!” “I’m a moose
with mascara!” “I’m a horse’s ass with Botox!”)
• The Ex List (CBS, Fri Oct 3, 9 pm). If you’re single,
and desperately unable to snag a man, have I got a show for you!
Elizabeth Reaser (from—ugh!—Grey’s Anatomy) stars as
a single gal who learns from a psychic that she’s already met the
love of her life. But here’s the script-flip! She only has one
year to find him or be alone forever. Well, I’m psychic, too, and
my prediction is that she’ll climb into her pajamas and sit in front of
the TV while devouring an entire tub of Chunky Monkey.
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network, Fri Oct 3,
9 pm). Remember back in 2003, when Samurai Jack creator Genndy
Tartakovsky made a series of absolutely stunning Star Wars cartoons? Well… this isn’t it. This is the series that producer
George Lucas made after getting jealous of Tartakovsky’s far superior
series, and if the theatrical version that was released a few months
ago is any indication, IT WILL SUCK. That being said, cartoon
characters should join reality stars in demanding higher wages! Yoda could be all like, “George Lucas, not paying what Yoda is worth
you are! Stick contract where sun doesn’t shine, you will. Mmmmm…
yessssssss.” 
omg!!!!!! this is hilarious, we’ve finally broken through to the truth!!!!!
I agree. It is about time that the genre of Reality TV do an about face and take a look at itself. Hopefully this school does more than teach how to say “I really can’t stand Barbara, she’s so sluttish!” lol – Now I’m off to peek at the site and see what I can see!
Well, I Appreaciate you saying I’m worth more money.
-Billy From CBS Survivor
I really enjoy being a reality mentor at the New York Reality TV School. Not only is it one of many ways I give back but I get to help my fellow Dreamchasers try and catch their dreams. I was lucky enough to catch mine.
I don’t agree with saying reality cast members humiliate themselves on TV. Thoughs that believe that take themselves way too seriously and thus believe the rest of the world does too. Sorry, we’re not all tight asses. ha ha ha.
Reality TV is entertainment, not the news. I’m not saying it’s staged like prowrestling but when you put someone in the middle of nowhere and have 2 dozen cameras on them, that takes them well out of their confort zone. If they are not ready for that then they might become a deer in headlights. Yikes, who wants to blow it and force producers to edit you out because you froze in front of the cameras? No one does.
The New York Reality TV School trains you to be able to function once you are taken out of your comfort zone which allows you to make the most of your time on the show. Furthermore, it teaches you how to catch a dream and enjoy it once you’ve got it. I’m proud to be a part of this School.
-Billy From CBS Survivor
teaching people how to be more real seems backwards, but this seems more like teaching people how to build their confidence and comfort level for interviews, tryouts or whenever in front of a camera….not a bad concept
In Reality TV, it is more to it than
“keeping it real.”
There is a certain professionalism
you must have to apply for any job.
Don’t knock it ’til you tried it !!
Reality TV show producers face a daunting challenge. They need to produce an episode of television that is both entertaining and engaging while at the same time dealing with amatures who have little to no experience dealing with cameras, lights, sound, etc.
Therefore, they must shoot WAY more footage, coax good “performances” out of their cast AND edit it together so that it looks natural.
Reality TV School doesn’t teach you how to be a better actor. In fact it doesn’t teach you anything about acting. What it does is to prepare you for the whirlwind that IS reality television. Cast members make their success (monetary or otherwise) by taking advantage of the publicity offered by the reality TV platform. You couldn’t possibly afford to do it on your own…
So all in all, it is probably a fair deal. Exploitation is really hard to pull off these days. The market corrects itself and everyone can benefit in the end.
Being in front of a camera takes preparation..period. I dont care if its for Reality TV, Soap Opera, Talk Shows, Infomercials etc. Face it, you become a ‘product’ that has to sold to the viewers. Guests go through a great deal of preparation before being on Talk Shows, they are still telling their real life stories (well some of them) but doing it in a way that works for the camera. So this Reality TV School is a fantastic idea for anyone who really wants to be successful in front of a camera.