A social observation, maybe?

U201492 · Feb 7, 2014

The wife and I was just finishing watching "Appalachian Outlaws", then "Swamp People", plus we watch "Duck Dynasty" and "The Legend of Mick Dodge". Then compared that to the typical "Keeping up with the Kardashians", "The Housewives of (Insert city here)". Then I compared that with those "Buy a house and flip it" shows.

It occurred to me I'm looking at 3 distinct show that's aimed at specific demographics.

No wonder the liberals were so scornfull and angry at the "Duck Dynasty" brouhaha that was whipped up a few months ago- they realized the stuff coming out of Hollywood wasn't selling so they had to follow the money.

Anyone have any insights into this?

Mikej · Feb 7, 2014

Sorry, can't help you. The only show of those mentioned I've watched is Swamp People. Somehow I identify with those folks. I'd love to live among them. I seldom watch anymore as they are mostly re-runs and I don't need to see an episode more than twice, if that.

Rix · Feb 8, 2014

I can't stand watching that bubblegum.
How it's made, modern marvels, and nature shows are more my speed.
No insight into fake *** reality tv from me.

U201492 · Feb 8, 2014

Rix said:
I can't stand watching that bubblegum. How it's made, modern marvels, and nature shows are more my speed.
No insight into fake *** reality tv from me.

Well Mr Rix please consider this; if you owned a company of some kind would you allow a film crew to come in and record all of your manufacturing secrets? That a reasonable person would think "Do I want to show my competition this?" So I'd have to say "how its made" and "Modern Marvels" would fall into the "Bubble Gum Category".

As far as nature shows? Check this out: White Wilderness (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now ask yourself "Where is the truth here?" Hint: the only truth I know of is follow the money from the advertising.

Even Duck Dynasty is a bit of a lie- the guy who stirred up all the controversy from A&E had starred in GAY porn films some 10 years ago.

I trust my Bible, my firearms, my Dog, and maybe my wife- in that order. I also know my Dog would sell me out for a Klondike bar in a New York Second,,,,,!

He likes to eat,,,,all the time

teflon6string · Feb 8, 2014

No matter what level of authenticity these shows endeavor to portray (all of them), its hard for me to get beyond the extent of deliberate production permeating every aspect of what we see.

We see people arriving places where the camera is already waiting, walking into rooms, showing up with a boatload of gators, getting into scuffles, etc. Audio is excellent, lighting is good and video is well recorded from multiple angles. So even if many/most of these events might've happened anyway, no amount of spontaneous-looking camera jiggling can erase my notion that every scene begins and ends with "action" and "cut" - before it goes to the editors.

Paid by Discovery or History channels, that's an interesting "fricking" way to "live life," eh?

U201492 · Feb 8, 2014

teflon97239 said:
No matter what level of authenticity these shows endeavor to portray (all of them), its hard for me to get beyond the extent of deliberate production permeating every aspect of what we see.

We see people arriving places where the camera is already waiting, walking into rooms, showing up with a boatload of gators, getting into scuffles, etc. Audio is excellent, lighting is good and video is well recorded from multiple angles. So even if many/most of these events might've happened anyway, no amount of spontaneous-looking camera jiggling can erase my notion that every scene begins and ends with "action" and "cut" - before it goes to the editors.

Paid by Discovery or History channels, that's an interesting "fricking" way to "live life," eh?

Well, you can do everything and anything in post production EXCEPT you cannot take a subject that was shot out of focus and make it into focus. Everything else can be done post production- thats why you take a 2 hour "Star Trek" movie and be done shooting but it takes a year to 18 months to distribute it

Caveman Jim · Feb 8, 2014

Im Southern by birth and would rather watch "my kin" doin stuff I love to do.
I hate all the B.S. shows on TV but am on the puter more than anything else....

Rix · Feb 8, 2014

Trailltrader said:
Well Mr Rix please consider this; if you owned a company of some kind would you allow a film crew to come in and record all of your manufacturing secrets? That a reasonable person would think "Do I want to show my competition this?" So I'd have to say "how its made" and "Modern Marvels" would fall into the "Bubble Gum Category".

As far as nature shows? Check this out: White Wilderness (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now ask yourself "Where is the truth here?" Hint: the only truth I know of is follow the money from the advertising.

Even Duck Dynasty is a bit of a lie- the guy who stirred up all the controversy from A&E had starred in GAY porn films some 10 years ago.

I trust my Bible, my firearms, my Dog, and maybe my wife- in that order. I also know my Dog would sell me out for a Klondike bar in a New York Second,,,,,! He likes to eat,,,,all the time

Many of the companies DONT show everything about how a particular product is made.
None of it is so fake that it's just plain unbelievable or ridiculous.
You're not supposed to have to suspend disbelief for a "reality" show. You know what I mean?

U201492 · Feb 9, 2014

Rix said:
Many of the companies DONT show everything about how a particular product is made.
None of it is so fake that it's just plain unbelievable or ridiculous.
You're not supposed to have to suspend disbelief for a "reality" show. You know what I mean?

True; but speaking as a former engineer it wouldn't be rocket science to see just enough to think "Himmmm, if we changed our system to do XXXX like they're showing here we could increase productivity,,,"

Example: Boeing will not under any circumstances allow any form of camera on the company's property. Airbus took pictures, and built their entire factory around the data they essentially,,,,well, stole from Boeing. Meanwhile, Boeing had stole the Omnibus concept from Ford Motor Company which was originally set up be Henry Ford, Senior.