Katelyn Benschoter-

Television shows like The Bachelor and Survivor have been on television for quite some time. But for some odd reason, if anyone brings them up, no one will truly admit to being a fan of them. When someone says they really enjoy a reality show, the room suddenly becomes quiet. On a base level, these shows could be of a much higher quality and are meant to provoke arguments among castmates. Reality television shows are often considered a guilty pleasure because no one will admit to enjoying them. Yet there are enough viewers to keep these shows on the air and even produce spinoffs. Take The Bachelor for instance; there are many spin-offs all from one singular show. But why will no one admit to liking these shows?

To begin the search for why no one will admit to enjoying reality television, we must first find why people do watch reality television shows. While people may not admit to enjoying the show, people certainly do tune in. Reality shows in a general sense are meant to capture reality, as these shows are unscripted with no acting. Humans love the idea of authenticity and people being real, hence why these shows are so popular. People love television, but as a viewer, you know that it is all scripted and at the end of the day not real. Reality television gives people that sense of authenticity that everyone craves. Reality TV does not glamorize hard issues, and in some cases, it shows people at their worst. It is common to see people cry, fight, etc., on reality television shows all the time. I think this idea is the key to why people tune in. It is common to be shown “perfect people” by the media. These people often make us feel bad about ourselves. People turn to reality television when they do not want to think too critically about the world or watch perfect model actors fall in love. Rather, people watch reality television when they just want to curl up into a ball and decompress. The ironic thing is that often enough, reality TV is more scripted than it is advertised to be. There are normally some “plot points” created by the production team in order to create drama that is entertaining. Regardless, that is not what counts here. It is the idea that reality television is a comfort in people’s lives. When you sit down and watch Love Island, it is a mindless break at the end of the day.

But if people enjoy watching reality television, just why will no one admit to liking reality television? As I began to ponder this question, I reflected on my own experiences. I used to be an avid reality TV hater. Anytime a popular reality show was brought up, I would claim it was stupid. But in all honesty, I had never actually sat down and watched it. Or, from what I had seen from the show, I had never found it overly enjoyable. It was not until last school year when my roommate and I started watching The Golden Bachelor that I was excited to watch reality television. The show was funny and had an elimination factor so we were always on the edge of our seats waiting to see who was going to be booted off. When reflecting back on this, I now see that while I did enjoy the show itself, it was even more so the memories I made surrounded by the show. We would even make it into a “girls night”, inviting our friends over. We all ended up rooting for a certain contestant and it became such a fun part of the week. I discovered that watching reality television can be fun. I had finally realized why everyone had been tuning in and taking sides. But still, I thought if it is fun to watch these shows, why would no one admit to liking them?

Well, my conclusion is that since reality TV shows at a core level are not high quality, and have a trashy element people do not want these shows reflected onto them. When someone asks you “What is your favorite television show”, no one wants to answer “Love is Blind!” People want others to think highly of them, so they want to give a cool and intellectual indie limited series as their answer. People live their lives in fear of what others think of them. If you genuinely love trashy reality TV such as Jersey Shore,  tell people that you do. Your favorite does not have to be their favorite. And if you are looking for a “good enough” reason for that to be your favorite, just the fact that it brings you joy should be enough. In the end, television has good and bad qualities no matter the show; but if something brings you joy don’t hide it. Don’t just claim it is a guilty pleasure, embrace it! People do not admit to liking reality television because they are scared of what others will think, but I think everyone needs to change their perception. Let people enjoy what they want; if you prefer your Emmy award-winning limited series drama, then that’s cool too.