Britian is in the midst of an epidemic that is removing a sense of reality from the lives of its citizens. Ironically, this epidemic is called "Reality TV". I enjoy a lot of reality programmes. I'm as keen as anyone to see celebrities we've never really warmed to being forced to eat animal genitals whilst sat in a tub of custard, or homely ordinary folk being made stars for five minutes. Yes, I even enjoy seeing a former boss of a computer firm that I always thought of as one stage up from Tomy saying "You're fired" each week.
My problem with "reality" programmes is the hysteria that goes with them. This week former Tesco checkout worker, Mary, was voted off the X Factor. The judging panel had the final say, as they have done in the past. Thing is, Mary and some of the press have decided that this was some sort of "fix" despite the fact that it was within the rules.
Mary seems to think that the judges have an agenda. Well, guess what Mary... of course they bloody do. It's a television show which has judges discretion built into the format. Let's drop the pretense. Television is made so that people at home get entertained. The X Factor is also there to sell recordings for publishers, record labels and agents. We all know this.
The red herring is clearly in the title. There is very little "real" about television. You have a load of action happening in a studio with lights, cameras, sometimes an audience, producers, directors.... My life has none of those things in it. I often think it would be far more showbiz to walk down the street after a stylist has told me what to wear, while a pack of photographers follow, asking me Smash Hits magazine-style questions like "What's your favourite colour" and "Is it true you're dating one of the Thunderbirds?".
Television is a construction of a reality with a narrative controlled, to a large degree, by the producers. Yes, we sometimes get to vote as part of that, but there are also safeguards built into the format to ensure it entertains the audience. So long as no one is defrauded in the process then where's the problem? Saying the judges have an agenda in the X Factor is simply stating the obvious.
I'd love for us to lose the hysteria and enjoy the entertainment. I'd also love contestants to understand that they're a player in an entertainment game. I wish they'd do us a favour and understand that before agreeing to take part. That way we'll all end up winners (to borrow a "reality" cliche).