So in class we are still on reality TV, but we've gone into talking about make-over television series. The two articles we talk about today have to deal with 1) how reality TV is created, and 2) Oprah's secret to her success. Now, I will be honest and say that I wasn't expecting Oprah to be considered in the category of a makeover reality series, but after reading the Peck article, I can see how people can classify her as being in that group.
In the first article by Albert Moran, he talks about the format of reality television becoming a huge success around the nation. It all started out as a country creating a format in one nation, and then selling the format and "license a re-broadcast of the programme in other parts of the world" (461). By doing this, you have the same cheap format of reality TV that could be popular in any country, but with just buying the format, the other countries can tweak it to their appeal which would be better suited for their type of audience---and it is still cheap to make and sell. Moran goes on to say that "Format trading has become serious business at the international round of television trade fairs" (465). I think that is absolutely right, because reality TV is becoming and still is such a huge success from when it started 30 something years ago... it makes networks a lot of money because they are so popular, and yet, the format is cheap to buy!
In the Janice Peck article, I had told you at the beginning of this post that I was a little skeptical on whether or not I thought that Oprah's talk show was considered part of the "makeover" reality TV shows. They call her success the "Oprah Effect." Back when her show started in the 80s, she was a part of the trash talk TV shows that never lasted. Knowing that she had to do something to stay successful, she decided that she would talk about positive things on her shows....that she wanted to help people on her shows become good people. Around this time, there was this "new thought" religion going around where everyone just wanted to believe that happiness is all about how you act and behave. Oprah took advantage of that and started this whole "mind cure religion" by telling people that happiness starts within yourself, and that once you become happy, is when you can start living a successful and happy life. By saying this, the millions of viewers watching her, decided that she was right and wanted to follow her.
I can't say that I am one of these "cult followers" of Oprah. I really don't like watching her show that much anymore like I used too. The only time I ever watch Oprah is when she does her "favorite things" episodes. Because I like to live vicariously through the audience members that get all of the cool things on her show for free! Not fair...too bad I will never be able to go on her show for her favorite things. Maybe in another life....
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