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Tuning into Reality: A Look at TV Families
Yesterday while surfing the net I came across a story about a well-known TV family who had purchased a reported $1 million home for their brood. Having watched this family for a few years, noting their tips for living on a budget, I felt somewhat cheated. This whole time I thought they were "just getting by". But who am I to look down on people doing good for themselves right? Well, I felt like the image that this TV network portrayed was one of an average American family just trying to make ends meet. And here they were, living in an estate! I just couldn't shake it, knowing that all this time I felt inadequate thinking "well if they can manage to feed that whole family for $xx.xx and healthy, why can't I do it for two?" Then, it hit me. DUH! It's TV! It is not "reality"! These people are paid to do a program so that in itself makes them different from the average family. There are other TV families that many Americans have become enthralled with. We watch their shows, follow their stories, and learn from their experiences. But we have to remember that it is just TV: no two families or situations are the same. Frugality for some of the nation has become the new fad, but television is a tricky business where not everything is as it seems.
4 comments:
I know exactly who you are talking about, and I have felt the same way for a while. In the beginning, saving money was an almost constant topic, but hasn't been for a while. I am afraid they don't have $$ problems anymore, and the dad isn't even working. They are living off the money from their show. Which is unwise, to say the least.
Nicely put. I also wonder how the children will feel later on that every piece of their lives were exposed, and I might even stretch to say exploited.
I tried watching this show after hearing so much about it, but between the wife continually berating the husband, the constant hawking of products so the couple can make more money, and the wife's comments about family members not being part of their lives, I decided this show was not what I wanted in my life. I don't begrudge them the nice big house because it's filled with some really unhappy adults. I'd rather have my small but happy home any day of the week.
It seems there are other people who are share some of my feelings. I encourage everyone to join in this discussion.
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