Why do Cincinnatians have an obsession with reality shows? (Beavercreek: to live, law)

[skippercollector]

As usual, even though I was born and raised here, I have yet another detail of my life that is counter to what everyone else here loves. I HATE reality shows. I think I have seen 10 minutes total of Survivor, and even less of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.
I've read for several years now that Cincinnati has the (dubious, I think) distinction of being the Number 1 market in the United States for reality TV programming. I've never figured out why. The programs are just not to my taste.
Completely ignoring the possible snide comments and bad jokes one can make about this subject, do any of you know why this is? What am I missing?

P.S. Because of the abundance of reality TV, I watch probably less than half of what I used to watch growing up time-wise.

[PhillytoCincy]

It's an American thing, not a Cincinnati thing. Why do these shows continue? Because the AMERICAN public loves them.

Also, do you have a link that says Cincinnati is the number 1 market for this?

[Cincy Rider]

the first couple of seasons of Survivor were cool and Idol were tolerable. Otherwise I'd rather watch paint dry.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by skippercollector

As usual, even though I was born and raised here, I have yet another detail of my life that is counter to what everyone else here loves. I HATE reality shows. I think I have seen 10 minutes total of Survivor, and even less of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.
I've read for several years now that Cincinnati has the (dubious, I think) distinction of being the Number 1 market in the United States for reality TV programming. I've never figured out why. The programs are just not to my taste.
Completely ignoring the possible snide comments and bad jokes one can make about this subject, do any of you know why this is? What am I missing?

P.S. Because of the abundance of reality TV, I watch probably less than half of what I used to watch growing up time-wise.

Cincinnati doesn't have the population to make specific reality shows #1 on different networks.

You're comment about Cincinnati being the number one market for reality shows probably stems from 'Dancing with the Stars,' in which it was.

This may have something to do with Ocho Cinco, I could be wrong though.

There were also 2 cast members, I believe on Survivor as well from Cincinnati.

... and we cannot forget that MTV's 'Taking the Stage' took place at the SCPA.

[goyguy]

AND one amateur-singing show (I don't watch any of that cr@pp either) featured da Nati's own Nick Lachey, and a choir he assembled which either won the national competition or came close to it.
Ya got me why so many people faithfully tune into this trash TV (which is redundant, if you ask me.) It's definitely not confined to the OKI Tri-State. Right up there in conversations at the beginning of my work day is talk of who got voted off this program or did great on that one. Here in Red Sox Nation that's saying something. Maybe folks feel that their lives and the people around them are boring, and like to live vicariously through the shows' participants/contestants. That'd at least explain "The Biggest Loser," since 'most everybody would just as soon be in better physical condition than they are. And you could be on television while you lost weight! Then there's the sleaze factor involved in putting a former astronaut pushing 80, or Paul McCartney's gold-digging one-legged ex-wife, on a dance floor. We Americans love our sleaze. For many of these shows there IS no excuse. "Keeping up With the Kardashians"?! What did those chicks do, other than being rich and hot, to rate that? Is there no better way to express Armenian pride? LOL
Thank goodness for TV Land and Comedy Central. (Not that I even own an idiot box any more as it is. Cable rates kept going up up up, and the quality of programming kept going down down down, so I put mine on the curb five years ago.)
Psssst: It's all about socioeconomic class. 82% of Norwood tunes in to "America's Next Top Model," or whatever, while 24% - mostly kids - of Indian Hill does. (Percentages are arbitrary.) Advertisers love targeting audiences who earn less than $40k a year, and TV stations love their ad revenue. Company officers don't start board meetings with discussions about who'll make the next cut on "American Idol," but their cube-farm underlings do. And who buys more Bud Lite, shops at Wal-Mart, grabs lunch at McDonald's...? Bingo!

[austiNati]

Only reality TV I watch is 'The First 48' , screw the rest

[Tubby513]

I've been known to fall asleep to reruns of Seinfeld at midnight, but thats about as far as my TV watching goes.

[PhillytoCincy]

Is that MTV series that is set in Cincy still on?

[SonnyDaze]

Originally Posted by Beavercreek33

Is that MTV series that is set in Cincy still on?

The second season ended several weeks ago.

[kjbrill]

Where is the Reality in so-called Reality TV? About the only thing my BH and I watch anymore are Bonanza reruns on TV Land, Law & Order marathons on TNT, and History International.

We do like the specials on PBS, but my BH becomes irritated the really good shows are always timed with their contribution drives - the incessant and non-ending commercials drive her nuts.

And how about shows like American Chopper and Dog the Bounty Hunter? A few minutes of these and you really want to put your foot through the screen, cancel your cable, and put the set out for Rumpke.