It’s moldy, it’s rotten, it’s rancid. It’s not the smell of trash but something more potent. A putrid smell that draws in more and more people each time it circles through the room, a smell that houses drama and betrayal. A smell composed of real people encountering real problems for the world to see. For years, the smell of trashy reality television shows has lured the attention of millions, containing drama that almost no script can concoct.
“Trashy [shows have] a lot of drama, bickering and people [who] do not give space for other people to have an opinion,” Reese Wilburn (11) said. “Some of the drama is childish because [adults] will fight over dudes while pushing 30 years old; they need to grow up.”
Over recent years, reality television shows have anchored themselves throughout American households. Even though the genre has gained popularity, it is often criticized by Hollywood executives because of its cheap production value and dramatized storylines. However, with the rise of scripted shows that often take over a year to produce an eight-episode season, reality television shows’ fast-paced rollout has helped cement it as a genre loved by many.
“I do think reality TV shows are produced faster because … there isn’t a standard they have to follow,” Rheana Dates (12) said. “You get to see authentic drama, love, friendships and heartbreak in everyday people.”
Trashy reality television uses sensationalism to draw in viewers. Sensationalization is a media technique used to dramatize or persuade the audience by emphasizing certain plots and storylines. The fights, breakups, breakdowns and tears shown on the big screen are usually exaggerated to create a trashier plot. While trashy media’s over-the-top plot lines can seem absurd to some, others view them as the chance to see a glimpse of their own lives on the big screen. The drama and betrayal shown in these shows are similar to conflicts that some viewers face in their everyday lives. By showing the ups and downs of life, trashy media creates a safe haven for many individuals to see their own lives from an outsider’s perspective.
“Some people like watching drama or are just really nosey,” Wilburn said. “I think trashy TV can be good to watch, but [it is] not a learning experience. If you watch it at a young age, it can alter how you see things, but if you watch it [when you are] older, then it gives you a better understanding of the world.”
Although trashy reality television is known for its dramatization, it allows the audience to feel as though they are friends with the “characters” on their screen. For most people, trashy reality television is a chance to escape their own issues and watch someone else’s. By seeing they are not alone, trashy television provides a form of relatability that has funded the production of many shows. This genre displays how drama and setbacks crowd many people’s lives no matter their fame, wealth or status. Whether a guilty pleasure or a go-to genre, trashy reality shows provide entertainment that highlights the human experience — the good and the messy.
“When you see [these people] on screen, you could think, ‘That could be me,’ because it could,” Dates said. “It’s always interesting to see how people react to different scenarios and problems [because] they’re all just random people like the rest of us.”