POLL: The lines have now closed and the winner IS!...

[Silver Ledian]

Hiya, I've been meaning to post this poll for some time now, since a new reality TV show started over here, called 'Back To Reality'.

Here are the reality TV-related polls :)

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?

----- Me:

1) I think it was 'Popstars'. Basically it's a show that attempted to make a successful pop group. Thousands of people auditioned and three judges had to whittle the contestants down into a final 10 and then a final 5. It's weird because the winners had 3 singles and then 1 of them left and the group tried to go on but split. It was the other 5 losers that made their own group afterwards and were a success - Liberty X. There was a second series and that was entertaining too. This all came before 'Pop Idol'.

2) I like the first reality TV shows because they were the originals. When they start bringing out new ones every other week then it gets on my nerves but I have to say I'm a fan of the originals.

3) Big Brother is my all-time favourite. I don't know what it is about it because you're just watching 10 or 12 people interact with each other and do ordinary things but the concept of it is really clever. I really love it. There have been 4 series' over here so far, although the last one was pretty much a flop. I watched Big Brother USA 4 though and that was absolutely brilliant. I don't know what my worst would be...there are too many.

4) Yep. I've voted on all the Big Brother series' I think. I voted for Anna in BB1, Brian in BB2, Kate in BB3 and Nush in BB4. I've voted in others as well...those are just the first ones that come to mind.

5) Nope. Except for voting in TPM's Big Brother every now and again really. It's good to watch but I think that the current TPMBB was poorer than the others to be honest. Don't know what it was, maybe new ideas just need to be brought into it, hehe.

[Chris]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?
The very first series of Big Brother back in '99. It was a fresh concept to Britain back then, and it deserved to do well (and did it do well indeed...) However, it's progressively become worse, to the point where I no longer watch it. It's now far too monotonous for me to enjoy.

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?
I did, until every mainstream UK channel started using excuses to use reality TV ideas. Now it's 2004 and in the UK we have/have had Big Brother, Survivor, The Salon, Wife Swap, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here (celebrity lol yeah k), Popstars, Pop Idol, Popstars: The Rivals, Fame Academy, Mr Right UK, Joe Millionaire UK, and most recently Back To Reality (this was the worst idea for a reality TV game show I've ever seen. Channel 5 should stick to what they do best: low-budget soft porn films.) And they're all ripoffs of each other, which is worse still.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?
The most watchable is Big Brother, because it's the reality TV show to the UK. Plus it was quite entertaining a few years back. The least watchable ones are the manufactured pop shows. There's something about watching the same faces for 15+ weeks that I find irritating (at least BB only lasted eight), and there's something about paying 25p (often more than twice for many weeks) to "vote for your favourite pop idol!" that I find unnerving. Which brings me on to...

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?
No. I saved the £50 that I didn't spend voting for anyone/anything and put it towards something infinitely better. :yes:

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?
No; nothing; didn't; n/a. :)

[Nevermore]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?
I think it was probably Shipwrecked on channel 4. Basically, a bunch of attractive twentysomethings running about on a beach with very little clothes on. There was no voting or anything, and I think it aired just before the first series of Big Brother in the UK. I can't actually remember all that much about it - I think it only ran for two or three series.

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?
I hate them, because they're everywhere. They've totally flogged the format to death. My interest in each successive Big Brother has dwindled down to nothing, and the TV schedules are literally swamped with "Celebrity" this and "Swap" that. We need to get back to concentrating on TV shows that involve scripts and actors, with characters and situations you'll still remember a year from now.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?
I hate them all now, but Big Brother was originally quite fun when it first came out, and you do get some really amusing grotesques turning up on it. It's also fun to watch Simon Cowell crush the dreams of tone deaf wannabes on the various Popstars shows. The worst definately has to be I'm A "Celebrity" Get Me Out Of Here - a bunch of Z list zeroes, Ant and Dec, and cruelty to invertebrates. Appalling.

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?
Nope.

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?
Nope.

[homeofmew]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?
The first big brother, the only good one. Gotten worse, now it is a sex house meeting.

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)? Yes.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?
Survivour- The Apprentice- bachelor/ Bacelorette - The one where the girl Maries the guy Marrage SHOW THING and the family goes bannanas

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?
no ish.
5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it? no ish.

[Wolfsong]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?

I think it was either Survivor or Big Brother. At elast Survivor is. At first it was rather interesting now its just gettign old, thogu i occasionally check out the all start one. i think its went down him since most are the same basic premisejust differnent locals and stuff

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?

I don't really care much for them. I did like big brother and stuff at first. I think they are interesting at first, but they do have a tendency to get old quick.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?

Most preferred: Big Brother, The Mole, Survivor.

Worst: Fear Factor if that qualifies. When they have to eat that stuff, it just turns my stomach

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?

Nope, I haven't

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?

If Being in one of TPM's Big Brother Counts then yes. I made it to close to the ends. It was ok. It was different, but interesting.

[Mikey]

1. The first one I watched was the original reality show...Survivor. It was awesome, but now it just sucks.

2. I love reality shows. And to people that say "I hate them because there are so many of them", u, there's a lot of cartoons but people don't hate cartoons. There's a lot of other shows and people don't hate them.

3. I love American Idol, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance, Average Joe, The Real World, man I love them all!

I hate Fear Factor though. It sucks ***.

4. Yep, voted for Kelly Clarkston in the final vote of American Idol and Clay in the final vote for American Idol 2.

5. Nope, but it would be a blast to be on the Real Word.

[shazza]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?
-The first reality TV show was called, The House from Hell. It was like BigBrother, but extremely poor, and it has been cancelled.

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?
-Most are pathetic, but I like some, such as BigBrother.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?
-My favourite is BigBrother, because of the simplicity, but complex nature at the sme time. My worst is probably, a show called The hothouse, on Australian TV right now, I hate it.

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?
-Nope.

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?
-I hosted and created BigBrother 0, BigBrother 1 and BigBrother 2 on TPM. I hosted some of 3, but I had enough, and became lazy with it, and gave it to Zak.

[Angel Blossom]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?
I believe the first reality TV show I have ever watched was The Bachelor. It was like any other season - a guy picks one girl that he will, supposedly, "fall in love" with, and the girls who compete for his love are a little bit egotistic and jealous of whoever is getting the most attention. It hasn't improved or gotten worse, it's as bad as always! XP

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?
It depends. I really like a few that are funny, like "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance". The reality TV shows that try too hard to be serious are not really that enjoyable, IMO. In most cases, they get boring after their first season.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?
My favorite was My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance. Sure, it was a little too silly, but I thought that is was really funny at the finale when everyone found out about the truth. ^^ The worst.. probably Fear Factor. Geez, at first I thought that more people enjoyed that show.. then I looked at this poll's replies, lol.

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?
If American Idol counts, yes. I did vote for a guy last year, I believe it was Ruben. Also, my mom voted for Justin in the first season. Yes, both my mom and I had bad taste. XD

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?
I'm sorry that I couldn't make a more decent reply, but.. no, I haven't. For some reason I'm not all too interested in participating in the online reality TV shows. They are fun to watch, but I wouldn't be able to take part in it, lol. ^^'

[classy_cat18]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?

I believe it was the first season of Survivor, and I thought it was very interesting. I don't watch it any more.

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?

Not really. I think the people act so fake on most of them, especially The Real World.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?

My favorite has to be American Idol because some of those people are really good singers. Go, Scooter Girl! My least favorite is definitely The Real World. It's all booze and sex.

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?

I voted for Ruuuuben! You know, on American Idol. He's representing Birmingham very nicely right now. :D

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?

No.

[RedStarWarrior]

1) What was the first reality TV show you watched? What was it like? Is it still going today? Has it improved or gotten worse?
The first I ever watched would be Road Rules, which I do consider a reality show even though it was before the reality show era.

2) Do you like reality TV shows? Why (not)?
No, they are too overdone nowadays. In fact, the only reality shows I have been interested in lately are humorous ones like My Big, Fat, Annoying Fiancé, American Idol (the preliminaries) and Sci-Fi's first attempt at a reality show, Mad Mad House, which premieres Thursday.

3) Even if you don't like them, which is your favourite/most preferred/watchable? Which has to be the worst? Why?
I guess that the ones I listed above are my favorite. Survivor is getting pretty stupid to me. I haven't watched it with full interest since the first, which, in my honest opinion, was the best Survivor. I don't like it when companies try to milk an idea for all they can.

4) Have you ever participated in voting for one of the contestants on a reality TV show? Who?
No, I do not promote crap and N/A.

5) Have you ever taken part in an online reality TV show? What did you do? Where did you come? Did you like it?
No, N/A, N/A, and N/A.

[kurai]

1. Survivor, the original season. I thought it was pretty boring, and I guess it still runs now, but I did not continue watching it so I don't know whether it is better or not these days.
2. No, I don't enjoy them, they're generally fairly predictable and boring.
3. I guess the only one I have watched recently was The Assistant or whatever, it wasn't too bad. I avoid them, so I don't know which is the worst.
4. Nope.
5. No.