MTV Real Life?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Does anyone have any experience with this show? They are apparently filming at my kids' high school for the next few weeks, for a segment about high school freshmen. I would think the filming will be rather disruptive, but I am also uncertain as to whether I should allow DS to audition.

I am generally opposed to MTV's model of paying nothing for its programming (participants in this and similar shows are unpaid), but am more concerned about the impact of the show on DS if he ends up being in it.... auditions are tomorrow, so I don't have time to Tivo and brush up on it.

Any input would be helpful, thanks.

[Chap7 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Chap7]

MTV and VH1 have a lot of crap that my HS students watch. I feel that many of the shows have such a negative influence on them. Shows such as "A Shot at Love with Tia Tequila", "Busted", "Cribs", "Pimp my Ride", "High School Stories", "Jackass", "Viva la Bam", "Wild Boyz", "Scarred", "My Super Sweet Sixteen", "The Real World", "Road Rules" and "Making the Band" glorify a lot of dangerous and inappropriate behavior. These are only the ones that I've seen. You mention the show "Real Life" but I'm not familiar with it and it isn't listed on their website.

They do have a show called "True Life" which I've actually used segments of in my HS health classes from time to time. It really depends on the topic and how it is portrayed. (Eating disorders, steroids, binge drinking, drug abuse) Any video piece that I use is followed by an in depth class discussion of both the topic and the way it was portrayed. This is one show which I can see as having potential value.

There is another show called "Made" which seems to be OK. Basically they take HS kids who want to be something and provide them with a coach and some intense training and motivation. The cameras follow them throughout the whole process.

Without knowing more about the show they are filming and the angle they are looking for it is a hard call to make. My guess would be that they have a particular story line in mind and will find and edit the footage in such a way as to tie in with that.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I discussed it with DS, he wasn't thrilled about the idea of having no input regarding the content of what gets aired. I am proud of him, I feared the 15 minutes of fame would outweigh any practical considerations...

This reminds me of a story involving the now x-wife of a friend - she was approached about participating in a documentary about the wedding planning process... She declined, and a good thing, too... the show turned out to be Bridezilla

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Can you talk him out of it? If you can, I would. There's a tremendous amount of manipulation done during the editing of reality shows, and your son could come off looking fantastic...or like a real jerk...or like a nerd...or like he comes from a troubled home...or like he's an alcoholic...or, basically, like whatever MTV wants to make him look like in order to make a juicier show. I know I would definitely prefer that my kids NOT be on any reality show.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Can you talk him out of it? If you can, I would. There's a tremendous amount of manipulation done during the editing of reality shows, and your son could come off looking fantastic...or like a real jerk....

You mean those people who look like they're real jerks on reality shows really aren't?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Can you talk him out of it? If you can, I would. There's a tremendous amount of manipulation done during the editing of reality shows, and your son could come off looking fantastic...or like a real jerk...or like a nerd...or like he comes from a troubled home...or like he's an alcoholic...or, basically, like whatever MTV wants to make him look like in order to make a juicier show. I know I would definitely prefer that my kids NOT be on any reality show.

You put my thoughts into more words than I was able to, but we are in agreement and he is opting out.

Craig, I'm not certain about the name, but that's what was left on my voicemail. It could be True Life, the segment is about "freshmen," but I don't know the angle. I appreciate your looking, and I agree about the other shows on MTV (and elsewhere, for that matter). I wish you taught at my kids' school.

[Chap7 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Chap7]

....I wish you taught at my kids' school.

I bet a lot of my students wish the same.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I discussed it with DS, he wasn't thrilled about the idea of having no input regarding the content of what gets aired. I am proud of him, I feared the 15 minutes of fame would outweigh any practical considerations...

This reminds me of a story involving the now x-wife of a friend - she was approached about participating in a documentary about the wedding planning process... She declined, and a good thing, too... the show turned out to be Bridezilla

You mean those people who look like they're real jerks on reality shows really aren't?

I bet a lot of my students wish the same.

Glad DS has opted out. Didn't the school have to run this buy people to get authorization? The first week or so is bound to be hectic enough without that going on too.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

During one of my pregnancies, my obstetrician's nurse told me that he had been asked to appear on a major network news show that was going to focus on women's health care and the birthing process. (This was about 14 years ago, before "reality shows.")

So my doctor had been asking all his patients who were about six months into their pregnancies (it was too late for me) if they would be willing to have their child's birth be filmed and used in this show. I said, "Are any of the women going to do it?" She said, "It's always exactly the same. The MEN all say, 'How much will this pay?' but the women just go, 'NO!'"

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Glad DS has opted out. Didn't the school have to run this buy people to get authorization? The first week or so is bound to be hectic enough without that going on too.

I'm not sure which chucklehead(s) agreed to it, but if it's disruptive I will certainly find out...