America Seen From Reality TV
CuriousJohn ·
February 24, 2012 at 1:58am
I heard something on CNN this morning. The guest asked a question, “ if China’s only view of America were based on the TV shows they watched, what would be their impression of America with all the crap reality shows available (i.e. the Housewives of XXX) . I would like to change that query to “If you could chose just 2 or 3 shows (currently on air), you wanted the Chinese people to use in getting a picture of America, What would they be?”
My choices and the message it sends:
“American Idol” - We are gifted with song and music is important
“Top Shot” - We are gifted with the 2nd Amendment and we’re not afraid
“Dirty Jobs” – We are gifted with passion and free enterprise
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Comments:
Jul '11
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
UFC. Guess what kids, don't even try.
Nov '10
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Wow, what a great post. If you could expand the list a little, I'd add Mythbusters: "We can be smart and have fun with guns, cars and high explosives at the same time."
Feb '12
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Mythbusters was one of my choices at first. If I could do anything as a job. I would be a Mythbuster. That's the coolest job out there!!
Jul '10
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Mythbusters - There is knowable, objective truth and it is important.
Deadliest Catch - Free enterprise is a system where passion can thrive.
COPS - This is a nation of laws, not men, enforced by human beings, not automatons.
Investigation Discovery channel - The pursuit of justice is essential to our character.
Aug '10
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
"Gold Rush" - We are a country where a bunch of guys who have no clue what they're doing can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars doing it!
"Storage Wars" - Some jobs are too dirty for even Mike whats-his-name!
"Say yes to the Dress" - We are a country where eloping is usually the best option!
"Cake Boss" - We are a country where not all Italians are obnoxious mafioso - some are obnoxious bakers!
"Jon & Kate plus 8" - We are a country where fertility drugs are your ticket to stardom!
"19 and counting (Duggars)" - who needs fertility drugs!
"Pawn Stars" - don't you wish your county museum director had a cool hat like ours does!
I could go on but I'm sure you've already regretted creating this post.
Edited on February 23, 2012 at 9:38pmAug '11
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
I spent 14 years living overseas and the sad news is, that's EXACTLY how we're judged! Though in my days, it was re-runs of BayWatch and crummy soap operas...
Feb '12
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Frozen Chosen
I am not sorry. You got the point. I love your spin Keep them coming.
Feb '12
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Love the COPS insight.
Tripedis Canis: Mythbusters - There is knowable, objective truth and it is important.
Deadliest Catch - Free enterprise is a system where passion can thrive.
COPS - This is a nation of laws, not men, enforced by human beings, not automatons.
Investigation Discovery channel - The pursuit of justice is essential to our character. · 4 hours ago
Apr '11
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Pawn Stars- Contrary to whatever experience you've had with our federal government, many of us still know how to drive a hard bargain.
Jersey Shore- We are a compassionate people; even those of us with severe mental disabilities enjoy beachfront property.
Edited on February 24, 2012 at 2:21amJul '11
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Jeremy Lin highlights. We are better even when genetically identical. All things through Christ!
Jan '11
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Jerry Springer and Cops.
Jul '10
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
"Wheel of Fortune"
"The Price is Right"
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"
"Dallas" [It's not "current," but it help bring down communist Europe]
Ostentatious display of wealth.
May '11
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
I'm trying to figure out what musical talent you're seeing on American Idol.
May '10
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
That's a great pick with Top Shot. It shows the wide variety of Americans from all over the country, and of different occupations, who take self defense and their civil rights seriously, as well as our cultural love of competition.
Let me also add How the States Got Their Shapes. It tells a great story of our history and national identity through geography.
Finally, Blue Bloods, which portrays our family values, our religion, and our culture of the rule of law, the rights of the accused, sympathy for victims, and the requirement for search warrants (i.e. limits on state power).
Aug '11
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Dirty Jobs came to mind before I finished reading the premise. Mythbusters (curiosity, scientific method, humor) and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (small businesses, awesome ethnic mashups, and family and local traditions).
Feb '12
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Skyler Please post an audio version of you in the shower. Lets hear you sing a diddy. Everyone can't be a winner, but if you think those people can't sing, you are deaf.
Feb '12
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
How the States got their shapes was another one on my list. What a great show. It also displays how people wanted very much to be part of the USA, and how sometimes they had to fight to do it.
Mark Wilson: That's a great pick withTop Shot. It shows the wide variety of Americans from all over the country, and of different occupations, who take self defense and their civil rights seriously, as well as our cultural love of competition.
Let me also addHow the States Got Their Shapes. It tells a great story of our history and national identity through geography.
Finally, Blue Bloods, which portrays our family values, our religion, and our culture of the rule of law, the rights of the accused, sympathy for victims, and the requirement for search warrants (i.e. limits on state power). · 29 minutes ago
May '10
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Great choices, Curious John. "Dirty Jobs" is about the only show on TV that shows flyover country with respect.
I don't watch TV anymore, but may I suggest...
"American Chopper" — ingenuity, entrepreneurship, charity, and the honoring of contracts (and deadlines).
I'm told "The Voice" is better than "American Idol", focusing less on melodramatic losers and more on gifted singers. It also apparently involves more competition.
Also, there used to be some show which toured manufacturing facilities to show how things are made.
Unfortunately, someone from Indonesia once told me they mostly knew us from soap operas like "Dallas".
I don't suppose we could bring back "Maverick"?
Feb '12
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
I was thinking about Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives but didn't list it because I wasn't thinking so much about the businessman point of view, I was a bit ashamed of how we can over do it sometimes with food. But you are right on the money with family andlocal traditions. I'm proud to say one of those Diners is in my town ( Kenosha WI, ) Frank's Diner serves one awesome breakfast.
Feb '12
Re: America Seen From Reality TV
Love the "Flyover" term. Its new to me, but I understand . It is the home of entrepreneurship & charity. I havedn't given "The Voice" a chance yet. My kids already laugh at me enough for watching Idol.
Aaron Miller: Great choices, Curious John. "Dirty Jobs" is about the only show on TV that shows flyover country with respect.
I don't watch TV anymore, but may I suggest...
"American Chopper" — ingenuity, entrepreneurship, charity, and the honoring of contracts (and deadlines).
I'm told "The Voice" is better than "American Idol", focusing less on melodramatic losers and more on gifted singers. It also apparently involves more competition.
Also, there used to be some show which toured manufacturing facilities to show how things are made.
Unfortunately, someone from Indonesia once told me they mostly knew us from soap operas like "Dallas".
I don't suppose we could bring back "Maverick"? · 4 minutes ago