Why do We Expect Reality Shows to Follow Rules of Fairness and Real Life

I wanted to give my opinion on reality television. I have to admit I find myself drawn to reality television shows. Not all of them, but certainly many of them. I seem to love any of the reality cooking shows but my favorite is always The Amazing Race. I don’t follow The Bachelor but have noticed that everyone is discussing the recent drama related to that finale. I find watching a reality show, itself, is a bit like trying to avoid watching a car wreck. I don’t understand, however, why everyone seems to think that the outcome of reality shows should be based upon fairness or merit. Reality shows are unique unto themselves. They are not truly reality so why would they follow the same rules. I read a recent blog that seemed to address this very eloquently.

James Poniewozik in his Tuned In blog post, Why Top Chef Was Right to Pick the Wrong Winner, seemed to understand some of the ways reality television is not exactly reality. He points out the fact that many of us feel cheated that Hosea won during the recent finale of Top Chef. Frankly, I did not really like Stefan, but he dominated most of the challenges throughout the show and I really wanted Carla to win. However, both messed up their dishes in the finale and Hosea did better overall in that last challenge. I notice many people become unglued discussing outcomes of reality shows. Although we all seem to get emotionally involved in the outcome of reality shows, Poniewozik shared the following, which I do agree with heartily:

“Once you turn a competition into an entertainment, in other words, you have to leave in the possibility that the wrong guy will win sometime. Rewarding people on sheerly on the basis of their ability, and making sure that the most deserving come out on top all the time—that's what the rest of life is for. And if it doesn't always work out that way, that's our problem, not the Top Chef judges'.”

So what do you think? Are you still irritated with the outcome of Top Chef? Are you frustrated with the romantic decisions made by Jason on The Batchelor? Can you accept that it is really not reality but an entertaining game?