Real Time and Reel Life

Reality Television, or a reasonable facsimile there of, is a TV staple, but of course it is not real. These days, with a 24-hour news cycle, it isn't even timely. These days, "reel life" is unable to keep up with "real time." (I didn't come up with the expressions "reel time" and "reel life." I wish I had. Well, that isn't going to stop me from using them.) Examples:

• John and Kate Plus Eight--this season we have seen the clan with Emeril and with the Teutul's. There is cooking and motorcycles. Pretty good episodes with guest stars, but hardly real life for anybody. Entertainment News tells us about their alleged infidelities, spankings, and a million other things that real couples deal with everyday. The difference is that the Orange County Choppers episode was probably shot a good six months ago, and is old and stale. What's on the "news" is what viewers want to see and what may make a "special."
• Real Housewives of New Jersey--One episode deals with of the women and infertility issues. Marie and I went through this, so we have a grain of interest in this "story line." The show leaves it unresolved, in real life, she just delivered their baby. So the infertility story is a year old and resolved with a wonderful baby. The story in real time eclipsed the story in "reel time."
• The World Series of Poker--This is an annual Vegas Poker event that has mushroomed over the past 20 years or so from a single invitational tournament to a multi-national event. The good news and the bad news is that live poker is bad TV. There is drama and emotion, but without severe editing, it is horrible. So the tournament requires weeks of post production so that the hour episodes can be created. The problem with this is that the winner of the main event is known months before the show can be seen on the tube. Last year this "problem" was "solved" by delaying the game between the last ten players until months after the finalists were set; allowing "reel time" to catch up with "real time."

Friends, we have almost achieved "The Truman Show." This movie was about a man whose life was always televised for a nation's viewing enjoyment. The only difference is that it is our "news" channels and shows that bring "reel time" into "real time."

Somewhere, a journalist sheds a quiet tear.