francene--blog. Year 2013
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Dec 18th

12/18/2013

 
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Channel 4's Gogglebox is about to go global by being remade in China, the US and the Ukraine. The reality series, a program featuring adult sofa-bound families talking about what they are watching on television, has taken off.

Why does anyone want to watch other people watching television? The whole concept is astounding.

Gogglebox's contributors, prone on their seats, pass judgment on the week's news and entertainment programs. But the reality TV show has built an audience of two million viewers. Although the featured families are not told what to think, their reactions are not entirely unstructured. The participants are told what to watch and kept free of interruptions.  

I guess their children can't come running into the room and the dog is shoved outside.

Along with barbed comments about what they are watching and a few chuckles, the show gives a glimpse into family life and the way we live now. Apparently the average family watches about 21 hours of TV a week.

A similar ITV show in the 80s was revelatory in showing how little TV people actually watched, with viewers wandering in and out of rooms. I didn't see that one either. In the 80s, life's problems kept me fully occupied.

Anyway, I don't watch reality shows. I'm not interested in peering into other people's lives. But I must be amongst the minority. Do you enjoy being distracted this way?


Carolina HeartStrings link
12/17/2013 07:02:19 pm

How ridiculous. I don't want to watch a reality show PERIOD. I have way to much reality in my own life to keep me entertained...

Francene Stanley link
12/17/2013 09:35:46 pm

I agree, Carolina. Reality shows don't tempt me one little bit!

Amy link
12/17/2013 10:01:16 pm

I don't watch reality shows, either, Francene. They just never have appealed to me, and frankly I kind of wonder about the people that are entertained by them . . . ;)

Francene Stanley link
12/18/2013 02:35:51 am

Hehe. To each his own.

Sophie Bowns link
12/17/2013 10:23:49 pm

I've watched a couple of episodes and then didn't bother after that. I really didn't see the point in this TV programme!

Francene Stanley link
12/18/2013 02:36:37 am

Point? It's SUPPOSED to be entertainment.

Rick Bylina
12/18/2013 02:10:05 am

No.

Francene Stanley link
12/18/2013 02:38:50 am

Ha! I've never heard (or should I say seen) you reply with so few letters.

Cher link
12/18/2013 02:12:26 am

Hi Francene, had to come read this when I saw your title - I watch very little TV but did catch this once or twice - I have to say it made me laugh - it is sad how people live - but I found their perspective interesting - well some at least, can't say I would watch again though :)

Francene Stanley link
12/18/2013 02:37:49 am

Thanks, Cher. Sometimes it does us good to see what we DON'T like.

Anita Levesque link
12/18/2013 02:42:15 am

I think that would be different. I would not want to participate in it. Thanks for sharing. Anita

Alana link
12/18/2013 07:06:33 am

I do not watch any of the "high drama" reality shows. Both my husband and I, though, enjoy a U.S.show called Shark Tank, which I believe is a version of a U.K. show called Dragons' Den. Also Undercover Boss, which I think you have by the same name (I think I've watched the UK version a couple of times on BBC America). I've never heard of Googlebox. I wouldn't have any interest in watching that.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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