I know, you hate reality TV and don’t understand the fascination with its popularity. Big Brother was one of the 1st reality shows shown in the US dating back to 1999 and since then, dozens upon dozens of similar type shows have aired with mixed reviews. While some choose to go the scripted route (see The Hills), others try to be as real as possible as evidenced by the Deadliest Catch, my favorite show of them all.
What is it that draws people in?
The same reason we watch train wrecks, sporting event, and major storms…the outcome is unpredictable which makes it intriguing. For every successful reality show that hits, there are easily 20 or more that flop but that could be said for all programming. Show like American Idol, Bachelorette, and Survivor (yes, it’s still on) draw huge rating numbers demonstrating our infatuation with the format. The reasons people tune in vary but one common thread seems to be learning lessons we can take away. Whether we’re learning how NOT to treat someone, what characteristics draw people in versus push them away, or what drives people to act a certain way mirror everyday life.
The other day I had an interesting conversation with a friend on Twitter re: The Bachelorette. Her strong reaction of never wanting to be on a show like that got me thinking, what is the makeup of someone who is willing to go on National television and most likely embarrass themselves somewhere throughout the process? Is getting 15 minutes of fame that desirable that you’re willing to be humiliated in hopes of getting discovered? One thing’s for certain, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of aspiring young talent looking for their shot.
Getting back to the Deadliest Catch, this season has been my favorite so far with many storylines to follow. Below is a short clip of the show in case it hasn’t hit your radar. Basically, it’s a bunch of Captains and their crews attempting to catch the elusive King, Opilio, and Blue crab in the Bering Sea, located between Alaska and Siberia. The conditions are brutal from 20 foot waves, freezing weather, and danger lurking around every corner causing several deaths every year. You can try and script the storyline all you want but there’s no staging the environment, hence the name deadliest catch.
On the show’s 6th and current season we learn of a missing dad, drug addiction, veteran fishermen getting pushed to their limits physically and emotionally, and a crew that loses their captain (Phil Harris – shown in video above) after a major stroke that he isn’t able to recover from. Two of Phil’s sons begin fighting with each other from the overwhelming emotion of seeing their father pass. Deadliest Catch has a little bit of everything and besides the extreme fishing, challenging situations that we have to deal with on a daily basis.
What can we learn from the show?
- How to deal with difficult family dynamics
- Overcoming obstacles
- What characteristics are found in leaders
- Working in extreme conditions and succeeding
- How difficult it is to catch crab
Yes, it’s possible to learn from scripted television shows like LOST, ER, and Seinfeld but for me the real learning is in observing human behavior whether it be in person or on TV. What programming do you enjoy watching and what, if anything are you learning from them?
