Television has played a huge role in society ever since it has been invented back in 1954. Television was mainly used for news and had about ten channels. The picture was also black and white. Now, in 2012, television sets are found in almost every room in a house, and are watched everyday. Reality television shows are also super popular. It seems like people enjoy watching others suffer or succeed. A show that I have been watching a lot lately is "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo." “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” is a spin-off from the reality show, “Toddlers in Tiaras.” “Toddlers in Tiaras” is a show about different families and how they put their small children into pretty intense pageants. “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” is about one of the pageant girls and her family life at home. This girl’s name is Alana. Alana has a big southern family and they live in Georgia. Alana was such a hoot on “Toddlers in Tiaras” that the network, TLC, decided to create a show for Alana and her family.
Alana’s family is something else, and people can’t stop watching them. Alana’s mother is also a major attribute to the television series. She does a really good job at describing what their life is like, making people realize how different they really are from the rest of the country. Another thing that makes this show really popular is that this family is hilarious and honestly, really ridiculous. They are all overweight hicks with improper grammar and a lack of common sense. They do things like go to the “redneck Olympics,” wash their hair in the sink, go to grocery auctions, and buy a pet pig. Alana became especially famous for her famous one-liner, “honey boo boo child.” While being on Toddlers in Tiaras,” Alana would always say this line, and say other ridiculous things as well. Some people say that this television show is a horrible representation of America. And some think that is is hilarious and is very entertaining. I believe in both of these opinions. While this television show does show how stupid some people that live in America are, it is ridiculously funny and I can’t stop watching it. The fact that I can’t stop watching this show and that many others across the country can’t stop watching this show just proves how successful it really is. The reason why television shows exist is because of its viewers. Since “Toddlers in Tiaras” was such a big hit, why wouldn’t “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” be? It is hilarious and it makes people feel better about their lives. It boosts everyone else’s self esteem, and that is why this show is a success. I love it.
I also did my evaluation on a television show, although i didn't choose a reality show. I love the show that you picked first of all, well both of them! Honey Boo Boo is absolutely hilarious, although I do agree how very disturbing their family is as a whole. Some people do think that "Here Comes Honey BooBoo" is a horrible representation of America, and I also do agree that this is somewhat true, but I also think that some people need to learn to look beyond the "big picture" and not take things so seriously. As horrifying as some of the stuff on these shows are, you are right, people are absolutely hooked to them and that is just because that is what the world today has come to. I think it's funny how you included that the show can make people feel better about themselves because it is so true! As we sit and watch and are disgusted by some of these families actions we can also think to ourselves how lucky we are that we don't have to live like that. "Toddlers in Tiaras" on the other hand is a different story. The show is very interesting to watch, but it also breaks my heart to see what these families have turned their cute little girls into. Yet again, its so addicting to watch and it's weird to think that things like these can easily catch our attention! Good job though, I completely agree with everything you said! You did a great evaluation on these shows!
ReplyDeleteThis evaluation was a fitting representation of what the majority of "Honey Boo-Boo" viewers think about the show. There is something about the state of Americans living in the deep south that peole find so interesting. A quick scroll through TLC, CMT, and History Channel shows that there are many current shows revolving around people who referr to themselves as "rednecks," "hicks," and "southerners."
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel that people take these reality shows *too* seriously and forget that it is not a true representation of the subjects, or people who relate to their way of life. A lot of people forget that many on-screen instances are staged or dramaticized. A hefty amount of editing and staging is used by the production crew.
It is said that this show is entertaining and lets people laugh at the ridiculous things that occur in the episodes. However, I do not find reality shows to be an appropriate way of boosting one's self-esteem. Laughing AT someone and judging them based on a staged *reality* show, doesn't present the true, whole picture of that family's life. If anything, a higher self-esteem is reache; but one that is entirely arrogant and condescending in nature.
I just watched the first episode of this show, and very much have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I think that while this family is nowhere near perfect, they are a lot closer than many other families are. None of them are afraid of being themselves, or saying things like it is. I can tell that they all love and support each other.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, they do come across as slovenly people. Also, I think that toddler pageants, as a whole, are terrible things to subject a child to. I think that pageants are a very superficial competition. In the first episode of this show, Alana was in a natural beauty pageant. Not only do I think that it is bad to make her compete at such a young age, but it is worse to let people judge her based off of her natural appearance. When Alana did not win, I am sure that it sent the message that she is not as beautiful as the girls who did, and this is not something that a toddler should be thinking.
I don’t like this show, and will not be watching any more of it. While I can see how it makes people feel better about themselves, I do not want boost my self-esteem by degrading other people. I have no doubt that this family knows how ridiculous they are, and have no problem with other people laughing and looking down on them. Otherwise, they would not have agreed to this show. I, however, don’t find it entertaining, and do not wish to support them.
I felt it was very smart and a good decision on your part to evaluate “Here Comes Honey BooBoo” for this assignment. Though, I have only seen a little bit of one episode, I think the show is pretty bad and I agree with you in the fact that it is a horrible representation of America. I believe this show and other shows like it including “Toddlers and Tiaras”, “Swamp People”, and “Cajun Pawn Stars” are starting to become more popular, and it seems like more people are starting to like the redneck theme because it is quite humorous and somewhat idiotic. I mean who has a pig as the family pet. Though this is a reality television show and everything in it should be true, I think that there are producers behind the scene telling to act in certain ways and making them do certain stuff. One thing that I did disagree on was that this show might make some people feel better about themselves and boost their self-esteem, I believe that there are people out there that feel bad for the people in the show and thus making them feel worse about themselves, and the thought that there are people living like that in the world. That was the only thing I really disagreed on, other than that it was a well written blog post.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I have only seen this show a few times but I am in love with Toddlers in Tiaras. The first time I saw it I thought it was hilarious and I just kept watching it. I also found myself using lingo from the show as well as mocking it in my everyday life. I’m sure Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is no different. I’m sure countless people mock their family all the time after watching the show, but for good reason…its entertaining. This makes for good television because people want to watch and see something funny. Often times, things that are ridiculous to some people are the most entertaining. I disagree with the fact that it boosts everyone’s self-esteem because there are many people in America as well as around the world that live lives similar to these people. Not everyone is as fortunate as the next and if that is the best they can do, and they are happy, then it is not a bad thing. There may even be people who as less fortunate than them or people with terrible family life that are actually jealous of them. I believe this is a hilarious show and there is definitely a reason why it has become and stayed so popular.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that Alana and her family being “stupid” boosts other people’s self esteem. I don’t even think Alana and her family are “stupid”. I don’t think that stupid is the right term. Where they come from has a different lifestyle and just because they go to grocery auctions and redneck Olympics doesn’t mean they’re stupid. I definitely don’t think that the way the live should boost other people’s esteems. I think that this show is mind-opening about other parts of the US and a reflection of the fact that different places do different things. Their redneck Olympics and grocery auctions bring their community together in a way that other places in America wouldn’t normally think of. I think that almost makes them kind of innovative, especially the grocery auction. They get deals and save in a way that the normal grocery store goer can’t. I do not think for one second that the way they live their life should boost another persons self esteem. Their family probably thinks some of the things other people do is “stupid” or abnormal. Alana’s family may be very abnormal to a lot of people, but the activities they do shouldn’t reflect their level of stupidity.
ReplyDeleteI think it was smart of you to evaluate this show since there is so much to say about it. As you said, many people watch this show. I know so many people who are obsessed with this show including my suitemates. I have seen it a couple of times and I don’t really like it that much. Some of the things that the little girl says are sometimes funny but I think that all of the reality television show stuff is bad for young children and just teaches them to be little divas. I also have to disagree with you about their family being “stupid.” They act different and speak different but I think most of it is just to keep the viewers interested. I think shows like these are all fake even though they are called “reality” television shows and honestly I don’t really like them. I also don’t think the producers do this in order to help other people feel better about themselves. I think they only do this to keep things interesting and not make honey boo boo’s family look like any other American family.
ReplyDeleteThis show is my absolute obsession! I know it sounds ridiculous but I find Alana and her crazy redneck family hilarious. The fact they are redneck and they just embrace it represent it make the show even better. With the television full of all these reality tv shows that are obviously scripted and they put the characters in certain scenes to create drama for the viewers, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, is one of those show that no writer or director could write or make some of the stuff that they do. For example, on one episode, the family goes to what is called, “The Redneck Olympics” and what goes on there could n be written. One of the daughters participates in a contest bobbing for pigs feet…seriously? You honestly couldn’t make that up. That is what makes the show great. Its so ridiculous its funny. Plus the little girl has so much personality you just fall in love with her. I am happy to know that am not the only one addicted to this show.
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