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Reality Check: Oct 1

Should Reality Check return in 2015? Here's a few observations....

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We’re already at the season final of Reality Check, so the question for ABC is whether it will return or not.

I’ve heard a few theories about whether an ABC audience is actually interested in Reality TV or not and it’s a fair question. Based on numbers, the show hasn’t replicated its sibling, Gruen Planet. I’ve found the considered discussions (ie. Peter Abbott insights) of more interest than the parlour games such as Real of Fake, but granted that’s from a critic viewpoint.

What the show does need more of is more debate and disagreement rather than some producers defending their work, or at least being challenged on this more. At times Dicko has even thrown in host questions. That said, I’d like to see the show return but with a broader remit: expand from Reality analysis to Television analysis (we’re losing At the Movies after all). Again, I acknowledge my critic hat and clearly the show must hold a broad audience to survive. But wouldn’t an ABC audience be more keen to discuss television as a whole if Reality is not their bag….?

Panellists for episode eight are:
· Marion Farrelly – the Empress of Reality TV;
· Julian Cress – The Block Co-creator and Executive Producer; and
· Dicko – former Judge and contestant on shows including Australian Idol, My Restaurant Rules, Dancing With The Starts, Celebrity Survivor, World Idol, Celebrity Apprentice and Australian Idol.

During episode eight, Tom and the panel will:
· Round up some of the best moments from the past week in Reality TV in This Week In Reality, including a look at the new series of Dancing With The Stars;
· Take a look at tantrums and scandals in Reality TV as well as reality shows that are positive and uplifting; and· Play another round of Real or Fake.
Ending the show on a high note, Tom showcases The Final Three – a countdown of international Reality Gold.

9pm Wednesday ABC.

14 Responses

  1. There’s only one thing worse than watching cheap lame reality TV and that’s watching a cheap lame panel show talking about reality TV. As others have commented on – the few dedicated ABC viewers that are watching this are really just confirming that most commercial reality television is a waste of their time anyway, and they probably already knew that before watching Reality Check anyway.

    I’m open to opinion about whether the show needs to be rejigged and address TV more generally – it could work but would need good knowlegable guests whom can entertain in front of the camera.

  2. I’ve really enjoyed this show, and Marion (Maz) has been an absolute hilarious gem. Hope it comes back with a little tweaking, and more focus on ludicrous international formats.

  3. I really like it! I agree that Dicko is a good member of the team as he speaks his mind. I also think that the times they’ve gotten into actual discussions regarding something serious have been the best, rather than the hopping from joke to joke that tends to happen a little too much.

    I hope they can tweek it enough to keep some of the haters off their backs for next year.

  4. Agree completely with you David. Panellists need to criticise more often and not be afraid to spark some potential controversy. Grab some headlines!! Dicko should be on permanently as he’s the only one that has really spoken his true and allegiance free opinion. I like tom Ballard but for it to appeal to the ABC audience more I think you’ll have to find a new host that most of their non triple j listening audience knows

  5. I didn’t get a great first impression of Reality Check when it started but I did hang in there despite my saying at the time I wouldn’t… and it did get better. Even though I generally have zero interest in watching reality TV it is interesting to hear some of the insights from producers and former contestants/judges.

    As for a broader discussion show related to TV. Yes, definitely. ABC could even revive the “TVTV” name for it.

  6. There’s no point in discussing TV in this country, especially not on TV. The commercial networks and ABC keep everything secret unless it can be spun to boost viewers. The commercial networks don’t even tell viewers shows are on till a few days before hand, they conceal and manipulate ratings data and rarely comment when something dumped. Newspaper critics get DVDs and press releases and review episodes of shows they don’t understand, and often the episode they reviewed is gone by the time the review is published.

    Take A Place To Call Home all said will say is that it axed due to story problems. Nobody believes that but all the leaks to the contrary have prompted them to say anything truthful.

    In not like Hollywood which is a massive industry lots of information available and an entire industry that just talks about it.

    1. A Place to Call Home is a perfect example of why a panel could discuss industry manoeuvres. The show was rating (albeit with older viewers), so the audience is confused and has organised petitions. It’s a prime case of something worthy of more analysis that a Gruen / Reality Check-style panel could discuss. I ran a long list of topic ideas in my Reality Check review. Part of the success of TV Tonight has been an increase in audience awareness / frustration / seeking answers amid a flood of additional content and network shenanigans. A broader remit would probably appeal more to an ABC audience if they are prepared to bite the bullet, including criticising their own, a la Media Watch.

  7. I don’t watch any of the “reality” shows on the commercial networks, but have watched this on a few occasions and enjoyed it.

    I think the appeal to me is that it neatly encapsulates exactly why I don’t watch the shows.

    Maybe it just needs a broader remit. There’s only so much they can do with the 3 or so reality shows that are broadcast at any one time.
    Perhaps an overall look at what the commercial networks screen – and like this site, detailing lateness, dropped shows, scheduling changes etc – could pull in more viewers, but would the commercial networks agree to the criticism?

  8. I have loved this series. I would love to see an episode with the producer, judge and contestant from the one series and discuss their different perspectives of that particular show.

  9. I didn’t think much of the first couple of weeks but then it became more interesting, although I still don’t find Tom Ballard funny. I think it should return, but expand to all television, not just reality.
    It’s a shame the final week is ending with Julian Cress, he added very little to his last visit and I found him wearing a ‘The Block’ cap obnoxious.
    Dicko and Marion are good panelists, so hopefully they hold the show this week.

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