State of TV: Death of Reality TV

“TV got real, music went fake.” Joe Budden

No matter what station you turn to, every station has at least one reality TV show. You have America’s Next Top Model, Top Chef, Millionaire Match Maker and of course the numerous love shows on VH1 and MTV. You can’t escape reality TV. But I am almost at my limit with Reality TV. The sitcom and drama has died. Am I the only person not fixated on Reality TV? I must admit some of the shows are addictive and can be a guilty pleasure, but every form of media needs balance. For every reality show there should be a sitcom or drama to watch.

We are no longer in the days with Must See Wednesday’s on NBC or TGI Friday’s on ABC, so good thing for premium cable. If I didn’t have HBO or Showtime I would truly want to give up watching TV as a whole. Shows like Entourage, True Blood, Weeds and Nurse Betty just to name a few are great shows with great writers. I think the recession has part to do with the overload of Reality TV on the air. It is a lot cheaper to cast people who just want their 15 minutes of fame, instead of signing actors, actresses and writers who want thousands of dollars per episode. That still isn’t a good enough reason for me to make TV so monotonous. “Reality shows cost an average of $400,000 per hour to produce versus $2 million for a dramatic series,” (Rome Neal, CBS News). It may be the economy in more than just paying actors and writers. It may be the fact the average viewers are working extra jobs and doesn’t have time for TV anymore, which lowers the Nielsen Ratings which causes shows to cut back on the quality elements to make a good show. There are a few good network sitcoms and dramas around, (Criminal Minds, The Office), but not enough to balance all of the reality TV.

The CW had the sitcom The Game, it had rave reviews, it was interesting—good actors and storyline, yet it was still canceled. Honestly, it would be a lot better if it was on HBO or Showtime. But if network TV doesn’t see a show as a cash cow, no matter how good it is they will drop it. The industry just like the country is run on the dollar bill. So to the top TV executives “If it don’t make dollars, it don't make sense.”

Sad to say I think an abundance of reality TV will be around for another 4 to 5 years before it filters through everyone’s system. By then only the good reality TV will have survived for example Real World and all of the horrific ideas will fade to black i.e. Megan Wants a Millionaire. By the way, who would have thought they would come out with a show that promotes gold-digging? And they get mad at rap lyrics (that’s another story).

By the end of the next 4 to 5 years the balance of TV will be back. You will have your sitcoms, dramas, sports and reality TV and this media outlet will no longer be over saturated with bad reality TV shows.

By Antwain Jackson

Kelis and Nas: Is this right?

According to the Associated Press, the rapper was ordered last week to pay $30,471 per-month in spousal support and $9,027 per-month in child support as well as $45,000 for Kelis’ attorney’s fees.

The amount of money per month that Nas has to dish out to his ex-wife and daughter is ridiculous. I understand paying the $9,027 for child support, but $30,471 for spousal support. The worst part of them all is the $45,000 in her lawyer fees. She filed for divorce—therefore she should be able to pay for her own lawyer fees.

Then when successful men get married and want a prenuptial agreement the women look at them like it is illegal and that the man doesn’t love them. No, they’re looking out for their best interest. No matter how much love you have for someone, there is always a possibility for that relationship to end.

The men are protecting themselves from a “Legal Robbery.” That’s what marriage without a prenuptial agreement is, “Legal Robbery.” There is no way the woman deserves that much money; especially in Kelis’ case. Maybe the question should be; is Divorce Court slanted to give woman the upper hand? Or better yet pay them back for years of not having rights. I don’t know what it is I know it needs to stop.
A lot of women responses to this is “of course women deserves it,” yes I know, you take care of the children, clean, cook, love the man even when is his cheating or beating on you, but is that really worth 50 percent of your ex husband’s income.

I think it all boils down to the horrific legal system we have in the United States. You have a football player gets sentence to 18 months in Federal Prison for conspiracy of fighting and killing dogs, then you have another football player who was high and ran someone over and killed them, but he only serves 24 days in jail. I just don’t know.

I know I traveled so far off of topic, but each sentence a new question risen on why did Kelis get that much money. I honestly can’t find anything to justify that. She is also a celebrity she should be able to keep up with her lifestyle without Nas. That isn’t fair. Now I can understand why a lot of men rather stay in co-habitant relationships with the women they love because you can’t take their money. For non-celebs alimony and child support can ruin your life worst than the IRS or SallieMae. Please love carefully, because you do not want to end up like Nas.

By Antwain Jackson

New American Dream: Graduate Then Move Home

According to CollegeGrad.com “Among 2009 U.S. college graduates, 80 percent moved back home with their parents after graduation, up from 77 percent in 2008, 73 percent in 2007, and 67 percent in 2006.”

Why should you go to college and become thousands of dollars in debt, to have a low salary job and still live home with you parents? This is not the American Dream, but it is the stepping stone to obtaining the American Dream in 2009. You earned your degree and this gives you hope. It becomes a lot easier to market yourself with that degree. Even though, now a Bachelor’s just isn’t enough to make it. After the degree you get a job, you gain experience you either move up in the company or you find a better job that pays more. Your college degree puts you in the place to become successful, but it’s your work ethic that will help you become successful.

Does moving home with your parents make you unsuccessful? No. It is a smart move and probably the best move most college graduates can make. Either you move in with a roommate and struggle or move in by yourself and struggle or go back to school and struggle. Either option you do more than likely you will be broke. Of course there are few exceptions. The best options are: go back to school and get your Master’s or Doctorate, or move back home with your parents and start your career. If you decide to move back home, most college grads still have their same room, unless your parents changed it into a office or nursery, you get home cooked meals which is desperately needed after 4 years of EasyMac and Oodles of Noodles. You will have a decent job that will be barely getting you by if you lived by yourself. Even if your parents make you pay a small rent and help with utilities it is nothing like living on your own and covering all of that by yourself.

Living at home allows you to save money. Money you can use to move out later, pay back your outstanding student loans, car notes, credits card and whatever else bills you have accumulated in your 4-5 years away at school. You even have extra money to buy clothes and help your club or bar habit on the weekends. Nowadays moving back home with your parents helps you to continue to live your life without the extra stress. You’re able to go on trips—homecomings, spring break—and yes you’re never too old to do those things. Don’t get me wrong living at home isn’t stress free, but a lot less stressful than handling everything on your own in the “real world.”

Yes, you love the independence of living by yourself, but most graduates had that feeling right after they moved out of the dorms sophomore and junior year to find out what living the “real world” feels like. So for most it isn’t that bad to move home with your parents unless they’re too strict and that would keep you from wanting to move back and you prefer to struggle by yourself.

Also, just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you’re going to be there forever. No one wants to be the 40 year old living in the basement. Have a plan—give yourself 1, 2 years, but not however long as it takes. I believe the maximum amount of years you should live with your parents before you attempt to try the “real world” is three. After 3 years you should have a steady job and moving forward towards your American Dream. And if your Dream is hit with an obstacle you can always move back with your parents again to try and get your head on straight. It is a must that you have goals and do not stay stagnant.

The American Dream isn’t all about money and cars, but more about happiness, even though money and cars make people happy. Strive for greatness and you shall achieve greatness.

by Antwain Jackson