June 18, 2026: Are You Into Reality (TV)? ..... [LIVE - IN PERSON]
Details
Topic: "ARE YOU INTO REALITY (TV)?"
Meetup is in our Living Room in West Orange, NJ OR on our deck if weather is good
(street address sent to NEWBIES 3-7 days ahead of the event)
We gather at 7:30 for 30 min of refreshments (and wine), and chit chat, and then spend 90 min in an informal, facilitated discussion based on the assigned podcasts
--Survivor --Love is Blind --Modern Love
--The Bachelor/ Bachelorette --The Great British Baking Show
--Shark Tank --Fear Factor --Dating Naked
- Do you watch reality TV? What types of shows do you tend to watch? If you don’t, do you know people who do watch and enjoy reality TV? Do you understand why they might enjoy this type of TV?
- What is the value in reality TV? What are the downsides? Are there any psychological benefits?
- Reality TV is often considered a guilty pleasure? Why do you think that is? Is that a fair characterization?
- What changes could be made to reality TV to make it more real/ethical/friendly to contestants? Are there ways to make it more ethical and keep it entertaining?
- How do you feel about shows that are part-reality/ part scripted like America’s Got Talent?
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# Please listen to the 3 podcasts below before the meetup
[1] The Waves
What Reality TV Says About Us (27 min)
On this week’s episode of The Waves, historian and original Waves host, Marcia Chatelain is joined by sociologist Danielle Lindemann to talk all things reality TV. They discuss Danielle’s new book, True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us and why we don’t take reality television as seriously as we should. Later in the show they talk about why women are more successful at monetizing their reality TV brand and how the genre takes us on a tour of the class system.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-reality-tv-says-about-us/id317166278?i=1000562308417
[2] Reality(TV) Bites
This is Uncomfortable (42 min)
When reality dating fans tune into their favorite shows like “The Bachelor,” they expect to see dramatic rejections, hateable villains—all the staple elements of the genre. These formulas keep audiences watching and keep the money rolling in for TV networks. And for a relatively small price—networks don’t have to pay teams of writers, and sometimes they don’t even pay the cast. But while corporations profit, there is a hidden cost for the people who make these shows so entertaining. On this episode, we’ll hear about the long-term costs of making reality dating shows from Nadia Jagessar, a contestant on “Indian Matchmaking,” as well as former “Bachelor” producers Jazzy Collins and Michael Carroll.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reality-tv-bites/id1466681015?i=1000618777005
[3] TEDx
Why a therapist recommends reality TV (15 min)
Whether they showcase competitions, talent searches, home renovations, or something else, reality TV shows have captivated Americans, with nearly 80% of us watching them. But beneath the excitement and drama, clinical psychologist Dr. Kimberly Applewhite Teitter believes these shows can provide numerous insights into our own individual identities as well as humanity as a whole.
Kimberly Applewhite Teitter is a licensed psychologist in the Salt Lake City area who works with clients of all ages to harness their inner wisdom and discover their valued life worth living. She enjoys philosophizing about human behaviors and complex systems to whomever will listen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-r4plN_5uI
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For newbies (and we love new people/ new voices):
the street address will be sent to you ~3-7 days before the event (lots of street parking)
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Only sign up if you plan to show up (or risk being tarred and feathered).
- If you can't make it-- please change your RSVP from YES to NO as early as possible so that others can get in
- $2 on-site for refreshments/cover the annual fees for the meetup site.