Americans 1)Captivated by 'Reality Television'

Broadcast: Jan 18 ,2003

 

Americans have been captivated by a new kind of entertainment called "reality television." More than two dozen reality shows are on the air so far, and more are in the works.

Each week, ordinary people appear in unusual situations, trying to win $1 million, going out on a date with a stranger, or displaying their abilities in on-air talent shows.

"OK, thank you, Chip. Your audition¹ was very, very ²⁾corny."

 American Idol²'s Simon Cowell, a London-based music producer, tells VOA the program searches for talented singers, awarding the best with a recording³ contract. A judge on the program, Mr. Cowell produces a similar show in Britain called "Pop Idol," and says he's never shy about bursting anyone's bubble. In fact, he's brutally⁴ honest. "I've been doing auditions⁵ for 25 years, and the nature of auditions are to tell the truth. And unfortunately, most people who turn up are dreadful," he says. "And I tell them."

The reality series Survivor⁶ watches ordinary people as they struggle to survive under harsh conditions. Last season, contestants⁸ were left on a ³⁾tropical island in Thailand. Winner Brian Heidik says the show was about sleep ⁴⁾deprivation⁹, lack of food - and patience.

Contestants face challenges from nature and from their fellow contestants, who winnow¹⁰ their numbers by voting people one-by-one off the island. The winner, in this case Mr. Heidik, receives $1 million. A car salesman with a gift for persuasion¹¹, he says he started with a strategy to outwit other contestants. "I'm going to control your mind, I'm going to manipulate your emotions, but I'm going to have a good time doing it," he says. "See, most people forget why they're out there. I kind of stuck to a plan. I reaffirmed to myself every day way I was there :the money, the money, the money, the money."

Executive producer Mark Burnett says Survivor has a loyal following of 20 million viewers because the series, in his opinion, is just as ⁵⁾engaging as a movie. "It's a vicarious travel experience, compelling characters, and good story telling. It's not stunt¹² TV," he says.

Survivor will soon enter its sixth season with contestants left to fend¹³ for themselves in the Brazilian Amazon.

Mr. Burnett says the show has been seen in 100 countries and is starting to influence popular culture. "While I was in Thailand, old editions were airing there," he says. "Then I was travelling in Fiji in remote villages, people were coming up to me and saying, ah, you're the Survivor guy. And the ⁶⁾lexicon¹⁴, "vote me out of the tribe" or "vote him off," has become such a classic ⁷⁾vernacular¹⁵, it's amazing what TV can do."

Reality show producers says the secret of their success is creating drama.

Mike Fleiss produces several reality series, including The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, which track the dating adventures of a single man and woman. "These shows are all pretty tightly edited because you shoot round the clock, in the case of the Bachelor show, for seven weeks," he says. "So we end up with 700 hours of tape, and we only make seven hours of it. So we're boiling it down pretty thoroughly¹⁶."

For Paul Smith, producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, drama is created as ordinary people answer a series of questions, with the ultimate chance of winning one million dollars.

"Ready to play?"
"Ready."
"All right. Let's play "Millionaire."

Mr. Smith says the program is like an old-time quiz show, but the stakes are higher. The series debuted¹⁷ in Britain in 1998 and first aired in the United States one year later. With many versions worldwide, it is licensed¹⁸ in 100 countries. "The advertising¹⁹ holding says, "You can win a million …," whatever it might be, dollars in the U.S., pounds [in Britain], or if you happen to be in Italy, several billion lira as the top prize," he says. "That may be what attracts people to the show initially²⁰. But what it is, it's a very purist quiz show, and which requires the contestant⁷ to answer 15 questions. And if they do, they win the top prize."

Contestants make difficult choices, building the tension: should they ask for more information? They can get help from the audience once, and once can get help from a friend. But should they do it early, when the questions are easy, or later, when they are hard? The choices of each contestant create the drama.

More than two-dozen shows featuring ordinary people are on television now.

Some, like the series Joe Millionaire, have been criticized as ethically²¹ questionable²². The series features a man who has supposedly inherited $50 million. The women he dates do not know that he is in fact a construction worker with a modest income.

"The most talked-about show of the year, 'Joe Millionaire.' And it all starts right now."

The series was shot in advance of airing, so producers were able to keep the truth from the women until production was finished.

Television executive Kevin Reilly is puzzled as to why these programs are so popular. "Damned if I know," he says.

Mr. Reilly, the head of the FX cable network, says the shows are addictive²⁴ once viewers start watching them. In fact, he's an addict²³ himself and says reality television is a change from the tradition of scripted dramas and comedies. "These are fresh, they're ⁸⁾spontaneous, they're cultural events that everyone seems that they're just tapping into together," he says.

Mr. Reilly's FX network has its own reality show in the works. Called American Candidate, it will feature ordinary people who want to run for U.S. president. Scheduled to air in 2004, potential candidates are already sending in applications. "I don't know if they're qualified²⁵ to be president, but these are people with something to say and actual credentials²⁶ to back it up, and I'm sure a lot of nuts, too," says Mr. Reilly.

The focus on ordinary people has, ironically, created a new slate²⁷ of celebrities²⁸. Kelly Clarkson, last season's winner on American Idol, has gone on to pursue a recording career as a professional singer. Contestants on Survivor have become media personalities²⁹ in their own right.

Winner Brian Heidik, who had done some acting³⁰ before, says talks are underway with people in Hollywood about appearances on television, including one on a children's program. "Of course, Sesame Street for the kids. And some commercial work as well. So I do have a few things out there which we're moving forward on," he says. "It's just a matter of finding of what Brian's going to be on first."

Producers say reality television runs the danger of getting stale as one show copies another, or of repelling³¹ viewers as programmers create ever-more outrageous³² situations. One ⁹⁾notorious ¹⁰⁾episode of the series Fear Factor drew industry criticism for asking contestants to eat horse rectum. But TV executives say that, at least for now, viewers can't get their fill of the new reality shows and more new ones are likely.

"Just when you think 'Fear Factor' has gone too far, they go further!

Mike O'Sullivan, VOA news, Los Angeles

 

1)      captivate[5kAptiveit]vt. 迷住, 迷惑

2)      corny [5kC:ni]adj. 陈腔烂调的, 乡下味的, 粗野的

3)      tropical [5trCpikl]adj. 热带的, 热情的

4)      deprivation [7depri5veiFEn]n. 剥夺

5)      engaging [in5^eidViN]adj. 动人的, 有魅力的, 迷人的

6)      lexicon [5leksikEn]n. 词典

7)      vernacular [vE5nAkjulE]adj. 本国的

8)      spontaneous [spCn5teinjEs, -niEs]adj. 自发的, 自然产生的

9)      notorious [nEu5tC:riEs]adj. 声名狼籍的

10)  episode [5episEud]n. 一段情节, [音]插曲

1 audition   

n.(对志愿艺人等的)面试(指试读、试唱等)

参考例句：

• I'm going to the audition but I don't expect I'll get a part.我去试音，可并不指望会给我个角色演出。
• At first,they said he was too young,but later they called him for an audition.起初，他们说他太小，但后来他们叫他去试听。

2 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。

5 auditions   

n.（对拟做演员、歌手、乐师等人的）试听，试音( audition的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Find modeling auditions, casting calls& acting auditions, all in one place. 找一个立体感试听，铸造呼叫和表演试听一体的地方。 来自互联网
• We are now about to start auditions to find a touring guitarist. 我们现在准备找一个新的吉他手。 来自互联网

6 survivor   

n.生存者，残存者，幸存者

参考例句：

• The sole survivor of the crash was an infant.这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿。
• There was only one survivor of the plane crash.这次飞机失事中只有一名幸存者。

7 contestant   

n.竞争者，参加竞赛者

参考例句：

• The company will furnish each contestant with a free ticket.公司将为每个参赛者免费提供一张票。
• The personal appearance and interview of the contestant is another count.参加比赛者的个人仪表和谈话也是一项。

8 contestants   

n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries. 这次比赛吸引了代表8个不同国家的500多名参赛者。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 deprivation   

n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困

参考例句：

• Many studies make it clear that sleep deprivation is dangerous.多实验都证实了睡眠被剥夺是危险的。
• Missing the holiday was a great deprivation.错过假日是极大的损失。

10 winnow   

v．把（谷物）的杂质吹掉，扬去

参考例句：

• You should winnow out the inaccuracies of this paper this afternoon.你今天下午把这篇文章中不精确的内容删掉。
• We should winnow out the errors in logic.我们应该排除逻辑中的错误。

11 persuasion   

n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派

参考例句：

• He decided to leave only after much persuasion.经过多方劝说，他才决定离开。
• After a lot of persuasion,she agreed to go.经过多次劝说后，她同意去了。

12 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

13 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

14 lexicon   

n.字典，专门词汇

参考例句：

• Chocolate equals sin in most people's lexicon.巧克力在大多数人的字典里等同于罪恶。
• Silent earthquakes are only just beginning to enter the public lexicon.无声地震才刚开始要成为众所周知的语汇。

15 vernacular   

adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名

参考例句：

• The house is built in a vernacular style.这房子按当地的风格建筑。
• The traditional Chinese vernacular architecture is an epitome of Chinese traditional culture.中国传统民居建筑可谓中国传统文化的缩影。

16 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

17 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

18 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

19 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

20 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

21 ethically   

adv.在伦理上，道德上

参考例句：

• Ethically , we have nothing to be ashamed about . 从伦理上说，我们没有什么好羞愧的。
• Describe the appropriate action to take in an ethically ambiguous situation. 描述适当行为采取在一个道德地模棱两可的情况。

22 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。

23 addict   

v.使沉溺；使上瘾；n.沉溺于不良嗜好的人

参考例句：

• He became gambling addict,and lost all his possessions.他习染上了赌博，最终输掉了全部家产。
• He assisted a drug addict to escape from drug but failed firstly.一开始他帮助一个吸毒者戒毒但失败了。

24 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

25 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

26 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

27 slate   

n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订

参考例句：

• The nominating committee laid its slate before the board.提名委员会把候选人名单提交全体委员会讨论。
• What kind of job uses stained wood and slate? 什么工作会接触木头污浊和石板呢？

28 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

29 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

30 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

31 repelling   

v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开

参考例句：

• He saw himself standing up and repelling a charge. 他仿佛看见自己挺身而起，打退了敌人的进攻。 来自辞典例句
• Promote the healthy entertainment styles. Repelling the superstition, gambling, drugs and obscenity. 提倡健康娱乐。抵制封建迷信活动，拒绝黄、赌、毒。 来自互联网

32 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。