Reality TV

I don't watch television very regularly. It's not that I couldn't find something to watch on a regular basis - despite the fact that most television is crap, I'm sure I could find at least a semi-intelligent/interesting program to watch. As I write this however, I am sitting on my couch watching the season premiere of The Biggest Loser.

Over the past couple years I've actually watched more than a few episodes of The Biggest Loser. Tonight it just happened to be on when we turned on the TV after dinner. If you haven't heard of it, or seen it, it's not too dissimilar from any other reality TV show on the air: Participants compete against one another for the grand prize, teams or individuals are voted off on a weekly basis. There is immunity, and challenges, and the inevitable drama (although far less of it than you would find in a show like The Bachelor). The producers are liberal with their editing: using interview segments as a tool for foreshadowing, and camera cuts to provide suspense and drama.

The difference between The Biggest Loser and all the other reality TV shows that I've ever heard of, is that The Biggest Loser is doing something laudable. The contestants are grossly overweight - some are actually above 400 pounds - none are below 200 pounds. Every week, each team of two competes to lose the most weight; the team that loses the least is 'voted' off the show. By the end of the season, the contestants have often lost 100 pounds or more, and their lives have been changed for the better - and that's not just the winners. Many of the teams voted off the show continue to follow their weight loss plan at home.

One must believe that given the excellent ratings the show is receiving, many more people at home must be persuaded to make their own concerted effort at weight loss. So not only is The Biggest Loser changing the lives of a select few every season, it must also be changing the lives of many others. At least, that's what I hope.

All that to say, reality TV isn't all bad.