America's Funniest Home Videos

Have you ever done something embarrassing and its been caught on camera? Then you should be extra nice to the person that has it because they could send it in to America's Funniest Home Videos for the everyone to see. 

America's Funniest Home Videos is a show that I will watch when there is nothing on the television that I want to watch or when I've had a bad day. The show is clips of home videos that people send in for the rest of the country to laugh at. What I like most about this show is I don't have to watch the episodes in order to know what is going on in the show like I have to with other reality shows like The Bachelor or Survivor. This is also a show that I grew up with and it never gets old. The show has been going on since January 14th, 1996 and there are 500 episodes and counting.

Whether you are with a big group of people or by yourself this show is perfect for everyone. It is almost guaranteed that you will be hurting from laughing 5 minutes into one episode. The only problem is after you watch one episode it can be hard to stop. If you are interested in watching some of the episode you can either watch them on the ABC Family channel or find it at the ABC Family website. 

My Super Sweet 16

When I was growing up I wanted nothing more than to have an extravagant 16th birthday party because I would watch My Super Sweet 16. This reality television show is what really inspired me to want to become an event planner.

In the show the teenagers would pick an over the top theme for their birthday party. The teenagers will then hire an event planner to stay in their budget for the party. I enjoyed watching the event planner put the teenagers dreams into a reality. The teenagers wanted their party to be the party of the year so they would have a crazy way of entering the party, hire dancers, and a famous performer to sing at the party. For example, one of the girls rode and elephant in to her party to make a statement. The parties would also have a gate so not just anybody could go to the party. One of my favorite parts is when the teenager gets their birthday present from their parents.

My Super Sweet 16 showed me not only the good side of being an event planner but also the bad. The teenagers in the show are use to getting everything they wanted so if something wasn't perfect then they would throw a fit. I also learned that event planners have to always have a back up. In one of the episodes the teenagers outfit ripped and the event planner pulled out and sewing kit and fixed it. 

My Super Sweet 16 is a reality television show anyone can watch. I still will watch reruns on MTV with my little sister that is 12 years old. If you haven't seen the show I recommend taking the time to try to watch it! 

Long Island Medium

Hey everyone! Today I’m going to talk about Long Island Medium! I know that talking about mediums can be a touchy subject because everyone has their own opinion on whether they believe in them or not.

A medium is someone who can communicate with people that have died. In the show Long Island is about Theresa Caputo will go out and give personal or group readings. In the readings she will only talk about the personal events or symbols that the person or group can relate to.  What I like about the show is that Theresa doesn’t just give reading to people that set up readings, she will give readings to people she meets on the street if she a spirit contacts her. What I also like about the show is that the people that get a reading get the closer they wanted.

 I personally was one of those people that didn’t believe in mediums until Cindy Kaza came to Washburn November 14^th. In the podcast I talk about what I experience at the reading.

Listen to this episode

Pawn Stars

Hey everyone! Today I’m going to talk about the show Pawn Stars that is on the History Channel. The new episodes of the show will air on Thursdays at 9 p.m.

The show Pawn Star is about the Harrison family that owns their own pawnshop in Las Vegas called Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. The family that runs the shop consists of  Richard, Rick, and Corey.  They have people that bring a variety of different artifacts into their shop hoping to the best price for it. The Harrisons aren’t experts on all the items that come into the store so they will call up friends that are experts and have them come to the shop to check it out.

I really enjoy watching this show because the variety of items that people bring into the shop is interesting to see. When I watch it I also end up learning about the history of an item. The Harrison family is also quite hilarious to watch get on each other’s nerves. The realty television reputation isn’t the best because a majority of them focus on stupid behavior and drama, but this show is a perfect example that there are still good reality television shows.

If you are interested in learning more about the show you can go to the history.com.

The X Factor

The X Factor is unlike any other singing show on T.V.. The contestants have to have the look, personality, and voice to win over the judges and America's heart.

The X Factor starts every season with live auditions from thousands of people around the U.S. The host Mario Lopez gets the inside story of the contestants that are auditioning. The celebrity judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lavato, Kelly Rowland, and Paulina Rubio will make the decision on whether the contestant has "The X Factor" to send them onto the next round. After the judges choose which contestants make it through the auditions will be split into four categories. The categories that they are split into are groups, girls, boys, and over 25 years old. The judges will be assigned to a category to help mentor the contestants throughout the show.

The contestants will then sing in front of a live audience every week and based on the performance America will vote on who should stay in the competition. The winner of The X Factor will receive a recording contract from Syco/Sony Music. For more information or to watch The X Factor go to www.thexfactorusa.com.

Friend? Or Something More?

I think it's safe to say that everyone has that one friend that they ended up liking more than just a friend. The problem is do you tell them how you feel and risk them not feeling the same way which could end the friendship or always have wonder what could have been.

In MTV's Friendzone teens take the risk and come clean to their friend on how they actually feel about them. In the show that person trying to get out of the friend zone will talk about how the friendship, how long they have had feeling for them, and why they want to finally tell them how they feel. The person wanting to get out of the friend zone will then ask their friend if they will help them on a blind date. When in actually the date is for them. The friend wanting to get out of the friend zone will then tell them how they feel and ask them to go on the date with them. 

I personally have mixed emotions on how I feel about this show because sometimes the friend will tell them that they don't like them more than a friend. At the end of the show it shows were the friendship is at now and sometimes they are no longer friends which I find sad. Other times, the friend will feel the same way about the person and there is a happy ending. 

Unfortunately, Friendzone isn't aired on the MTV channel but on the bright side it can be watched at MTV.com! 

The Hook Up

Hey everyone! Today I'm going to talk about MTV's new reality television show The Hook Up. I know what you're thinking, The Hook Up is probably just like every other reality television show but its not. 

The Hook Up is hosted by Andrew Schulz who is a comedian on MTV's Guy Code. Andrew will help a Single contestant go through the four potential daters. The Hook Up isn't like other dating shows because it uses social media to expose the four potentials showing the single contestant the good and the bad. 

The first round of the show the single contestant will eliminate one of the potential dater just based on their profile. The second round the single contestant will eliminate another contestant based on a tweet or Facebook status, picture, and video. During the first two rounds the single contestant doesn't get to see the potential daters until they are eliminated. The final round the single contestant gets to see the final two potential contestants while she hears there personal secrets. After the single contestant hears the secrets they will then have to pick which person they want to date. The single contestant will then get exposed through social media like the potential daters did. The last contestant will then get to choose whether they want to still go on the date or not. Throughout the whole process the single contestant has friends that give their opinion of what they think the single contestant should do.  

If you want to check out The Hook Up go to MTV.com to watch full or sneak peaks of new episodes. Have a great day! 

Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition

I personally love to watch dance shows like America's Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance?, and Dancing with The Stars even though I have zero dancing capabilities. One of my favorite dances shows happens to be Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition.

Abby Lee Muller has a team that she teaches about skills and techniques that the dancers need to be able to be successful dancers. The dancers that Abby has are young children that are just starting their dance career. The dancers will perform in competitions where they will dance a solo, duo, or in the group dance in front of Abby, Rachelle Rak, Richard Jackson and a live audience. The dancer will learn their routines from famous choreographers. Every week Abby will eliminate one girl that does t have a very good performance. With 100,000 dollar cash prize and a scholarship to the Young Dancers Program at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York the mother will stop at nothing for their child to win. The show is tears, dramas, and happiness all wrapped in one. 

If you or someone you know is interested in being on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition you can go to http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/abbys-ultimate-dance-competition/casting to find out further information. This Tuesday at 8 p.m. is the season finale so go to Lifetime to see if Trinity, McKaylee, Gianna, or Kalani will take home the grand prize.

Photo credit: Lifetime

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

Hey Everyone! Today I'm going to talk about another TLC show called Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Before the show, the Thompson family made their television premier when they were featured on TLC's Toddlers & Tiaras. The youngest daughter Alana "Honey Boo Boo" competed in the pageant. Now the family has their own show about their everyday life. 

The Thompson family consists of mother June "Mama June" Shannon, father Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, and their four daughters: Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon, Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, Anna "Chickadee" Shannon, and Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson. During the shows first season Anna gave birth to a girl Kaitlyn Shannon. 

The Thompson family isn't like any other. The family lacks manners, good eating habits, and common sense. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself.

If you are interested in watching the unique family in action you can watch Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on TLC. 

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

I hope everyone has had a great week! Today, I'm going to talk about CBS's Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites. 

The game Survivor is about twenty castaways that are divided into two teams to compete against each other each week in two challenges. The castaways on this season are either favorite players from seasons before or fans that want their chance to be the next soul surviver. The first challenge the team that wins is rewarded with something that is useful in camp such as flint, or a tarp. In the second challenge the team that loses has to go to tribal council where the team votes off one of their player. 

When the two tribes gets smaller they will then merge into one and start competing individually. The players start focusing on creating alliances with other members of the tribe guaranteeing them that if they make it to the end they will be the one next to them. The player also start trying to find hidden amenities that are placed on the island that will help them not get voted out.

When a member of the tribe gets voted out they become a member of the jury. Then when there is only three castaways left the jury votes on who they think deserves the million dollar prize. The votes will then be read by Wichita native host Jeff Probst in front of a live audience in Las Vegas. 

This season of the Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites plays on CBS every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. if you are wanting to check it out! 

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Part 2

The F-4 tornado destroyed 100 homes in the town of Chapman. The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team chose the Tutwiler family to get a new home. The family was chosen because Patrick Tutwiler is a Iraq veteran was shot while in duty and survived despite the odds. He was still recovering when the tornado stuck the town. The family was staying at a temporary house at the base but they had to leave because he was about to be medically discharged form the army. ABC showed up right before the Tutwiler ended up with no where to go.

ABC sent the Tutwiler family on a week vacation on a Disney cruise. During that week, ABC didn't just help the Tutwiler family they also helped other families rebuild their homes in the community. The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition also built a community storm shelter so incase there was ever another tornado the people in Chapman will have a safe place to go. The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team didn't just stop at giving the Tutwiler a new house, they also received a new truck along with other gifts. 

At the end of the week the family came back to their new house and a concert from Gavin Rossdale. After seeing the show in action and then watching the show air on the television I was happy to see exactly what I had seen in person. 

ABC did cancel the show this year but if you are a person who likes to watch shows on your iPad or computer ABC has episodes from all nine seasons of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. 

Have a great week!

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Part 1

When I tell people about my reality television blog they don't have a very positive reaction. I think that people view reality television negatively because of the reality shows that are focused of partying and hookups but there are some reality shows that do focus on the helping good people.

Today I'm going to talk about ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. For those of you that haven't seen the show The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is about a team that helps a family improve their house while the family goes on vacation provided by the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew. The team doesn't just pick anyone to help, they choose people that go out of their way for their community, have have a rare sickness, or have had a rough life to get to where they are today. The crew doesn't just stop at just fixing the house they will sometimes give the family money to help out with their financial issues. 

I got to see the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team in action when a tornado ripped through the small  neighboring town of Chapman Kansas June 12, 2008.

Do You Have The Voice?

Hey everyone! I hope you all are having a great Sunday! I've been spending my Sunday in my bed watching NBC's The Voice.

If you have seen American Idol or X Factor is has some of the same components. The Voice has four celebrity judges which are Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton. The judges each get 12 people on their team to help mentor through the process. The coaches get their team by going through blind auditions. The blind auditions are when the contestant sings to the judges while their backs are turned. If the judge like what they hear they will hit their button and then turn around to see the contestant. If more than one judge turns around then that contestant gets to choose who they want as their coach. Throughout the season the contestants have a battle round where they are paired with another person from their team and sing a song together. Their coach will then eliminate one of them. If a contestant is eliminated in the battle round the other coaches can us one of their two steals to safe the contestant by putting them on their team. After the battle rounds, America can vote on who they want to continue in the competition.

I personally like The Voice better than some of the other vocal competitions because The Voice give background of the contestant before they sing so you know how they got to where they are now. I also like the fact that it is based on their voice and not what they look like. I think that some of the shows eliminate people that have good vocals because they don't fit the celebrity mold. Finally, I like that the coaches teach them how to become better singers. The coaches don't just stop there either they keep in touch with members of their team after they are eliminated.

The Voice is a show for everyone because of the wide range of vocal genres. It is on every Monday and Thursday at 7 p.m. if you are wanting to check it out!

                                                        Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC

Say Yes To The Dress!

Hey everyone!

Today I'm going to talk about one of my favorite shows Say Yes to the Dress. Say Yes to the Dress is about brides coming in to Kleinfeld Bridal in hopes to find their perfect wedding dress. The brides also tell their story on how they met their love of their life. The process of finding a wedding dress isn't always easy. The brides have to overcome difficulties such as not finding the right size, the dress being over the budget, or the emotional struggle when a family member can't be present at the appointment. The consultants have to deal with stubborn family members and still listen to what the bride envisions.

I personally like the show because seeing how happy the brides are makes me excited for the day that I get to find my perfect dress. I also like that the brides on the show are everyday girls that instead of over the top that you see on Brides of Beverly Hills. The consultants on Say Yes to the Dress are another reason why I enjoy the show. They make the show comical when they have to deal with crazy controlling parents and jealous siblings.

If you are interested in watching the new season of Say Yes to the Dress starts Friday, October 25th on TLC! I hope you have a great day!

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Hey everyone!

Today is Sunday which means Keeping up with the Kardashians is on tonight on E TV at 8 o'clock!

For those of you that don Keeping up with the Kardashians is about the Kardashian family's crazy busy celebrity life. The Kardashian family consists of mother Kris and step-dad Bruce Jenner. Kris had Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Rob with Robert Kardashian before he passed away. She then fell in love with Bruce Jenner and had two more daughters named Kendall and Kylie. The show is about their everyday live being a celebrity. It will show them at business meeting, family vacations, and public appearances. Keeping up with the Kardashians is in its eighth season and is going strong. This season has been about Kim during her pregnancy, Khloe's fertility problems, and Robs health struggle.

I enjoy watching Keeping up with the Kardashians because it shows me their real life instead of having to just listen to the gossip that I see on the cover of a magazine. It also shows how they deal with the gossip. There was an episode recently about how Kris Jenner had an affair when she was with Robert Kardashian and that Khloe Kardashian wasn't Roberts daughter. The gossip caused tension between Khloe and her mother Kris but it was then brushed off because they knew that people were just making it up to make sales. The Kardashians also have family moments just like my family does which lets me know that they are down to earth people just like everyone else. Those are some of the reasons why I don't think Keeping up with the Kardashians is scripted and why I continue to watch it.

Have a great fall break!

What's The Catch?

Hey everyone!

Today the show I'm going to review is Catfish: The T.V. Show. As we all know, social media bring people from all over the world together. The only problem is that you never know if the person on the other side of the computer screen is telling the truth.

For those of you that don't know anything about the show it is about people meeting their online lover for the first time. The hosts Nev and Max receive emails from people explaining their love for the person on the other side of the computer screen. They also find out why the two online lovers haven't meet which can range anywhere from distance, money, or health problems. Nev and Max then look into seeing if the person they have been talking to is indeed the person that they said they were. When Nev and Max search the person they find that the person hadn't been truthful. Then Max and Nev arrange for the online lovers to meet.

Catfish isn't scripted because the person asking for Nev and Max's help are truly invested in the online relationship. When they meet the person that isn't who they said they were you can see pure devastation. I personally find watching Catfish addicting because I'm amazed by how easily people lie to someone they "care" about. The show makes me realize that it's important to be careful online even if the person online says they care about you.

If you haven't seen the show Catfish stop what you are doing and check out a few episodes at http://www.mtv.com/shows/catfish/video.jhtml?filter=fulleps.

Have a great day!

Toddlers and Tiaras: Who wants the crown?

Hey everyone!
Today the show I'm going to talk about is TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras. The show is about children that enter a beauty pageant where they are being judged on there personality, beauty and outfit. The children will spend hours practicing their routine, being in the hair salon, making sure they have the perfect costume that will win over the judges.
The children do become competitive about winning the pageant but not as much as the parents. The parents will spend hundreds of dollars for their child to stand out and win the competition. The parents get so caught winning they lose sight of their child's happiness and just focus on their own happiness.
The parents also spoil the children which then causes them to throw temper tantrums when events don't go the way they wanted them. The children aren't the only ones that cause a seen at the pageants. When parents feel like their child is being picked on or not given a fair score they to will cause commotion with either the judges or another adult.
I personally don't think that Toddlers and Tiaras is scripted because the show will follow a couple girls through the pageant process and sometime the ones that they follow don't win. Another reason I think it isn't scripted is because  sometimes the children say things to the camera that their parents might not like.
I watch Toddlers and Tiaras when my family is watching it but I don't go out of my way to watch it. I don't enjoy watching the children throw temper tantrums every 10 minutes because they didn't get what they wanted. You might have a different opinion about the show and if you have never seen it I recommend watching an episode. The show plays every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on TLC.

"About Toddlers and Tiaras: About the Show: TLC." TLC. 2013 Discovery Communications, LLC, n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013.

Baby Momma Drama

Hey everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Today, I'm going to talk about the controversial show Teen Mom. Teen Mom is about teenager girls' lives before and after they has the baby. It shows the real life difficulties teen moms have to go through such as school, work, and relationships. I personally have a love/hate relationship for the show Teen Mom. I like it when the moms and their boyfriends work out and have the family they wanted. Although, most of the time there isn't a happy ending. They have an after the show where most of the moms are left to take care of the child by their self.  I don't believe Teen Mom is scripted because the struggles they face everyday are normal for a mother. The struggles they face are anywhere from trying to fit school into their busy schedule to financial needs. There are adults that think Teen Mom glamorizes teen pregnancy by making them realty T.V. stars but I would have to disagree. The many tears that fall from the girls' eye every episode makes you realize that your life can be flipped upside down because of one decision. Keep that in mind! If you're interesting in watching the third season of Teen Mom it's on every Monday night on MTV at 9 o'clock.

The Bachelor/Bachelorette: True Love?

Hey Everyone! I hope everyone is having a great day! The Reality T.V. show that I am going to be The Bachelor/Bachelorette.

For those who don't know The Bachelor/Bachelorette is about one lucky bachelor or bachelorette getting to travel around the world with 25 single contestants. There are at least two contestants that are sent home every week until the bachelor/bachelorette finds their one true love. I personally don't think that The Bachelor/Bachelorette is scripted. Now, there are critics that say it's all fake because ABC creates an unrealistic atmosphere. For example, the bachelor/bachelorette will go on two one-on-one dates and one group date every week. The dates they go on range from making a music video with Soulja Boy to a private concert by Darius Rucker. The contestants also live in a house together which can cause tension/drama therefore getting more viewers. The atmosphere isn't realistic but I do believe the connections that the contestants and bachelor/bachelorette have on the show are real. I also believe that ABC casts controversial people every season to get more viewers and publicity which is smart move on ABC's part. For example, on Sean Lowe's season of the Bachelor/Bachelorette Tiara LiCausi was the mean girl in the house that would cause drama with the rest of the girls. I provided a link below to give you a look at the drama she created in the house.

If you are a sucker for some funny unscripted entertainment and a happy ending then the Bachelor/Bachelorette is the perfect show for you! When a new season starts it will be aired every Monday at 7 p.m. If you need someone to watch it with I'm your girl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KhR3LDUp3s
 "The Bachelor-Tierra LiCausi "Sparkle"" YouTube. YouTube, 04 Mar. 2013. Web. 09 Sept. 2013.

http://runningintheburbs413.blogspot.com
http://mikayladouglas.blogspot.com

INTRODUCTION

Hello everyone!

My name is Michaela Olberding and I'm currently a freshman here at Washburn. I am from the average  town of Abilene, KS. I am planning on majoring in Mass Media with emphasis in public relations in hopes of being a successful event planner!

I love to watch reality T.V. shows so my blog will be about whether or not reality T.V. is scripted. I will describe the basics of the show for those who haven't seen if before. I will also provide examples to why I think a reality T.V. show is scripted or not.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog! Have a great day!