Makeover -
Self-improvement
Among the crop of reality TV
shows that have made it on the television screen, a new type of reality TV show
is emerging. Capitalizing on America’s love of a feel good story, these
makeover - self-improvement reality TV shows can be pretty polarizing. People
that enjoy this type of reality TV shows love these shows and see them as
motivating and inspiring. Critics of these types of shows argue that they
reinforce negative values and are superficial.
Regardless of how you morally feel about reality TV shows that revolve around
makeovers and self-improvement, you can’t argue that these types of shows are
entertaining. Contestants are extremely happy about the changes that these
shows allow them to make and their exuberance is contagious. Viewers can’t help
but feel happy for the contestants on shows like Extreme Makeover
regardless of how they feel morally.
Reality TV shows in the vein of makeover or self-improvement category range all
over the place on the scale of outrageousness. Extreme Makeover is a relative straight
ahead show that features stories of individuals that had applied for an extreme
makeover
and receiving one. Plastic surgery procedures are performed on these
contestants and also changes are made on their wardrobes. The changes made on Extreme
Makeover are pretty incredible and
the joy of these participants is apparent.
The popularity of
Extreme
Makeover has convinced ABC to create a spin-off that is based on the
premise of self-improvement. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a show
that makes entire family’s dreams come true. On this Emmy-nominated show, a
family is chosen by the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team to have
their homes radically redone. Home walls are moved, floors are removed, and a
family’s home is radically changed all in seven days. A fascinating show, Extreme
Makeover: Home Edition continues on the path of Extreme Makeover of
making regular American’s feel better about their lives by making
seemingly-impossible dreams come true.
On the outrageous scale of reality TV programs based around makeovers and
self-improvement is Fox’s outrageous reality TV show, The Swan. The
Swan is similar to Extreme Makeover in that it provides plastic
surgery procedures for its contestants. However, a twist is added as all of the
contestants on The Swan who have received plastic surgery then compete
against each other in a beauty contest. A bizarro Miss America, The Swan
is always a fun, trashy thing to watch on TV, and these types of reality TV
shows will always be wanted on television.
In between these two
extremes is MTV’s I Want a Famous Face. On this show, contestants obtain
plastic surgery that will help them look like a famous celebrity. Although this
show has its share of critics, including Kate Winslet who reportedly cried when
she saw a contestant undergo plastic surgery to look like her, it’s a pretty
interesting show. Many of the contestants want to go into the entertainment
business and feel that getting plastic surgery to look like Brad Pitt will help
their career. Love it or hate it, I Want a Famous Face like other
reality TV shows of this type are always interesting to watch. Find out more
about these shows right here.
hide
Home
