This morning I was able to resist embedded previews of the interview quite handily. I was even able to sneer at TLC's appeal to my baser instincts. But as the day has progressed, I have felt myself begin to falter - tempted.
I won't watch it - I do, after all, have a soul - but I'll be dammed if TLC hasn't successfully parlayed a child sex abuse scandal into must-see-TV.
#JillAndJessa
#TCA16
Friday, December 18, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Only in Reality... Cast Wranglers
Welcome to Only in Reality... a series in which I explore the events, philosophies and positions that only exist or occur in Reality TV.
In today's edition we look at the crew position known as the Cast Wrangler.
Now, Cast Wranglers do pretty much what their title implies: they wrangle the cast. So, in any scenario, a Cast Wrangler is the point of contact between Production and the so-called Talent. However, exactly what a Cast Wrangler does differs depending on the genre of Reality they're working in.
On a show like The Bachelor (AKA Everlasting on UnREAL), that is, a Competition Show, the Cast Wrangler is pretty much a human herder. The first of these I met was a louche German we'll call Tristan whose every move seemed an expression of petulance. Tristan's responsibilities included: keeping eyes on cast at all time (even living with them); herding them to and from set; ensuring that none of them had somehow gotten access to a phone or computer or any other item with which they could contact the outside world; and spying on the cast and reporting their personal and interpersonal problems back to the Story Department. Tristan was one of those for-sure psychopaths I've worked with who took strange pleasure in denying cast members the right to speak or even pee.
However, on a show like Housewives or Love and Hip Hop (DocuSoaps), the Cast Wrangler is less of a prison guard and more along the lines of a Personal Assistant. They build a relationship with the cast members and massage their egos (no one gives a shit about cast egos in Competition). They ensure that cast arrives on set on time and in the right wardrobe (a big deal in Docusoaps where we often shoot story out of order). They also, like their Competition compatriots, spy and report back to Production on where the cast is at emotionally (we then take that info and develop story lines accordingly). On shows like Love and Hip Hop there is actually one Cast Wrangler per cast member (which is quite unusual) whereas on Housewives there is generally only one for the whole cast. The job is not only stressful but can actually be dangerous. One cast Wrangler I knew actually had a gun held to his head. He's still in Reality. Go figure.
Cast Wrangling is a thankless and soul-destroying job. Wranglers have to manage extremely difficult (and sometimes violent) personalities and deal with 2 am calls and texts. In fact, the Cast Wrangler on my current show may not be long for this production. She's burnt out from a relentless stream of self-important D-list celebrity cast and their non-stop shenanigans. Update: she quit.
In case you're wondering why you've never seen the credit Cast Wrangler on a show, that's because they are titled as anything from Production Assistant to Co-Executive Producer. I was once promised a Co-Executive Producer credit on a Housewives show (rhymes with - Have Mercy) if I did--basically--a Cast Wrangler's job. I thanked them for the kind offer, but replied that I'd rather stab myself repeatedly in the chest with scissors.
In today's edition we look at the crew position known as the Cast Wrangler.
Now, Cast Wranglers do pretty much what their title implies: they wrangle the cast. So, in any scenario, a Cast Wrangler is the point of contact between Production and the so-called Talent. However, exactly what a Cast Wrangler does differs depending on the genre of Reality they're working in.
On a show like The Bachelor (AKA Everlasting on UnREAL), that is, a Competition Show, the Cast Wrangler is pretty much a human herder. The first of these I met was a louche German we'll call Tristan whose every move seemed an expression of petulance. Tristan's responsibilities included: keeping eyes on cast at all time (even living with them); herding them to and from set; ensuring that none of them had somehow gotten access to a phone or computer or any other item with which they could contact the outside world; and spying on the cast and reporting their personal and interpersonal problems back to the Story Department. Tristan was one of those for-sure psychopaths I've worked with who took strange pleasure in denying cast members the right to speak or even pee.
However, on a show like Housewives or Love and Hip Hop (DocuSoaps), the Cast Wrangler is less of a prison guard and more along the lines of a Personal Assistant. They build a relationship with the cast members and massage their egos (no one gives a shit about cast egos in Competition). They ensure that cast arrives on set on time and in the right wardrobe (a big deal in Docusoaps where we often shoot story out of order). They also, like their Competition compatriots, spy and report back to Production on where the cast is at emotionally (we then take that info and develop story lines accordingly). On shows like Love and Hip Hop there is actually one Cast Wrangler per cast member (which is quite unusual) whereas on Housewives there is generally only one for the whole cast. The job is not only stressful but can actually be dangerous. One cast Wrangler I knew actually had a gun held to his head. He's still in Reality. Go figure.
Cast Wrangling is a thankless and soul-destroying job. Wranglers have to manage extremely difficult (and sometimes violent) personalities and deal with 2 am calls and texts. In fact, the Cast Wrangler on my current show may not be long for this production. She's burnt out from a relentless stream of self-important D-list celebrity cast and their non-stop shenanigans. Update: she quit.
In case you're wondering why you've never seen the credit Cast Wrangler on a show, that's because they are titled as anything from Production Assistant to Co-Executive Producer. I was once promised a Co-Executive Producer credit on a Housewives show (rhymes with - Have Mercy) if I did--basically--a Cast Wrangler's job. I thanked them for the kind offer, but replied that I'd rather stab myself repeatedly in the chest with scissors.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Reality Bits (Network Sluttery Edition)
Apologies to anyone who's noticed my absence. I am currently on set and it's slightly harder to ponder the malignant entity called Reality TV when you have a cast member threatening to bust open your head. Onwards and downwards...
1) The Donald Trump Show Finds a Cast (Finally!)
Donald Trump has been branded the Reality candidate for the GOP nomination. What makes Trump good Reality Talent is that he knows how to create a soundbite. When we're editing shows with people like Trump they make it easy for us in edit because we get to pick and choose between provocative sound bites and then play them against a stunned or angry or upset reaction shot from someone else in the cast.
However, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, the GOP nomination race has yet to "rise" to a level of a Reality show because the other robots running aren't giving him any reactions to work with. Besides, let's face it, Trump is simply the pimple on top of the festering Republican sore. However, it seems that the TV news media has proven willing to step in.
Reporters (television, but also online and so-called print for that matter) are filling in the role of the horrified or thrilled recipients of his blather. And much like Reality cast members they spend an undue amount of time having discussions about the meaning of his latest offense/genius. In Reality we call those "fallout scenes" and they tend to happen in fancy bars/restaurants. The only difference here is the fallout scenes happen on news sets.
So I stand corrected, the GOP nomination is a Reality show attempting to pass itself off as news. The amplification of his fuckery doesn't strike me as news.
2) Emotional Anchors
The fact is, there isn't much different between Reality TV and the television news these days. In fact, I was struck during the coverage of the Paris attacks at the number of CNN reporters who were obviously faking sadness/tears about the events. Clearly they have been given direction from on high that emotion sells. Who knows, it may, I'm not a good sample audience.
I find this stuff infuriating because while genuine emotional moments (Cronkite crying upon learning of Kennedy's death and Jon Stewart being overcome after 9/11, come to mind) make for powerful television, fake emotion is just shite and offensive to my intelligence as a viewer, not to mention a Reality producer - fake tears are the absolute worst when you're in edit.
3) Digging the Duggars and the (broadcaster) Benefits of a Police Shooting
TLC, as has been discussed before, has never encountered a molestation scandal that they don't view ripe fodder for ratings. The first part of TLC's special on Josh Duggar's sisters Jill and Jessa, who were also his molestation victims, airs December 13. I would provide a link, but fuck TLC I'm not promoting them. Instead I give you this.
The leadup to Jill & Jessa: Counting On has been an interview on Good Morning America with Josh's long-suffering wife Anna, as well as appearances of the two sisters. Blech. Naturally, TLC's numbers for this dreck will be through the roof.
The ends to which networks will go to mine controversy in the name of numbers is ever expanding. I recently heard tell of a show where the network seized upon the controversy over the police shooting of Laquan McDonald in Chicago as a great "opportunity" (and I quote) for one of their shows.
Pardon me, but after this post I need to take several showers.
#TCA16
1) The Donald Trump Show Finds a Cast (Finally!)
Donald Trump has been branded the Reality candidate for the GOP nomination. What makes Trump good Reality Talent is that he knows how to create a soundbite. When we're editing shows with people like Trump they make it easy for us in edit because we get to pick and choose between provocative sound bites and then play them against a stunned or angry or upset reaction shot from someone else in the cast.
However, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, the GOP nomination race has yet to "rise" to a level of a Reality show because the other robots running aren't giving him any reactions to work with. Besides, let's face it, Trump is simply the pimple on top of the festering Republican sore. However, it seems that the TV news media has proven willing to step in.
Reporters (television, but also online and so-called print for that matter) are filling in the role of the horrified or thrilled recipients of his blather. And much like Reality cast members they spend an undue amount of time having discussions about the meaning of his latest offense/genius. In Reality we call those "fallout scenes" and they tend to happen in fancy bars/restaurants. The only difference here is the fallout scenes happen on news sets.
CNN is The Scandalized Innocent!
FOX is The Enabler!
Lindsay Graham is Once a Bestie, Now a Backstabber!
So I stand corrected, the GOP nomination is a Reality show attempting to pass itself off as news. The amplification of his fuckery doesn't strike me as news.
2) Emotional Anchors
The fact is, there isn't much different between Reality TV and the television news these days. In fact, I was struck during the coverage of the Paris attacks at the number of CNN reporters who were obviously faking sadness/tears about the events. Clearly they have been given direction from on high that emotion sells. Who knows, it may, I'm not a good sample audience.
I find this stuff infuriating because while genuine emotional moments (Cronkite crying upon learning of Kennedy's death and Jon Stewart being overcome after 9/11, come to mind) make for powerful television, fake emotion is just shite and offensive to my intelligence as a viewer, not to mention a Reality producer - fake tears are the absolute worst when you're in edit.
3) Digging the Duggars and the (broadcaster) Benefits of a Police Shooting
TLC, as has been discussed before, has never encountered a molestation scandal that they don't view ripe fodder for ratings. The first part of TLC's special on Josh Duggar's sisters Jill and Jessa, who were also his molestation victims, airs December 13. I would provide a link, but fuck TLC I'm not promoting them. Instead I give you this.
The leadup to Jill & Jessa: Counting On has been an interview on Good Morning America with Josh's long-suffering wife Anna, as well as appearances of the two sisters. Blech. Naturally, TLC's numbers for this dreck will be through the roof.
The ends to which networks will go to mine controversy in the name of numbers is ever expanding. I recently heard tell of a show where the network seized upon the controversy over the police shooting of Laquan McDonald in Chicago as a great "opportunity" (and I quote) for one of their shows.
Pardon me, but after this post I need to take several showers.
#TCA16
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)