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Post by onestepplan on Sept 16, 2014 11:03:25 GMT -5
Whilst reality tv exists it doesn't crack the top ten. WWE at least offers morsals of promise and the occasional good matches and stories. Reality television may not have the highs of Raw but it also has a consistent handle on its characters and their motivations and behaviors and the ability to bring about its manufactured climaxes in a logical manner. Keeping Up with the Kardashians or whatever else at least respects its viewers enough to maintain some form of continuity. Raw redoes segments 3-4 times a month because it doesn't trust its audience to remember what happened four days ago. Raw may (sometimes) be more enjoyable to watch than reality TV, but is it really smarter than it?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 11:12:07 GMT -5
After the Attitude Era ended, and the WWE basically turned their programs into 2-3 hour variety shows, yes, it is the dumbest form of entertainment out there. At least reality shows, while scripted, give off the impression that what you're watching is real. The WWE flat out tells you what you're watching is fake, but a very small percentage of their roster knows how to act in a scripted environment, so it comes off porn-ish in its acting and nonsensical in its presentation (ex. why should we care about a wrestling match when 5 seconds later we are reminded that it's scripted). Nothing about it makes sense. Maybe that will change when Vince hands over the keys. the insult to people's intelligence is why reality shows are worse than anything WWE can put on. And you should care about the shows because you enjoy wrestling. The difference is reality shows are based on real life. What I mean is, even if something is blatantly scripted on a typical reality show, they are depicting that as reality. So if you're a fan of that show, then you're lost within that reality. There are story arcs that have characters reacting to "real life" situations. It's no different than sitcoms, cartoons, etc. Hell, even wrestling used to fit that criteria. Now? They tell you it's scripted. They "shoot" on each other in promos, implying that matches are scripted. They show ads of DVD's that break kayfabe. In other words, they don't even let you into their "reality". There is no reality. It's a variety show, where characters show up, they win or lose, and then come out the following week to repeat their shtick without any real consequence. In that context, wrestling today is ridiculous. Back when they actually valued kayfabe, it wasn't. It wasn't any less silly is some ways, but at least they presented it differently.
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Post by sonofblaine on Sept 16, 2014 17:25:49 GMT -5
Not as long as MTV exists.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 17:47:42 GMT -5
It's dumb because there is absolutely no consistent long-term planning. Thus, none of the storylines, taken as a whole, actually make any sense because they had never been carefully planned and prepared. One of the reasons it's so difficult to watch. Also makes it hard to get excited for anything, because you know it will be rendered meaningless. Then sometimes they actually trick me into being excited, then reality sets in.
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Brood Lone Wolf Funker
Ozymandius
Got fined anyway. Possibly a Moose
James Franco is the white Donald Glover
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Post by Brood Lone Wolf Funker on Sept 16, 2014 18:17:36 GMT -5
As someone who sat through Chrisley after watching Total Divas I can safely say no its not
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percymania
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Percymania will live forever! Oh yeah!
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Post by percymania on Sept 16, 2014 19:06:42 GMT -5
Depends whether or not Manswers is still a show.
...or Impact Wrestling.
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Post by Confused Mark Wahlberg on Sept 16, 2014 19:36:52 GMT -5
I just watched "Love and Hip-Hop: Hollywood", which makes Raw look like Breaking Bad
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Post by Milkman Norm on Sept 16, 2014 19:51:48 GMT -5
Whilst reality tv exists it doesn't crack the top ten. WWE at least offers morsals of promise and the occasional good matches and stories. After the Attitude Era ended, and the WWE basically turned their programs into 2-3 hour variety shows, yes, it is the dumbest form of entertainment out there. At least reality shows, while scripted, give off the impression that what you're watching is real. The WWE flat out tells you what you're watching is fake, but a very small percentage of their roster knows how to act in a scripted environment, so it comes off porn-ish in its acting and nonsensical in its presentation (ex. why should we care about a wrestling match when 5 seconds later we are reminded that it's scripted). Nothing about it makes sense. Maybe that will change when Vince hands over the keys. After?
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Post by edgestar on Sept 16, 2014 20:57:52 GMT -5
As someone who sat through Chrisley after watching Total Divas I can safely say no its not I was visiting someone that had a Chrisley marathon.......not something I would recommend
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Post by Beets by Schrute on Sept 16, 2014 23:04:55 GMT -5
It's not that it's dumb. Maybe I am too smart for it now. The only current shows I really enjoy watching are Walking Dead, House of Cards and Game of Thrones. Being exposed to the continuity, decent acting and unpredictable moments make it more preferable than RAW
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 1:25:08 GMT -5
Depends whether or not Manswers is still a show. ...or Impact Wrestling. At least they get the concept of, "We have a giant, evil meat mountain for a champion, have him crush everything and make no one look like a threat to him."
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Post by adam3s on Sept 17, 2014 7:27:32 GMT -5
It has the most inconsistent characters and story telling of anything I have watched (It's looking increasingly likely that WWE will remain past tense for good, brother watches it so still see fragments).
John Cena: What makes him smiling and joking and what gets him see red seems completely random. E.g. Losing to The Rock would destroy him...doesn't effect him goes on and has his a typical year then claims when Rock comes back that it's being eating away at him...not shown. Against Bray Wyatt...will not turn dark no matter what Bray does. Loses cleanly to Lesnar....threatens Heyman and attacks Lesnar from behind.
Big Show: Iron Clad contract that allows him to do what he wants because he can't be fired. 1 year later forced against he's will to do others bidding out of fear of being fired.
Kane: Kane.
Triple H: Dislikes Bryan for not being marketable. Dislikes Cena despite being a poster boy would rather man who broke he's arm.
Not to mention the amount of dropped story lines over the years.
Oh and Kevin Nash texts himself to attack Punk.
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Post by Freddy BooJangles on Sept 17, 2014 8:15:42 GMT -5
No no no it is not. Here are some shows that are dumber than RAW:
Total Divas Person of Interest Keeping Up With The Kardashians SpongeBob Squarepants (well the post SpongeBob Squarepants movie seasons anyway) Anything on MTV
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Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
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Post by Bo Rida on Sept 17, 2014 9:13:06 GMT -5
The UK apprentice is worse.
There are a lot of similarities, a cast of unlikeable assholes, rules that make no sense, situations that couldn't happen in real-life, a tired authority figure in charge (who despite their success is also known for a lot of poor quality products), heavily manufactured "moments", outdated production and a heavy emphasis on short-term gains over long-term quality.
However like wrestling it was enjoyable, although your default reaction was to laugh and mock it produced some genuine highs.
Then they changed the format, instead of the winner being the best person for a job it was essentially the person with the best business plan, therefore you see months of build-up where the best person looks set to win after proving themselves over a number of tasks before a lesser star takes the victory at the last moment due to him being a preconceived favourite of those in charge. Hmmm, just like wrestling.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 9:20:34 GMT -5
After the Attitude Era ended, and the WWE basically turned their programs into 2-3 hour variety shows, yes, it is the dumbest form of entertainment out there. At least reality shows, while scripted, give off the impression that what you're watching is real. The WWE flat out tells you what you're watching is fake, but a very small percentage of their roster knows how to act in a scripted environment, so it comes off porn-ish in its acting and nonsensical in its presentation (ex. why should we care about a wrestling match when 5 seconds later we are reminded that it's scripted). Nothing about it makes sense. Maybe that will change when Vince hands over the keys. After? As much garbage as Russo did in the Attitude Era, at least stuff that happened in the ring mattered, for the most part. It's not like they went out of their way to tell you what you're seeing is fake, like they do now. Austin hated McMahon. When Austin was screwed, he was pissed off. He didn't show up the next show acting as if nothing happened. The characters had motivations and direction, even the silly ones. It was nothing like today's WWE. The variety show format makes the fans look like idiots when they react to something deemed serious (i.e. an injury angle). You can't get lost in the moment when the structure of the show is like SNL or a variety show.
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bob
Salacious Crumb
The "other" Bob. FOC COURSE!
started the Madness Wars, Proudly the #1 Nana Hater on FAN
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Post by bob on Sept 17, 2014 9:44:09 GMT -5
I don't know if it's the dumbest, but it is certainly one of the most boring shows.
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Post by bestthateverdidit on Sept 17, 2014 9:58:03 GMT -5
When you start writing a novel, you might not know how it's going to end, but roughly you have a plan of the overall direction of the book. When you get to the end of your draft, you then go back and change things earlier on to establish a coherent and satisfying story progression, which serves to flesh out your characters and integrate them into the overall story arc of the book, leading to a satisfying and sensible conclusion.
Instead, WWE writes one page every Monday at 4pm, which then airs on TV. Having forgotten everything that has happened more than a few weeks prior, nothing is designed to follow on from anything else.
As a result, nothing ever goes anywhere and there is no satisfying conclusion. This is why we have a show packed with meaningless two-segment matches and in-ring promos about nothing in particular. The babyface is someone who has a smile, and the heel is slightly cocky (he doesn't cheat, though).
The commentators, instead of actually calling the match and furthering the story it is there to portray (because there is no story) instead spend the time it is on talking about something else - usually insider humour that doesn't even appear to be intended for the viewer's amusement, but rather the amusement of those making the show.
The next week roughly the same thing happens. Often the same matches are booked with the same decisive finishes. We have three hours to fill, and so PPV-style matches with false finishes between two guys who are on the same level are given away for free. The way you become a contender for a belt is by beating the champion - I laugh at the idea of this happening in any sport, and it's an awful storytelling idea.
The show need not be "dumb". It needs to be simple, catering to the limits of the wrestling storytelling medium - but simple isn't the same as dumb. It's the fact that wrestling is simple, along with the WWE's having the capable men to execute it, that makes it so frustrating that it is so dumb and directionless.
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The Ichi
Patti Mayonnaise
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Post by The Ichi on Sept 17, 2014 12:23:56 GMT -5
I could do a channel surf at any time and find shows that make Raw look like Downtown Abbey.
That's not me defending Raw either, it absolutely is horseshit at times, but there is far, far worse.
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