I love this article because I despise the pseudo-reality tv shows that pander to the dumbing down of Americans who live vicariously through others. It reminds me of the phony wrestling shows, Jerry Springer and Fox news. Not only do these shows exploit the participants, the audience, they are also exploiting the employees behind the scene.
It’s all about MONEY.
Wake up America. Stop watching this shit.
Reality TV writers claim Calif. labor law breaches
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A dozen writers who work in the booming arena of “reality” television have sued networks and production companies for what they say are violations of California labor law governing overtime wages and meal breaks.
The suit seeks class-action status for reality TV staffers who toil anonymously to create dramatic tension — and the artifice of spontaneity — with such job titles as story editor, story producer, story assistant or segment producer.
The suit claims those workers routinely work more than 80 hours a week without overtime, are denied work breaks for meals and are required to falsify their time cards.
“These violations of California law are no mere accounting errors,” said Daniel Petrie Jr., president of the West Coast branch of the Writers Guild of America. “They are deliberately designed to deny these writers the basic rights and legal protections of fair wages.”
He said the suit underscored the “sweatshop” conditions the WGA says are rampant in the burgeoning realm of reality shows, which generally can be produced more cheaply and quickly than scripted shows.
Unscripted programs starring B-list celebrities or supposedly ordinary folks competing for romance, money and 15 minutes of fame have taken up a growing share of prime time in recent years. Many such shows are among the most popular on U.S. television.
“Reality shows” are FAKE. But the dumbed down populace hearts FAKE: Fake news, Fake problems, fake issues, fake presidents, fake religion etc., etc.
The whole things sums up what our country has become, PHONY….
I had never thought about leaving, but I’m telling you, I’m looking hard right now.
Why, because all people are doing is talking, and that is not going to change the path these PHONY religous powermongering, money grabbing, civil rights stealing, slave traders have set in motion.
The pro-labor side of me says, “Way to go!”, But my authenticity-craving side says, “Serve them right if they starve”.
I’m in trouble. 🙂 I get a big kick out of Survivor and Amazing Race. Whew, they’re not on the list of baddies, so far.
Hey, Rosee, have you had a chance to check out Rigorous Intuition yet? His post today is one you will want to see, I think. It’s called “The Trouble With Normal.” I was surprised. . .though maybe I shouldn’t have been.. .to find that RI is on the bloglist here.
I’ve grazed it and I’ll check out the entry you just named.
Most of the tin-foil stuff I find is on the DARPA-Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency site under search and then I google around to find more facts. People just don’t want to believe some of the stuff that the government is doing right under our noses and over our heads.
“The Trouble With Normal.” Good writer- do you know who it is? Funny that he puts Kos in his place-which I agree with. He almost sounds like he use to be a regular on Kos..I wonder?
Without an open mind most inventions wouldn’t exist for goodness sakes.
I am happy that I don’t fall into the ‘normal’ bracket. 🙂
I don’t know who he is. I think he’s a good writer, too.
Thanks for the DARPA link. I’ve heard of it but never checked it out.
and I have instituted a reality-tv boycott. We have gained in number after explaining that if everyone is so sick of the shows, then they have to stop watching them. Great diary, I’m forwarding it to the rest of the gang.
Hit ’em with a pie, rosee!
;-D