Man Vs. Wild Great RTV

This day and age we live in a time of entertainment that is run by reality television. Several of these RTV series have been running for a number of years and have spawned some of America's most influential members of society. How much of this RTV is quality content that holds some type of value other than drama? I believe there are quite a few examples - of this my favorite of which is Man Vs. Wild. Man Vs. Wild use 4 core values. These values educate the viewers , entertain extreme sports watchers,  promotes tourism and have an amazing host.

The main problem with most RTV series is that their is a lack of educational content. Man Vs. Wild is an exception to this rule. One of the main points of the show is to teach people how they could survive in several different climates and area's. This is done by showing which animals to avoid and the that are safe to eat. For example ,in the  Dominican Republic there was a giant centipede that was too poisonous to eat. If I was ever in this survival scenario, I would be delighted that I viewed that episode and learned that by eating that centipede I would have become paralyzed and died. This proves Man Vs. Wild has life saving value.

Man vs. Wild also is great television because it provides people with very entertaining survivalism which is a sub-genre of extreme sport. The show provides a great amount of extreme sports elements. These are demonstrated when the host performs some extraordinary stunts. Initially the show begins with the host jumping from a plane and skydiving to his location. A few more examples of extreme sports would be swimming in wild rapids or climbing 90 foot vines. life endangering stunts like these occur in a multitude of extreme sports platforms. The cross fit games devote a whole unit in there course to rope climbing. Skydiving is included as one of the most recognized extreme sport.These stunts have even gotten the attention of several online news-websites saying "their crew and camera kit are made of pretty stern stuff."(“Are You Tough Enough.” Http://Eds.a.ebscohost.com/Eds/Detail/Detail?Sid=a12991f7-124e-4c34-89b0-443938da80f3%40sessionmgr4009&Vid=0&Hid=4205&Bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=44601749&Db=Bth, Televisual, Sept. 2009, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid. Accessed 2017.) . These death-defying are performed jungle like landscapes to make them more terrifying.

When the crew of Man Vs. Wild is filming they take amazing shots of the landscape and country. This promotes tourism of the host country. This is beneficial because it helps developing countries establish better economies. A tourist would have viewed flora and fauna of that nation on the show. Tourists could also be excited to attempted the extreme camping that is done in the show. The charismatic host also heightens tourism.

Bear Grylls takes hosting the show very seriously. He has surprised and shocked the audiences at home by performing some outrageous survivalist acts; on camera he swam naked in frozen water,drank his own urine and ate several insects like spiders and grubs. These exploits have even caught the attention of "People" magazine. In an article about Grylls they went as far as to call him, "the MacGyver of the wild"(Dodd). Although Grylls was in the UK military for 10 Years. He still goes above and beyond expectations audience have of him.I and all the other Man Vs. Wild watchers are certain that he would do anything to survive. He is truly the MAN Vs.Wild.

This show demonstrates everything that belongs in RTV. It blends so many elements of good content together flawlessly. Even-though it still takes scrutiny a from articles like " Most Improved" saying "Bear allegedly slept in luxury hotels instead of being stranded on a desert island"(“Most Improved Bear Grylls.” Mclean's, 26 Nov. 2007, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=5fc08840-ce80-4f0c-a929f0b36e374dc7@sessionmgr4008&vid=0&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=27642101&db=bth. Accessed 2017.). Regardless if these allocations were true it still will not dispute that Man Vs. Wild is one of the best RTV series. Weather it is because of amazing stunts or the beautiful shots of the exotic countries he survive on. There is value in the show and something for almost everyone.

works cited 

“Are You Tough Enough.” Http://Eds.a.ebscohost.com/Eds/Detail/Detail?Sid=a12991f7-124e-4c34-89b0-443938da80f3%40sessionmgr4009&Vid=0&Hid=4205&Bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=44601749&Db=Bth, Televisual, Sept. 2009, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid. Accessed 2017

“Most Improved Bear Grylls.” Mclean's, 26 Nov. 2007, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=5fc08840-ce80-4f0c-a929-f0b36e374dc7@sessionmgr4008&vid=0&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=27642101&db=bth. Accessed 2017.

Dodd, Johny. “Force of Nature.” People, vol. 68, no. 23, 3 Dec. 2007, pp. 123–124, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=b39a1d99-97b6-4438-b04c-03677f8a0523@sessionmgr4009&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=27658669&db=a9h. Accessed 15 Feb. 2017.

RTV rough draft

 

                               Just a bunch of roses?

Nearing the end of its 21st season, "The Bachelor", a reality television show and also a dating game show, revolves around a single bachelor who starts out with typically 25 love interests in hopes to fall in love and find a wife by the end of the season.  Eliminations take place during each episode through the rose ceremony, where if a contestant receives a rose she moves on in the competition.  The contestants participate in group dates, one on one dates, and are taken all over the globe in order to get to know the man they will potentially be marrying.  The show is filled with a ton of drama, tears, and conflict, which would be expected when a group of women are pretty much dating the same man.  Although The Bachelor is mostly seen as cringe worthy and purely just for entertainment, there is much more to it than handing out roses, it is a quest for love. 

Firstly, this show has a very diverse group of women competing against each other.  They come from all over the country, have a wide range of occupations, different backgrounds and values. Some even had very tough pasts, such as Kristina Schulman from the current season.  She is a 24 year old dental hygienist who grow up in Russia.  She explained to Nick Viall, the current bachelor, that she did not have much food growing up.  She remembered her cupboards being bare and having to eat lipstick. On the other hand, contestant Corinne Olympios, a 25 year old from Florida, runs a multi-million dollar company that her parents started.  She lives a very lavish lifestyle and is constantly talking about her "nanny" that does everything for her.  I feel that this show really displays how strong and successful the women are as we learn about them and they're struggles.

                                                                                   Season 21 contestants and bachelor

Not only does this show bring the contestants and the bachelor together, but it also brings its viewers together.  One woman says that watching the The Bachelor with her daughter brought them closer as they bonded, shared opinions, and learned about each others tastes on men. She said "And despite all evidence to the contrary, a very real connection has grown out of this series: not between the Bachelor and his bevy of beauties, but between a mother and a daughter." (Good Housekeeping 107)  People actually have "Bachelor viewing parties" where they watch the show with their family and friends.  Often, viewers get attached to a certain contestant on the show and root for them as they move on in the competition. They even feel genuinely upset when that person gets eliminated. "Today, "The Bachelor" has become the sort of "go-to" romance reality program-for good or ill, a heartwarming program that brings groups of viewers together." (Advertising Age 32)

Another positive value of The Bachelor is the effect it has on the women who are sent home throughout the season.  These women have to compete for time and attention from one man.

It appears to be a very emotionally draining process, as there are many scenes and interviews of tears and outrage. These women really get to know themselves on a deeper level throughout this process.  They may walk away upset or heartbroken, but previous contestants have actually come out and said that they feel stronger as a person, and realized what they really want and need in a partner by their experience on the show.  In an interview with People Magazine, season 20's Jojo Fletcher said "it's overwhelming! It's crazy, but I'm so excited," she says of searching for, as she says, "a love I can rely on." As for her ex, there are no hard feelings. "I shared so many great memories with Ben, but I've moved on. I'm at peace with where I'm at." ( People 52-56) 
  
Finally, the main value of this show is that it leads two people to their true love.  It appears to be very difficult to compete against 25 other women for the love of one man.  It also appears to be tougher for the bachelor himself to go through a process of getting to know each woman and seeing if there is chemistry or sending them on their way, which is also a very hard thing to do.  While most reality shows are purely just for entertainment and there is no outcome or purpose, this show is different in a sense that we get to see people connecting and actually falling in love throughout the season.  This show actually has an outcome and that is hopefully finding a lifelong partner.

Unlike most reality television shows, The Bachelor actually has a positive outcome of two
people hopefully falling in love and getting engaged.  While most reality television shows have no outcome and are purely just for entertainment, The Bachelor displays the strength of women, helps them get to know themselves on a deeper level, and brings people together.   

                                             
                                                                     Works cited

People. 3/28/2016, Vol. 85 Issue 14, p52-56. 5p. 6 Color Photographs

Good Housekeeping. Aug2012, Vol. 255 Issue 2, p107-107. 1p
  
Advertising Age. 2/14/2011, Vol. 82 Issue 7, p32-32. 2/3p.

Matt Palubinsky

One Last Shot at Destiny

              

“Last Chance U” is a show that goes into depth when confronting the lives of football players at East Mississippi Community College. Each player on this team is looking to play at the elite Division 1 level of college football. Either they have already been at one of these programs and weren't playing as much as they wished, their grades weren't too good, or they wanted to play at a better school then they were already at. Both the struggles and the triumphs are recorded making for an incredible show that captures what it's like to have the stress of being an athlete, even if you're at the best junior college in the nation with some of the best college athletes on the planet. The decisions that these kids make throughout the fall will decide their future of football or even life.
 

Player talking to their "mother" Mrs. Wagner

     More than anything the young athletes at this school need is academics in order to thrive and do what they are so incredibly good at. They are expected to get to every class and make their grades because it is absolutely crucial. By far, their most valuable resource has definitely got to be Brittany Wagner. She is their student resource guide that helps with everything from personal issues to their academic situations. She is the backbone to this football team and without her most of the players would't be able to make it through the semester. She is referred to as a mother figure by most all of the athletes and even the coaches who look up to her and truly appreciate the value of her presence. Obviously their academics are only half of what it takes to be at the top of their game. Athleticism is major in all sports, not only football and this team has tons of it.
 
   One of the athletes that played for EMCC was a quarterback by the name of John Franklin lll, who transferred over from Florida State University because they added another quarterback onto their roster. With his future on the line and one player ahead of him at EMCC he had only one opportunity to show what he could do in the final regular season game of the season when the starting quarterback went down with an injury. With the Auburn Offensive Coordinator in attendance, John knew he had to put on a show. In the first half alone, he manged to do something very few football players in history get to say that they accomplished. He scored a mass of six total touchdowns and had a whopping total of 291 yards. This incredible first half landed him a scholarship offer from the Auburn Tigers. He willingly took the offer and expected to compete for the starting job at one of the most note worthy football schools in the world.

Players huddle around the head coach after a win

     For others getting onto a top tier team wasn't nearly as easy as it was for John. Others had either gotten injured or just didn't give the amount of effort in the classroom that college coaches would have wished for. The list of insanely athletic players goes on and on but one made more of a dramatic impact on the show than most did. Dacorious (D.J.) Law, a running back on the team, was a kid who you simply couldn't take your eyes off of once he got his hands on the football. Out of high school, Law had several official visits to major division 1 programs but simply could not make the grades. East Mississippi Community College was a second chance at life for the young man and he barely made it out alive. Near the last few episodes of the season, Mrs. Wagner openly questioned whether or not he was going to make it because of his 18 missed quizzes and tests and his poor work ethic throughout the semester. A kid that had 12 college offers out of high school and who was No. 40 running back and No. 630 prospect in the "247sports" football composite now had to race to save his career as a football player. D.J. Law ended up completing his quizzes and committed to play football at UAB even though he had offers from Louisville, West Virginia and Ole Miss. Injuries gave each of these players and others not only problems but also chances to prove who they were.

        Just like they give chances, they also take them away. By saying that, I am indeed talking about injuries and there sure are a ton of them in the game of football. For some athletes, their careers could end in the blink of an eye which is one of the scariest things that goes through the head of every single person that has ever played a sport in their life. For others an injury is only a temporary issue that sets them back a few weeks or months or maybe even a year. Injuries can also give chances like the one that gave John Franklin lll the opportunity to score six touchdowns in one half of football. A few of the other athletes with setbacks dealt with the issues like D.J. Law did when he landed on his knee wrong after he got tackled in one of East Mississippi games. Law ended up putting a brace on his knee and everybody thought he wouldn't be nearly as good as he was but he actually became seemingly faster then anybody had ever thought. Another athlete who was one of the most followed characters on the show, Ronald Ollie, a defensive tackle, was highly regarded as being an SEC-caliber player before he got a concussion and couldn't finish the season leaving him with not enough film to impress the scouts. If EMCC would have made the playoffs then his story would have been a lot different than it was. Ollie ended up playing for Nicholls State  where he currently resides on the roster.
                                     

 D.J. Law viewing from the sideline

   The reason EMCC did not make the playoffs was not because of their record, in fact their record was remarkable with 8 wins and one loss. The team was banned from the playoffs for their brawl in their game against Mississippi Delta Community College, a rival school of East Mississippi Community College. EMCC ended up defeating Mississippi Delta 48 to 0. All of their points were    scored in the first half right before the brawl broke out at the end of the second quarter. If you'd like to see the brawl for yourself it will be right here. -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-F2TCuxwlA  <- This fight ended their playoff hopes and a shot at the championship game. This was a very disappointing turnout of the season for all of the players and coaches alike. If it were to happen in a school where students didn't literally have one more shot at their future than this wouldn't have been nearly as big of a deal. But this sidetracked some of the players and even the coaches creating a sense of drama at the end of the season.

    Netflix produced a reality television show about that couldn't be any more action packed then it already is. By following the lives of these gentleman a show about struggles and hardships was filmed. Each player on this team had to come together and form a bond to get through what seemed like hell and uncertainty for an entire semester. From my own perspective the show is highly intriguing and I enjoyed every second of it. I would honestly recommend this show to people who aren't even interested in the game of football. It shows how hard it is to one, play the game of football, two, play the game of football along with completing your school work, and three, the emotional baggage and toll that the stress ends up having on some of the toughest kids in the entire nation. If you're a person who enjoys intense trump and blood bumping action then "Last Chance U' is the show for you. Season one is on Netflix and a rumored season two is supposedly on the way so find a comfortable place to sit and start binge watching today!

Work Cited 

Richards, George. "Ready to binge-watch some football? 'Last Chance U' does the trick." Miami Herald, The (FL) 05 Aug. 2016: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 6 Feb. 2017.

Swanson, Tim. "Catch 'Last Chance U' for intense college football drama." Sacramento Bee, The (CA) 24 Nov. 2016: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 6 Feb. 2017.

Justin, Neal. "Netflix's 'Last Chance U' offers an education in college football." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) 22 July 2016: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 6 Feb. 2017.

MALESIC, JONATHAN. "Field Of Vision." America 215.11 (2016): 29-32. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Feb. 2017.