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Reality Tv Stars - What
Happens When The Show Ends? by Yihang Huang
Reality TV is more than just a passing craze.
After the first episodes of Survivor in 2000, it
was pretty clear that reality TV is here to
stay. Sometimes, going on a reality show propels
contestants to success, even if they don't win
their show. Elisabeth Hasselbeck went from
Survivor to hosting The View and Jennifer Hudson
lost American Idol but won an Oscar for her role
in Dreamgirls. But not everyone is equipped to
handle their newfound stardom.
Loss of Privacy
Going on a reality TV show propels contestants
into the spotlight. Many people feel like they
know the contestants on a reality show, even
though they have never met. It's pretty easy to
understand this phenomenon - you are welcoming
these people into your home each week, and they
way that most reality shows are shot make it
seem like contestants are speaking directly to
you. But when contestants go home, many of them
are unable to return to their normal lives.
Contestants are often stopped in the course of
their day to day activities, sometimes for an
autograph or picture, other times to be told
just what they thought of their game play. It's
hard for most contestants to have this lack of
anonymity, especially those who felt that they
weren't portrayed favorably on their show.
Family and Relationships
Going on a reality TV show can have an
unexpected impact on the family and
relationships of contestants. Some family
members of contestants have reported that they
have been approached by fans, usually to
complain about the actions of their son or
daughter. A reality show can also put an
enormous amount of strain on a relationship.
Most reality TV shows are shot over the course
of several months, during which contestants are
isolated from family and friends. That, in
itself, can be difficult for a relationship. But
sometimes the most stressful part is the action
of the contestants on the show. There have been
instances where a contestant has cheated on
their significant other while on a show, and
others who were simply horrified at how their
partner played the game.
Jobs
There have been many contestants whose jobs have
been impacted by going on a reality TV show. A
show like The Apprentice may highlight reasons
to hire someone. But when you are shown on a
show as lying and cheating, employers notice and
are not as quick to hire you. Many times
contestants on reality TV shows list "model" or
"bartender" as their occupation, as they are
professions most able to take 2-3 months off of
work without being asked questions. But
contestants who are lawyers or doctors find it
hard to go back to their practices; many lawyers
are no longer actively practicing law.
There haven't been many studies done on the
long-term impact of being on a reality TV show.
But the articles that have been written show
most need continued support from a mental health
professional. And for most part, this is not a
consequence that any of them consider.
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