The Reality Of Reality TV

Author Vaughn Alaine-Marshal explores the world of the reality TV show in the first book of a trilogy, Uberstar (Hendlin Books) What begins as a narration of the goings on of a reality show however, quickly morphs into a commentary on the consciousness of our times, society, politics, and the other factors in the world today that allow for such a phenomenon to even exist.

In researching the book, Marshal spoke to insiders in the reality tv business, and contestants in past episodes of American Idol, Australian Idol and Indian Idol. The events that unfold in the book, therefore, are far less fiction than they are based on hard fact.

Because of the fact that Uberstar interweaves so many different elements, the appeal of the book is not restricted to any single reader segment. Those aspirants looking for a clue to crack the competition will want a copy because of the expose style of writing that examines the attitudes and mindsets of the judges, producers and contestants.  If there were clues to crack the competition, they would be found in Uberstar.

The book examines various aspects of society, economy, and politics today, primarily to try and understand how a perversion such as reality Tv,  that destroys far more ludicrous numbers of lives and dreams than it nurtures, could be allowed to exist in today’s world. An excerpt:

MJ: “It only looks like there’s only so much to go around, or that you’ve got to put food on the table sooner. In reality, every generation has had to do it quicker and better than the one before. Yes, there are more people to service, but you’ve forgotten that the more people there are, the more services they are going to need, and the more they are going to need, the more people are required to service those needs. There are more movies being made now than at any other time in humanhistory. I should know, I finance a bogload of them.”

“Yes, but Mike, there are twice the number of people on the planet now than when we were born. A lot of people are slipping through the cracks.”

“You mean - not going to become middle class?”

“People are starving and living in cardboard boxes.”

“Be that as it may, all this nonsense about hard times is an illusion. A very essential illusion.”

“An essential illusion?”

“Yes,” MJ drops, nodding appreciation to the waiter who is placing his fresh beer on the table.

“Because happy people don’t buy as much stuff.”

Col coughs and laughs as he picks up and opens the menu.