I'm a born performer and exhibitionist, and the money would be nice but not any motivation for me. I also like to get to know people for who they are on TV as well as actors and presenters and learn so much about people I'd never have got to know otherwise, especially on Big Brother.

I have been trying to do this myself as long as I can remember, and besides a few silent appearances in the 70s and one a few years ago I've finally started getting a few shows on Satellite TV as a hypnotherapist and psychic expert and am hoping to do many more in any capacity. And unlike the image I've never been paid for one and people apparently rarely do unless they're in something for a number of days or weeks.

I guess this proves that folks will do almost anything for money or for their 15 min of fame. I love Judge Judy's comments - now millions of people have watched you make a fool of yourself.
The winner was the young woman on Judge Judy who sold two cell phones on ebay for around $600 for the two phones. Only problem was - she sold the pictures of the phones and not the real phones. She handled the transaction for her boyfriend. Judge Judy lambasted the boyfriend for not having enough guts to come on TV and make a fool of himself - leaving that up to the girlfriend. I'm sure we all have those skeletons in the closet - I'm for keeping them there!

I stopped watching Dr. Phil after the episodes of the war veteran who supposedly killed a woman on the side of the road and then had killed several people in Macedonia. He confesses to murders on national TV without a lawyer present? His wife has a lawyer who tells her to set him up to hurt her? Dr. Phil goes at the man and then condemns him for displaying anger? All about the money, the power, and the sensationalism. As for those reality shows - I NEVER watch them. Who wants to watch a bunch of people eat worms?
As far as the Nanny show...... do you think I would want anyone to know that I have a special room for my pig and that the pig comes before my children?
And I would want Nicey Nash to make fun of the "foolishness and the mayhem" of my cluttered house?
Again, the Death of Common Sense!

I'm not sure why the people go on Judge Judy except that they have some vain idea that they won't look foolish. Why do I occasionally find myself watching it? Because it makes some of the things I'm going through to make a living seem like a piece of cake!

the other day there was one where the one woman was suing the other one for hitting her car coming out of an alley and the woman who was the defendent had a record, no license on her and had marijuana in her possession. You'd think it would be a clearcut case, book em?
Well, the one who got hit had a four hundred dollar car and was calling it a classic car and suing for a couple of thousand dollars!

I was watching this transpire and wondering if they did not know that Judge Judy was going to make mincemeat out of both of them or what?

Sure enough they both got lambasted.

The women on Judge Judy appear to be pretty dull witted, but the men are equally doltish. It's almost as though they enjoy hearing Judy put them in their place as they're secretely longing for some good old fashioned maternal common sense. Their mothers come on with them to hold their hands and they look like they're just as bad as their sons!

Oh well, I should not watch this anyway but it makes me feel so normal somehow.

I hate to admit that I even know about this show, but a while back I turned to a station where a favorite program would be coming on in about 20 minutes. The show that was on was unbelievable! A woman had taken a lie-detector test and was answering very personal questions for money. As her 'earnings' went up the questions got more personal and embarrassing. This was all done in front of her husband, mother, best friend, and all the world. She had the option to stop but kept agreeing to 'tell the truth' for more money. I have no idea how far she went for after three questions, I couldn't take it anymore. God help us all if this is what TV is becoming!

There's an even worse one on at the moment called Embarrassing Illnesses, and what everyone has commented on is the number of people who say they've kept their problem quiet for years but are now revealing it (including closeups of the parts involved, no stones unturned) on TV...
Yes, you've got a todger that looks like Mr Potato Head, you have never even let your mother see it, and after 32 years you show it to millions of people on TV. They are either liars or stupid, either way they don't look good.

(can we say todger here?)

Do you think maybe some of these programs are just 'staged' with actors? I have NEVER known anyone who has been on one of these shows. As long as I have lived and as many people as I have met, one would think occasionally I would meet someone or know of someone who had been on one. Makes me wonder!

MadMartha,
I saw a documentary on shows like Jerry Springer, etc. a few years ago and was amazed at the number of people who travel around and do this for a living. They are slightly altered in appearance, change their accent somewhat, and some of them had been on 100+ shows as either an audience member who 'stirs things up' or on stage as a guest. Whatever floats your boat, but why would you ever admit to doing this?!

Thanks Jordan, I thought something such as this must be going on. Guess they get their 'kicks' (and money) in this way. Unbelievable!

Do people that are on these shows think they are famous afterward? If so they just become a famous laughing stock.

I would think that the sort of people who go on these shows are not the sort of people who associate with normal people so that could be why you have never met one.

Thanks for all replies. I for one do not intend to watch the programs, but they must be quite popular or they wouldn't continue to be on TV. It takes all kinds!

Big Brother UK starts soon- 3 more months glued to the TV, can't wait!

Personally, i would rather have my wisdom teeth extracted without anaesthetic than go on or watch any of the so called reality shows on TV - and i am told the USA ones are even worse than the ones produced in Australia.

because they have to???