MovieChat Forums > The Truman Show (1998) Discussion > The most boring show on TV

The most boring show on TV

posted 10 years ago by nicpip72
24 replies | jump to latest

That would be the Truman show. I think ratings would have dried up pretty quickly with that Leave it to Beaver world that was created. Look at reality TV and what is successful today, outrageous personalities and extreme situations rule the day. You could watch an hour long 'highlights' special once a year and keep up with Truman's life. Each day he does the same boring things, there is very little conflict at all (until Truman starts to suspects the truth).

As a metaphor for our relationship with and questioning of God it works well but as a comment on reality TV and celebrity ... not so much

[–] Jenocalypse 10 years ago

Which part of “most boring show on TV” is a bad metaphor for reality TV and celebrity?

[–] nicpip72 10 years ago

You are correct it is not really a metaphor for reality TV and celebrity, it is a comment on. The metaphor part is more about the God thing. Should have worded that better ... sorry!

[–] ihateonionbagels 10 years ago

You can't really compare "reality" TV today to reality TV from 1998.

Take a show like Survivor, that used to actually be about Survival. Now it's all drama like you said to conjure up more viewings.

[–] crysjumar 10 years ago

millions of people would watch it. But it Would not last long because that many people cannot keep secrets

[–] jeffer23 9 years ago

THIS ^

..is the best answer.

The movie never shows when Meryl entered Truman's life, but it was obviously at a minimum during his school years. How would they convince someone to be Truman's girlfriend and wife to give up their real world life for a fake one that is full of lies. It obviously failed in the movie at some point, but likely would have failed even sooner in the real world. And the same could be said about all of his fake friends at high school, work, etc. Imagine being a fake father for someone for years, and suddenly you get fired. So you are suppose to die and make it traumatic for your innocent fake child.

And in our current times (or in the 90's when it was filmed) there would probably be more Lauren / Sylvia characters crashing the show to try to rescue Truman to help him or for their own selfish reasons (money, lawsuits, fame, etc.).

But The Truman Show is still a great movie regardless of these unlikelihood's that occur.

[–] crysjumar 9 years ago

well said.

Take your pinche color-coordinated sponsored chingada and take a flying fck

[–] AJRoss-308-487285 10 years ago

Well, if you think about it, it could potentially be successful for the same reason that The Sims is successful. In that game, you just do all the things that you do (and complain about doing) in real life and people love it. People could potentially be fascinated just watching Truman live an average life.

And I think the controversial concept alone would even be enough to get viewers fascinated and watching

I'll trade you my t-shirt for a grilled cheese!

[–] IkuharaKunihiko 9 years ago

I think at least part of the appeal lies in the fact that the Show presents those good-old-times, the golden age of America in the 1950s. The whole design somehow reminds me of a different time era than the one outside the Show.

We do not know much about the world outside. Maybe it is plagued by diseases, wars, overpopulation, stock market crashes, nuclear waste, enviromental pollution, global warming, etc., and the people find comfort in Truman who is living in a world where everything is all right. A world where they can see something nice, something positive about life in a genuine way, an ideal world which - although fake - at least has a real human being.

[–] laslopaniflex 9 years ago

I always imagined it became like radio, or where people just put the TV on in the background the whole time. It's almost a comfort thing.

"What are you, some kind of doomsday machine, boy?"

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] askebisgaard 9 years ago

I might watch The Truman Show.. unlike reality TV. But that's because I'm interested in seeing things from other perspectives, rather than drama for drama's sake.

I imagine that watching The Truman Show could be a bit like having another close friend, (who weirdly doesn't know you). An eternal movie, looking forward to what's next.

It'd be full of subtle things, although of course not the amount of conflict that you'd expect from movies. So I think there could be a lot of substance for more than just yearly highlights, for people like me. And probably also for lonely people (like many of those we see in the movie).

It's "fortunate" that Truman is funny and sincere as well, since it'd probably be horrible to watch a depressed introvert, or someone who hates their life and rarely shows feelings or speaks their mind.

In the end, a show like this would be ridiculously hard to pull off, if it's even possible - but I think I'd watch it because of curiosity and conformity probably.

[–] Degree7 9 years ago

Huh? Big Brother is virtually the same concept, and is one of the most popular shows in the world.

I think The Truman Show being watched by so many isn't that far off a concept.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] nicpip72 9 years ago

The difference is Big Brother encourages conflict and drama. On the Truman Show the creators try everything to remove all conflict and drama and make everything 'nice'. As soon as Truman gets interesting they try to shut him down and go back to 'normal'. In a "real" reality tv show they would be adding things in to create conflict and drama.

[–] Degree7 9 years ago

They do artificially add drama.

Remember how Truman's dad "died?"
Or how he was introduced to a high school sweet heart.

They're all actors following a script determined by the producers to shape Truman's life.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] reaseltbim 9 years ago

pewdie pie proves you wrong.

all he does is literally sit in font of a camera and play games for hours... thats it. watching someone playing a game, the most boring thing ever made

yet pewdie pie is the biggest youtuber, makes millions of dollars, millions of people sit for 3 hours to see this guy play games.....

and you think an entire CITY FULL ON SHOW would not be successful?

really?

[–] candleinthewind 9 years ago

Young people buy into his brand of humour, that's why he's so successful.

[–] ss5mmyers (160) 7 years ago

That's like saying Mystery Science Theater is a crap show because it's just people watching bad movies.