to think that reality tv has created a culture of people who don't believe they have to work for success?

[wannaBe]

Was watching masterchef last night. All these people say is "this is all i've ever wanted, this could be my chance to change my life." And I can't help wondering, if they want to cook that much then why didn't they go to catering college and learn to be a chef?

You see it on the other shows too - xfactor and the like "this is all I've ever wanted, this is my one chance to change my life." er - but have they been out there doing gigs? making demo's in the hope of getting a record deal? (I appreciate that becoming a musician is harder than becoming a chef but still...)

And that's before we come to those that say "My life will be over if I don't get this." or "I was a waitress, but I just want to be something better," as if being famous somehow makes you a better person.

Why is it that people feel the only way to achieve success is to enter in some tv competition? Why have people seemingly lost the ability to go out and work for their success?

How do you know that they haven't been previously doing all that?

What makes better T.V. the thought that this is someones last chance or the latest in a string of things they've tried?

I agree. A generation has grown up thinking that if you can get on the telly, then you won't have to do a proper job ever again.

Tragic really.

I agree when it comes to things which require no/little skill.

Not so sure about things like masterchef where you actually have to be very good at something to win it.

Plus if they said "well I thought I'd enter for a laugh, it doesn't mean anything, I don't care if I win or lose" I can't imagine they'd get very far!!!

Hear hear.

DP and I have been playing Masterchef Bingo this week. 1 point for each of the following:

'It's my dream'
'It's my passion'
'It's all I've ever wanted'
'I want this so much'
blah blah

then the minute they get in the professional kitchen, they start looking a bit less enthusiastic...

well none of the masterchef contestants appear to have ever gone to catering college. They're all sahm/students in other things/holding down other jobs/there was one who had the chance to go to catering college ten years ago and decided not to...

Botbot you forgot "its been a journey"

wannabe, xfactor? hehehe (sorry)

ah yes agree completely. My favourite moments on masterchef are when they say they have always dreamed of being chef - really?!? You really dreamt of earning £75 a week in hot sweaty kitchen working 50 hour weeks and having no life? Cos you could have done that years ago but chose not too. Or did you just mean you fancied being on the telly making souffles?

So many people want their 15 mins of fame and there are just a lot more bottoms of barrels available to scrape these days to get it. Big brother has lot to answer for.

oh yes, and 'a rollercoaster ride'

Totally agree with you.

I spent an hour with some Year 10 students recently as part of my job (I'm a School Nurse) and as we were chatting I asked them what they were planning to do when they left school.

The answers I got included:

Marrying a footballer
Going on Big Brother and winning 100 grand
Being on the telly and getting famous
Kissing and telling
Working in the Co-Op cos then you get a discount to buy your fags and beer

How sad is that? (And these were proper answers, not just the messing-about ones!)

Ooh, I agree. I like watching Project Catwalk, because a lot of them are actually already making some sort of an attempt at it, having studied design, working on small labels, etc. The ones who haven't actually ever done anything and say 'oh this has always been my dream' just get on my nerves!

Project Catwalk has been cancelled hasn't it?

Shame...

But being good at cooking doesn't enter into it IMO. If cooking was such a passion of their's then they would go through whatever it took to fulfill their dream (let's not forget that some of these contestants are still young, without families and other commitments so could easily make a career out of cooking if they really wanted. But the reality is that making a career out of cooking is bloody hard. It involves starting at the bottom and working your way up to the top. working unsociable hours and for shit money, and let's face it they just don't want to do that - they want to be given a career on a plate.

I wonder what the real chefs think of these people who come out of nowhere and expect to be at the top of the ladder, when they've worked hard to get where they are.

I don't imagine they actually have much respect in the cooking world.

Southeast I genuinely auditioned for xfactor to satisfy my curiosity as to how it was done. I was under absolutely no ilusions that it would change my life, and tbh maybe i would never have got anywhere because I couldn't do the sob story bit.

some big ole generalisations going on here.we are acknowledging some numpties not a lost generation you know

in general most people do work hard and do the right thing.it is wrong to assume the dumbass characeristics of a few are representative of many

I think a fair number of people who have made effort apply to go on these shows (people who have been to catering college or spent years gigging in crap pubs) but they don't get accepted, because they are not thick, submissive, grateful or photogenic enough. The last thing the likes of the X-Factor wants is a genuine talent or personality, or the ability to think for oneself. (ANd the ability to do that Mariah-Carey-esque warbling and sighing is not a great talent. All the winners are average karaoke singers with single figure IQs).

oh big Brother is surely the worst offender here
at least the Masterchef contestants etc are good at something
BB housemates seem to be good at vacuous self-absorption and not alot else

i know wannabe sorry was being silly.

my friend is going to be on the xfactor, though i suppose she does have a good sob story

these shows are self fulfilling prophecies.attracting the kind of dumbass dullard who auditions for reality tv and beleives it will change your life

like a tv freak show.bearded ladies and wannabes

Sorry I have to lol at the irony of this thread started by someone whose posting name is Wannabe!!!

But I totally agree with you, Wannabe. Too many people think the world owes them a living... and that they they need to have their 15mins of shame fame.

The UK one has been (Project Catwalk), but the US one is still going (Project Runway). Just saw the first episode of Season 5, although in the US they finale is on tomorrow, apparently.

Martianbishop has various stories from her pupils along similar lines.

well who are the millions of viewers who gawp and follow these inane shows.buying Heat and trashy mags about this detritus.they are the audience who generate the programme.commisioning editors believe this shit sells

and it does

all that farting about on ice/dancing schlebs.folk watched that rubbish

oh big brother is hideous. Tbh though I have as much of a low opinion of those who watch it as those to apply to go on it.

I quite like the Lloyd-webber shows because it seems that in general, the contestants do appear to already be at stage school/understudies in the theatre etc, and there's none of this humilliation of those who apparently think they're good and ... aren't.

Southeast how can your friend be on xfactor - they don't audition until may. Unless my theory is correct and the final contestants don't actually go through the full audition process and are invited to "audition"?

nah it's been around for years.you can go as far back as fairy tales that say if you're born into royalty or marry royalty you are a better human being right up to the creation of the lottoor the pools.pick a few numbers and your set for life

must be the other one, britain's got talent