My wife is hooked on Border Force

[Toto'sDad]

While I've never watched a single episode of House on TV. I've watched seemingly hundreds of snippets from that show on YouTube. I'm hooked, if there's one at the top line of the YouTube lineup I haven't seen, I immediately click on it.

I'm sure hypochondriacs love the show, there's an endless array of illness's that they could catch right there, without ever leaving their viewing area. He seemingly can cure any disease by consuming endless handfuls of Vicodin and cussing everyone in sight, and just generally being obnoxious. And, NO, I am not House. (He may be a poster here though; he certainly has all the qualifications)

 

[cometazzi]

I once worked with someone who became a popular viral video and target of comedy sketches after she berated a woman at an impound lot. She did it standing directly in front of a large sign warning everyone that you're being recorded.

lol whoops!

 

[cometazzi]

High class media choice, there.

 

[Happy Enchilada]

Years back we used to watch that reality show where they made people eat bugs and do other disgusting stuff. "Fear Factor" IIRC. Amazing what some people will swallow to get 15 minutes of fame. Guess that's why we have sex tapes ...

 

[buster poser]

Dad was a cop for 35 years and still can’t stand reality TV like COPS or other ridealong shows. He has lots of deep thoughts about them and how they have forever reshaped street level police work. Mom is addicted to this type of show and has been since the 80s. I don’t know how Dad tolerates it.

They feel almost as exploitative as the saddest (imo) genres of these shows; the ones centering on hoarding situations or people who are hundreds of pounds too heavy.

No use for “reality” TV of any kind for me anyway. I read too much McLuhan and Postman 30 years ago I think; it all looks like some Verhoeven fever dream.

 

[Knows3Chords]

The shows like Cops and Live PD appeal to the publics need for some kind of performative justice. I'm no fan of criminals, but is it really right to publicly shame these people all over TV and the internet when they are being arrested or booked into jail? We don't live in a shame based society, so what good does it really do? Other than generate ad revenue for the media industry. Okay, maybe that's just the bleeding heart liberal in me that seems to be fading as I age.

 

[Mjark]

"Cops" is a popular show here .... and they don't have to pay any actors.

Is it still on? I know trying to make show featuring ICE has been considered. Hopefully it won’t happen.

 

[Preacher]

I used to tell people that COPS was my favorite show.

They would look at me side eyed adn ask "why?"

I would say, "You can't watch an episode of COPS without feeling better about your life."

 

[getbent]

I once told my ex wife (at least she claims I did) that my main goal as a parent was that my kids not appear on Cops. So far, so good.

 

[Gardo]

I must admit to a pleasure watching people arguing with the police. It never ends well.

 

[bumnote]

I'm still waiting for an episode of "Cops" where a chases ultimately ends with a song like this...

 

[bumnote]

I once told my ex wife (at least she claims I did) that my main goal as a parent was that my kids not appear on Cops. So far, so good.

I was arrested for public intoxication at 22 when Cops was shooting in Houston 30+ years ago. Long story short, I was stone cold sober, as was everyone else with me. Since I was innocent...it was safe to call home and ask mom to come collect me. Otherwise I would have stayed put, even at 22.
On the way home, "You know I read in the papers Cops is in town shooting...do we need to warn anyone."

 

[Knows3Chords]

I am not only glad that smart phones and social media weren't around in my youth, but I'm also glad shows like Cops and Live PD weren't around either. I was a complete idiot in my teens and early twenties. Thank God there is no permanent audio/visual record of it.