How Real is Reality TV?
I like to watch certain reality TV show, mostly about cars (restoring, buying & selling) and home building. I've been quite lucky that I got to meet some of those car builders that I saw on MAX.
The first people I got to meet was Amanda and Joe Martin from "Iron Resurrection". they are based out of the Johnson City, TX outside of Dallas. When I met them, I had just finished watching Season 5, with two more to go. I asked if/when there was going to be another season, and they didn't know yet. They are about as real, and nice as you hoped they would be. I bought a t-shirt, which they signed along with a picture. I wanted to ask a million questions, but with a line of behind me, it was kind of tough.
Next up was Bill Carlton from "Texas Metal." His shop, Ekstensive is located in Houston, TX. Unfortunately, he didn't bring any t-shirts with him, but I did get an autographed photo. I asked him a couple of questions about the show, including when there would be another season. His answer was the same, that things were up in the air at WarnerDiscovery, and he had no idea when there would be another season.
One of my favorite home renovation show was/is "Good Bones." They had 8 seasons, and after looking them up on the internet, it turns out there is some personal turmoil going on. The show starred Mina Starsiak Hawk, and her mother Karen Starsiak.
For all the seasons, they appeared to be a loving mother and daughter, but the truth is that during the last season, their relationship was strained, and now they don't communicate with each other. In additon, Mina and her half brother Tad also aren't talking, as she implied he was toxic and needed to work on himself.
What about the supporting cast of MJ (the designer), Cory (the project manager) and Auston (the all around construction guy)?
There is a 3 episode season called "Good Bones, New Beginnings." The first episode is all about Mina closing her retail store, and wanted to sell the business headquarters. She and her husband Steve also bought a new home, and were counting on the money from the sale of the headquarters building to put into the new home. Unfortunately, that sale fell through, and she ended up renting it for 18 months instead.
MJ and Auston appeared in that episode, and no mention was ever made of Karen. I thought this was strange, and looked up was going on. Such family drama!
The next two episodes were all about Karen buying a home in Wilmington, North Carolina. Hmmm, what happened to her husband Roger? It turns out they are getting divorced. Her intent was to retire there, but her son moved to Indianapolis, and took over her home, and Karen moved into the guest house over the garage.
So she didn't want to miss time with her family, including the new baby her daughter Kelsie has, she decided to split time between the two locations.
Helping her with the Wilmington house were MJ, Cory and Auston! These guys appear to be in the middle of mother and daughter, except for Cory.
So you have to wonder, what happened that was so bad that they are not speaking, and half the cast (Tad and Cory) aren't talking to Mina either?
Having my own problems with my late mother over the years, and losing a lot of time with her, I want to just yell at them to get over it. Doesn't Karen miss Mina's two kids as well?
So how real is reality TV?
