REALLY TV? OUTRAGEOUS SHOWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

by Joanna D'Angelo

I'm currently researching an idea for a lifestyle/reality TV show (a very cool idea that my producer came up with).

Anyway the first step is to find out what is already out there - so we're not duplicating anything.

It's quite embarrassing to pitch a show to a broadcaster that is already on their network!

So my research takes me around the world (virtually). I always check out what's on in Canada and the U.S. first then I cross the Atlantic and see what the UK is up to. I also regularly peruse broadcaster web sites in Australia and NZ as well.

The UK has come up with some hit shows over the years that have made their way over to N.A. But there are some shows that I think are so uniquely British that I don't think they'd ever be re-made here - er - how about Britain's Worst Teeth? 

And then there are the sex shows - here's one -  I Can't Stop Masturbating

This is actually a doc - part of a reality/doc series - known as "shock docs".

Here's the write-up:

95% of men admit to masturbating. But some men masturbate more than others. "I Can't Stop Masturbating" follows two men as they try to break an addiction that is destroying their lives.

Here is a list of some of the other shows I saw listed on the REALLY network in the UK:

CAN FAT TEENS HUNT?

BRITAIN'S MISSING TOP MODEL

FARM OF FUSSY EATERS

SEX WITH MUM AND DAD

SPA OF EMBARRASSING ILLNESSES

HOUSE OF TINY TEARAWAYS

HITCHED OR DITCHED

BABY BORROWERS

SNOG, MARRY, AVOID (this one is actually from the BBC)

Researching these programmes is fun but I can't help but wonder at just how far producers and broadcasters will go in their quest for documenting "reality".