As a college student, I can’t help but be drawn in by reality TV shows that showcase the lives of other students. From Jersey Shore to The Hills to Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor, watching the lives of young people like myself has become an eye opening experience, especially from a financial perspective.
Here is a fun look at the financial “reality” and financial reality of some of MTV’s most popular reality TV shows.
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Newport Harbor: The Real OC (and Laguna Beach: The Real OC)
I had the privilege of growing up in Newport Beach, the town Newport Harbor: The Real OC was filmed in. It never ceases to amaze me the reputation that kids from Orange County have as a result of the shows that attempted to depict our lives.
Financial “Reality”
Apparently, all kids from Newport Beach or Orange County drive a Mercedes or a BMW, live in fancy houses on the beach, and can afford anything they want.
Financial Reality
While this wasn’t exactly “The OC” I grew up in, I guess this is more realistic than most MTV reality TV shows because these kids were still living at home with parents who made a ton of money and therefore paid their bills. But even if for some reason their parents didn’t want to foot the bill for some of their expenses, MTV would most likely have gladly paid the bill. Rumor has it each of the “main characters” on the show received a nice chunk of change to sign on to do the show plus some extra dough for each episode they appeared in. And they call this reality? I know for a fact that most people do not have a camera crew follow them around for a network TV show so they can make some extra money to afford absurd amounts of luxury.
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The Hills
I have to admit after the very first episode of The Hills aired, I was completely blown away by the lives these girls were living. Bottom line, it was beyond ridiculous.
Financial “Reality”
College students can afford a nice apartments like the one Lauren and Heidi lived in when they first moved to LA. And recent college grads are supposed to be able to afford renting a huge house in LA with only 2 of their closest friends AND be able to afford going to the swankiest bars and clubs in town.
Financial Reality
Never mind their first apartment, that house had to have cost at least $4000 per month to rent. Their individual bar tabs for the nights our must have cost at least $300 per week. Groceries probably ran around $100 per week. Who knows how much they dropped each week on lunches and dinners out. These girls could afford this on an entry-level salary? I don’t think so. All I can say is these girls are thanking their lucky stars for MTV. Careers in fashion, successful TV shows, and book deals paired with what must have been an insanely generous paycheck to have cameras follow them around on a daily basis made their lives pretty easy and unrealistic.
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Jersey Shore
MTV’s latest reality TV show features bunch of college kids packed into a pretty nice house by the beach living the good life for the summer. Every night they go out and party like it’s nobody’s business and during the day, they each switch off working part time at a t-shirt store.
Financial “Reality”
You can work a part time job, afford renting a nice house, party every night, and have an awesome summer vacation without going broke.
Financial Reality
The house they lived in must have cost at least $3000 each month to rent, their individual bar tabs each night must have cost at least $100, weekly groceries per person must have been about $100, not to mention the expenses of tanning, dinners out, and any other random expenses they encountered. They could afford this only working a part time job that couldn’t have paid much more than minimum wage? I don’t buy it (no pun intended). These kids made a bundle from MTV and, if they are successful in their salary negotiations, they will do it again next season.
The Bottom Line:
If there is one thing I’ve learned about reality TV it is that the finances associated with it aren’t realistic. And if given the opportunity, I would totally sign up to be on one of these ridiculous shows. Yes, we may think that the kids on these shows are stupid for letting people into their lives on a weekly basis, but they are actually pretty darn smart. They are making a ton of money by simply living their lives as they so choose and can pretty much afford whatever they want because they have MTV behind them, 110%. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
What is your take on financial relaities of reality TV? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
