MovieChat Forums > Tanked (2011) Discussion > Scripted 'Drama' Ruining the show?

Scripted 'Drama' Ruining the show?

posted 11 years ago by A_New_Hope
9 replies | jump to latest

You had Wade not knowing about his wifes braces, Redneck getting a tooth knocked out and the old crappy wagon breaking and Wade dropping the camera into the ocean... Oh and Wade getting all hulked out at the wrong props being used.
I want to see awesome fish tanks being built and not the other crap, if it happens naturally then include it but don't force it. These guys are not actors.

As we grow we learn, i have learned that if you don't like me grow up or ignore me.

[–] Cobrastang99 11 years ago

I haven't watched this show in months for this exact reason. Sounds like it has only gotten worse. If they would've just focused on the tanks and fish, this would've been a great show. I just couldn't take the fake drama anymore.

[–] thereseuphemiaabernathy 11 years ago

Unfortunately, all of these reality shows following "people with unusual businesses" also follow the same predictable formulas that involve working in a lot of forced conflict and overly heightened tension and scripted, over-the-top drama. There's gotta be the person in charge getting severely P-O'd by others not living up to his/her expectations, general arguing over the work and personal issues and this and that, threats, the possibility of dismal failure, etc. Some more than others...my dad always records his favorites and fast-forwards through what he calls "the nonsense."

I'm still enjoying Tanked because they're obviously a fun bunch of people. I'd LOVE to be able to work for a company like theirs; I've always been a fish nut, and it seems there's never a dull moment with them. And their work, and the livestock they choose, are absolutely b!tchin'--phenomenal. It blows me away. (Plus, I enjoy learning whether or not I've been pronouncing the scientific names correctly all these years!) Some of their fights feel pretty natural, and many such moments are quite hilarious. I hope they pay attention to their viewers and stick to the aquaria rather than adding in more and more fakeness that isn't actually interesting.

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[–] IntelMagician 11 years ago

These shows are not good enough to stand alone they think so they make it into a "reality" sitcom. The acting on this one is so bad.

[–] peachtea18 11 years ago

The reason why these types of shows become so scripted is because the premise is very repetitive and would become boring if there wasn't some "action" in there sometimes.

I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves.

[–] Promontorium 11 years ago

In this era where Honey Boo Boo and Hoarders is top tier programming for The Learning Channel, a network I grew up with being more famous for showing autopsies and spending entire episodes describing how the body reacts to various diseases, we are left with literally nothing of value. History, Discovery, TLC, these are all disgraces of their former selves. Maybe it's the internet's fault, but even the internet has figured out video documentaries of real information, real history, real science is just as entertaining as contrived "drama". YouTube channels like Vsauce or NASA when people followed Chris Hadfield were far more educational than any of the garbage now on cable TV.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Imagine the show being about these tank builders, but instead of the stupid drama and side-stories, it would cut away to actual facts about making tanks or the fish and plants used in the process. Most people who have fish tanks don't know much. People often learn from trial and error, and trying to read endless amounts of information about subjects gets tedious. For many people it's fascinating to hear experts give opinions.

It doesn't have to be without action. Obviously people watching are already interested in the dynamic of people custom ordering tanks and people custom making it, but at no point do they even attempt to go further. How about talking about where each fish comes from, could even show them in their native habitat, the kind of things they need to live and how those needs are met in captivity.

Some people custom build aquariums in their own home. It can be as easy as putting silicone on a few pieces of glass. This show could go deeper into the art of the process.

[–] txeagle 11 years ago

Your idea for the show sounds very interesting. I'm a big fan of How It's Made. Hopefully they don't find a way to add fake drama to THAT. XD

You could easily made a good show by going into detail with fish behavior (leading to how to choose a stock list), plants, various equipment functions, building of the actual tanks and decorations (I mean like you can now diy type detail, maybe put some of that on the website to drive traffic and provide all the needed info)...

[–] rex-sheldon 11 years ago

The phony drama is what I, and I would assume, everybody else hates about reality shows. On Tanked, it seems that every one they build, they run into a problem! Now, these people have been doing this for a long time, they're supposed to be professionals, and yet they can't build a tank without it leaking, or the lights don't work, or whatever! And they're supposed to be the best in the world! It's the same formula all reality shows use.

[–] Sarahnjames-197-448587 10 years ago

Pretty bad advertising for their business if they have a "major" screw up on every job.
If I was looking at getting a tank built and saw this show i would probably go elsewhere.

[–] anotherworld4u2002 9 years ago

The acting and script. Takes all the fun out from the series. Would be so much better without these. And then the poor innocent fishes :(

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