We Need to Talk About the Fandom: The Series

We Need to Talk About the Fandom: Exploring Accountability in Reality TV

Welcome to the first episode of 'We Need to Talk About the Fandom,' a new series delving into fan accountability and the culture around reality TV. Host Emily Rose discusses the intense dynamics of reality TV fandoms, the role of media manipulation, and the responsibilities of viewers. This quick episode touches on elements like producer manipulation and the influence of social media reactions.  Tune in for an insightful series that questions how we engage with and consume reality TV and influencer content.

00:00 Introduction: The Reality TV Dilemma
00:40 The Birth of a New Series
01:11 The Manipulation of Reality TV
01:57 Viewer Accountability and Media Literacy
02:40 The Role of Fans and Networks
04:06 Influencers: The New Reality Stars
05:23 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

Transcript

Let me ask you a question. How many times have you been watching your favorite reality show? Be it Love Island, real Housewives, big Brother, and you think, I've got to talk to somebody about this. So you log onto your platform of choice, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, God forbid. Only to find that the opinion or revelation that you had, that you came to the platform to talk about is met with not just disagreement, but literal vitriol.

In fact, you have the worst opinion. Now you're ostracized and feeling kind of psyched out. Like, am I watching the same show as everybody else? Well, I have, and that's why I'm bringing you my new series. We need to talk about the fandom. In this series, I'm going to be exploring the different fandoms of various reality TV shows and even some influencers to figure out what got us here with reality television.

In its inception, reality television was a reflection of the culture. Reality television informed us about what was happening around us, but now we are informing reality television. Is that really how we want it to be? I was watching a YouTuber a few weeks ago, and he did a pretty good exploration on the production side of the way that reality TV is toxic.

But when he started talking about something called Franken splicing, which is when editors take something that a cast member said at one point during filming and cut it and paste it into another point during filming, often into a different conversation, completely changing the context tone or the complete circumstance that they're in, that can totally change the narrative of the conversation and everything going on.

And he started talking about how manipulative that was and how terrible it is of the producers to present these people that way. And I agree, but I had to ask myself, where's the accountability from the viewership? In a time where we're expected to be really cognizant of everything that we consume? Why are we not applying that same level of media literacy to the reality television shows and the TikTok influencers that we're also watching and loving?

Okay. Here's the thing. I love being able to interact about the shows that I'm watching. Most of the time when we're watching something as bizarre as reality television, we really do have to reflect like, like, what the fuck did I just watch? And then trying to engage with a viewer base that is so very different from one another.

It definitely has its challenges and there's an expectation that everyone's not gonna agree. But there's this weird assertion that we as fans and viewers are supposed to be in control of what we're viewing, and that each show that we watch should reflect what we believe personally. And I just don't think that reality TV is designed that way.

But what happens when, especially reality television shows that are connected to huge networks, when those networks realize that they're falling outta favor, how much manipulation are these cast members really undergoing just to appease the fans? These are questions I wanna ask. On one hand, I believe that the fans are really kind of screaming into a void.

Are we just anonymously virtue signaling on Reddit or tweeting all of our best takes for the likes or the up votes or the reposts or what have you? Are we actually making a change in the dynamics of the show? Are we paying attention to who these people actually are? Are we critically thinking when we are consuming these shows, and how much of our values really do need to be reflected?

In a show that is edited, controlled, spliced, frank and spliced, I think we do have a responsibility now in this series. I won't just be talking about reality television because now in 2025, the new reality television does seem to be kind of transferring to influencers. Kai, Sinat, DKI, Tana Mojo, Tricia PTIs, Mr.

Beast, they're all incredibly influential in their own spaces, but do we really know who they are? Should we be galvanizing on the internet to. Cancel these people, or should we be looking to the powers that be to hold them accountable, the platforms that they're on, the endless ads and sponsorships and everything in between.

Maybe they should be the ones holding them accountable, but are they listening to us? And what about the content creators that become influencers themselves? The people that are paid to talk about the drama, to talk about the reality shows too. For lack of a better word, shill for the networks and the influencers and the companies and the brands.

Do they also play a part in the downfall of our favorite shows? Influencers, podcasters, what have you? What do we know? What are we supposed to know? How has this hurt our own consumption of media? I have a lot of questions and I just think we need to talk about it. We need to talk about the fandom. In my first episode in this series, I will be releasing an episode that I recorded with my friend Rob Schulte of Vanderpump Robs, where we talk about the Valley reunion part three.

And I know it's a little late, but I think you'll wanna tune in. And this won't be my last conversation on the Valley 'cause Oh, I have thoughts. But in the meantime, be sure that you're listening and subscribing to who The Fuck Knows with Emily Rose. You can follow me on Instagram at who TF knows Emily Rose.

You can follow me on Twitter, wtf k Emily Rose and Threads. And until then, I will talk to you guys later. Bye-bye. 

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