Survivor,” “Fear Factor,” “Big Brother,” “Lost”—we have all heard about them. With all the attention and hype given to reality shows, you’d think just about everyone would be watching them. However, that just doesn’t seem to be the case here at Penn. Staff and faculty here just are not that interested in all the networks’ newest versions of “Survivor.” Why not? Here are some answers.

Ethel Bernard
Museum Education, ICA

“I haven’t watched any reality television shows. I think most of them are disgusting.”

Kim Gallon
Reference Librarian, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

“The whole idea doesn’t really intrigue me. It’s more of a performance. I don’t know why people are so interested in other people’s lives.”

E. Copeland
Nurse, HUP

“‘Survivor’ was really good but it’s gotten out of control. There’s too much and it gets boring. There are too many networks trying to do too many shows. I like non-reality TV better.”

Kieran Diamond
Reference Intern, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

“Reality TV shows don’t interest me; they bore me. Watching those other people’s lives isn’t interesting to me.”

Stephanie Brown
Administrative Assistant, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

“It doesn’t appeal to me, although I know lots of people who are interested in reality TV shows. Sometimes people are talking about the people on those shows like they’re their own friends. It’s scary.”

Paul Mosher
Vice Provost and Director of Libraries

“I have never watched one and never will. I’m not into it.”

Janet Riggs
Research Staff Nurse, Presbyterian Medical Center

“I don’t watch them—none, zero, zip, not even ‘Survivor.’ I don’t like to watch things that make me tense. In my job I work with people that have real problems. When I get home I want to put things into my head that are calm and relaxing.”

Chenequa Green
Records Associate, Public Safety

“I like some of them, not all, though. I liked ‘Fear Factor’ because it was things that people really might do, like a dare. Those shows are okay when they don’t go too far and when it’s reasonable things for people to do, not crazy things.”

Tristan Gibbs
Sales Associate, Penn Bookstore

“I think those shows are boring. They really don’t take much thought. I think they’re planned beforehand. I watched ‘Survivor’ once and it seemed fake. There was too much drama.”

Stephanie Steward