October 2020

Posted: 2 October 2020 

The Total Drama Series / Teletoon/Cartoon Network / 2007-Present 

Watched from 25 February 2020 – 10 June 2020 

What was the first reality show you ever watched? 

Total Drama was a series that lasted for many seasons. I have a lot to say about it but if I were to express them all, I’d be writing a novel. Here are some brief thoughts and recommendations. 

In the Total Drama Series, Chris McLean hosts a reality show starring a group of teenage contestants (often called campers (Total Drama Island), actors (Total Drama Action), etc…) They compete in various challenges (often dangerous ones) in hopes of not getting eliminated and winning thousands of dollars. While competing, the episodes highlight details of the “Total Dramas” between 2 or more contestants. These are often attempts to get one another eliminated. 

The Best Piece of Reality TV Satire…Ever! 

The show began in 2007 with “Total Drama Island” as the first series. Twenty-two teenagers competed for a large cash prize. The first series was a true classic! Each character had a purpose. In later seasons, it’s like the writers stopped caring because it felt like the seasons didn’t have the same charm as their predecessors. The seasons were much shorter and quicker. There were many throw-away characters. You’d pray certain characters would be first to get eliminated (and those prayers would usually get answered). Also, whenever the winner was revealed in later seasons, it just ended. The series ends in a scene with the winner holding the suitcase of money and Chris announces the end of the competition (namely in “Pahkitew Island”). 

Also, as the seasons changed, Chris became more and more of a madman, getting him arrested in the process (end of “Revenge of the Island”). Really, I think he’s hot and he knows he’s hot. Who’s ever heard of the kind host who cares about his contestants? 

All the bleeping and censored nudity adds authenticity. There is even uncensored barf. This would not go well with American censors. It seems like the Canadian censors are more lenient. If you initially watched on Cartoon Network, you may have realized later about the edits, mostly hearing less bleeping.  

The show is clearly Canadian (animation tells all). Throughout the series, I learn about places in Canada (Muskoka, Ontario, near where Camp Wawanakwa was located), the types of people (“Prairie People”), and I learned some slang words, too. That makes me want to learn all about Canada. Also, the word “Pahkitew” is Cree for an explosion. 

The Ridonculous Race 

In this Total Drama Spin-off, a different path is taken. They do an animated version of the hit reality show, “The Amazing Race” and I thought it went well. Don (the new host) does have some vanity in him. In “Ridonculous” not enough seasons were made to show if Don is really, really insane. If you were to close your eyes and play the first few seconds of an “Amazing Race” episode versus the beginning of a “Ridonculous” episode, you wouldn’t notice a difference. The audio qualities are similar and…let’s say they really nailed it on a type of audio a typical reality show should have. 

Total DramaRama 

I’ve seen a couple episodes and I think this is a cute series. I was a daycare kid myself so I can relate. They didn’t want the Total Drama franchise to die so they created this series to keep it alive. Great idea! 

Want to spark your interest in reality TV? 

Whether you’re wondering about the seasonal pattern of a reality show or just want to laugh at the types of people that are on it, this show is for you! This show can also serve as a preteen’s first “reality show,” paving the way for any live-action reality shows they may choose to watch later on. This is a great show to watch if you like reality show satire.  

What was my first reality TV show? Mine was “Looking for Love: Bachelorettes in Alaska” (FOX, Summer 2002). Of course you haven’t heard of it, it was bad and it lasted one season. I’m not really into reality TV because most reality shows tend to get a bit tense for me. I mostly enjoy the business improvement reality shows like Kitchen Nightmares (FOX, 2007-2014 (US version)), Hotel Hell (FOX, 2012-2016), and Hotel Impossible (Travel Channel, 2012-2017). Watching all these reality shows beforehand helped me understand, appreciate, and find humor in what “Total Drama” is mocking.