Small Screen: 'Mama Drama' And The Future Of Low-Brow Reality TV

on Sunday, November 27, 2011
Guest blog by Alison Potter.


Just as one tyranny falls, another more evil regime rises up to take its place. With the painfully slow demise of 'Big Brother' (surely Channel 5 will give up after viewing figures falling to an all-time low of 1.26 million?!), Saturday nights are now ruled by the reality triumvirate of 'I’m A Celebrity', 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'The X Factor', which each attract approximately 10 million viewers.

If that wasn’t enough, in the last few years a whole host of young, dumb and horny twenty-something’s have invaded and dominated our television screens. It started with 'The Real World' way back when, and now we enjoy the philosophical musings of the brilliant young things on 'Made In Chelsea', 'The Geordie Shore' and 'The Only Way Is Essex'.


These exhibitionists are tv gold so its no surprise to see producers falling all over themselves to come up with the next reality show premise. Therefore I was not surprised to hear an executive producer of 'The Jersey Shore' has now created a series called 'Mama Drama'. This new MTV show follows five youth-obsessed mothers who regularly hit up nightclubs with their party-loving daughters.

The reality mastermind SallyAnn Salsano is not abandoning the formula that made her a fortune, as similar to the set-up in 'The Jersey Shore', all the cast members will live in one house and have their every ridiculous move captured on camera. When you actually consider the brilliance of the concept, a bunch of drunk cougars and their daughters in matching skimpy dresses out on the pull, it is clear that MTV are onto another reality show winner.

So this New Year you can look forward to emotional fireworks and jaw-dropping tv courtesy of MTV, meanwhile I’ll just sit here and lament the loss of respect and etiquette and decorum on our tv screens. Either that or stick on the box set of 'The Wire' again.

Will you be watching it?

'Mama Drama' premieres on January 1st 2012 on MTV. Get in touch with Ali via Twitter.

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