Is It Embarrassing How Atlanta Is Represented on Reality Television?
I don't watch those shows. But I do watch the news; they have too many murders to worry about what is on TV. They need to be more worried about what happens in the streets. Atlanta is a beautiful and diverse city with many wonderful things about it, but it also has too many dangerous areas and a 'shoot first' mentality.
We have small children, so pretty much any time the TV is on, it's tuned to Nick Jr.. On the rare occasion that I watch TV for my own pleasure, it's either news or history and nature documentaries. The point I'm getting to is that I have never watched even one minute of the reality shows based in Atlanta. I have heard of how ridiculous the Real Housewives series is. Folks around here that I interact with don't bring up the subject, so to answer your question: I personally don't think a significant amount of people in the area are embarrassed about the way Atlanta is portrayed in these reality type shows. Everyone I know is just too busy with family and work to put any thought into it. That's just my two cents, for what it's worth. Thanks for the A2A!
The Reality of Atlanta's TV Presence
I don't watch reality TV, and I've never seen a single episode of Real Housewives or any of Love Hip Hop. However, I used to frequent a restaurant that was a favorite spot for one of the Real Housewives about 6 years ago. Darryl V. Padgett Jr. was obviously much closer to those shows, but I did have a few drinks with the RHOA lady a couple of times. When she walked in, about half the heads in the building turned her way, and she seemed to love the attention. But the few times I talked with her, she was out of the public eye and was much more down to earth than her reputation suggested.
The Issue of Role Models
Like Darryl said, the most embarrassing thing about Atlanta-based reality shows is that some people seem to view the 'actors/actresses' as role models. However, this isn't unique to Atlanta. It happens in cities all over the world. Let all the copycats wallow in their faux-drama. The rest of us can walk around with our heads held high, proud of all the things that make this city so great.
In conclusion, while Atlanta is portrayed in various reality TV series, the opinion about these portrayals varies widely. Most local residents are more concerned with the day-to-day realities of the city and are not particularly embarrassed by the TV shows. The portrayal of real-life characters being seen as role models is a more universal issue, not unique to Atlanta. It is important to maintain a balanced perspective and focus on the positive aspects of the city.