Southsploitation

[Professor]

I wonder - are there more shows that exploit the South/rural culture, though? I mean, coming to mind are the various "Housewives" shows, various "Jersey Shore" spinoffs, and a few others that I see highlighted on "The Soup" that I never heard of (funny-assed show, BTW - even if you don't watch the shows they highlight). Few of those are "south" in nature.

For instance, looking at IMDBs top 21 reality shows of 2013 (included 21, because Honey Boo Boo was 21, and that's the main one we're talking about) :
Kardashians
Duck Dynasty
Bachelor
Top Model
Idiot Abroad
King of Nerds
RuPaul Drag Race
American Idol
Vanderpump
Dancing with the Stars
Dance Moms
Face Off
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Impractical Jokers
Survivor
Real Husbands of Hollywood
Gold Rush: Alaska
Wahlburgers
Girl Code
Pawn Stars
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

Out of all those, only Duck Dynasty and Honey Boo Boo are from the South. While HBB is obviously exploitative, from the Duck Dynasty episodes I've seen, they aren't too bad. Sure, we laugh at them sometimes, but not in "that" way.

Conversely, there are several Hollywood series and a couple that are northern (Dance Mom's is from Pittsburgh, Wahlburders is Boston). Perhaps the Southern ones just get more attention?

[eynon81]

[eynon81]

[eynon81]

[Martin Luther King]

[jimmyz]

Can't we just say "it's entertaining" without trying to analyze why? I like cooking shows on PBS but rarely cook. I like to watch NASCAR go round left, round left in person but wouldn't ever attend an F1 race and watch my favorite driver go zoooooOOOOOOOMMMMMMmmmmmmmm and wait 5 minutes to see him zoom by again. Am I a redneck or do I enjoy seeing the whole race field and my driver in its entirety all at once racing. You like a show because you like a show. Whether it be for conscious or unconscious reasons. Hicks are well paid for their embarrassing portrayals as I think all genres of "reality" show participants are and they know what's up.

[broken robot]

[jimmyz]

[Mr.Bill]

[broken robot]