Semi OT: Up-cycling crap

You already answered this question for yourself; "day time TV programs"

Not quite that, but I know someone who has paid out quite a bit to get stuff made for himself. He chose who to do it, so very much his decision.

He got hold of part of a jet engine and turned it into a very nice coffee table. He is now getting the fan turned into a wall clock.

Pics if anyone is interested...

You forgot the important bit. Include a pregnant woman. Someone with a terminal illness who has been cheered up by the prog. And another who bursts into tears.

alan_m was thinking very hard :

You forgot the car program where Ed China and his chirpy Cockney side kick do up cars and sell them, where the labour and facilities are not included in the costs.

See also "Wheeler Dealers". Buy car with faults, spend hours fixing them but pretend the mecahnic's time and well-equipped workshop are free.

Ed seems to have been reduced to doing "infomercials" on youtube nowadays.

Preferably one who can give birth just before the end of the programme.

Owain

And a brown person.

Bill

It's classed as reality TV.

Along with *truckers, *pilots fantom works, overhaulin and all the rest.

Its interesting and its entertainment. It isnt real life though.

Just heard of a new proposed one.

Teams of classic car enthusiast race against the clock to get some old banger started. The bangers presumably chosen by some researcher that knows more about cushion covers.

Main purpose of course to take the p**s out of the teams.

People put that "shabby chic" s**te on eBay at silly prices, not realising that it's just something for bored housewives to do - I occasionally wonder if they ever sell any of it, or to whom, but I'm really not that interested. Although there are a couple of businesses in my "avoid" list who would only need to sell two or three items (acquired from auctions for a tenner or so then resold as "serviced and guaranteed" for ~$200) to make a basic living; I have considered checking out the local auctions, but I already have enough junk of my own that needs time spent on it, while I waste hours a week on the interwebs ...

That certainly says a lot about you.

I once disposed of a really dreadful seaside memento, advertised as 'just the sort of present for an unwanted mother in law', on Ebay.

I got far far more for it than I expected..

Reality programmes are no more reality than The Sweeny.

To get something interesting from true reality would require weeks of 'filming' for a minute of air time. So far easier to stage what you want and save the considerable cost.

If you do want something a bit closer to reality, it's usually called a documentary. But often contain staged things too.

The moral of the story is don't watch daytime TV. Find something more interesting to do. Haven't you got any paint drying?

I sold a Sherpa van to my cleaner's boyfriend, and warned him that it might not pass the MOT. In fact it got a two page fail notice and the garage said it was beyond repair. I told him to drive it to the wreckers and I gave him his cash back.

Bill

No-one watches daytime tv voluntarily.

Bill

Wow, that's great of you. I doubt many people would be this kind.