From viral TikTok trends to growing fanbases, reality TV took summer 2024 by storm. It has become a popular nationwide phenomenon that continues to influence young lives — including those at Scripps College.
“Love Island,” a show about bringing singles to an isolated villa in hopes of sparking new love, premiered its sixth American season on June 11. The show topped streaming charts, with over 1.1 billion minutes watched throughout the summer.
Additionally, both “Too Hot Too Handle” and “The Bachelorette” released their sixth and 21st seasons, respectively. Though reality TV has been beloved for decades, the impact of these shows have recently skyrocketed.
Beyond the dramatic plot-twists, Scrippsies have found another reason to love reality TV: its bonding potential.
“I probably have had over ten conversations with other first-years about ‘Love Island,’ and I’ve made a lot of my friends this way too,” Katie Thacher SC ’28 said.
While many Scripps first-years turned to comforting shows as solace, some found that a shared love of reality TV initiated friendships and created a sense of belonging in their new home.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people about ‘The Bachelorette’ because so many people are watching it here,” Amalia Sherrill SC ’28 said. “It’s a really good way for you to connect with people here and ask them, ‘hey, do you want to watch ‘The Bachelorette’ together later?’”
Sherrill hosts frequent “Bachelorette” watch parties with a friend from Pomona College. She explained how discussing episodes connects her to her friends from her hometown.
Anna Greene SC ’28 also participates in weekly “The Bachelorette” watch parties. Greene’s resident coordinators (RC) in Schow Hall host “Baking with Baddies,” a weekly event where residents and friends indulge in freshly-baked cookies and a new episode of “The Bachelorette.”
“I’ve only gone for one week so far, but I definitely want to go more. It’s really de-stressing and [it’s] just fun to bond with the whole dorm,” Greene said.
She added that “The Bachelorette” and similar reality TV shows are simple conversation starters at Scripps.
“I feel like, historically, women have connected with each other through, not exactly gossip, but a similar sense of lighthearted, personal sharing,” Greene said. “There are a lot of these conversations happening in and sparked by ‘The Bachelorette,’ and going to an all-women’s college now has made me think about how we connect.”
There is often stigma surrounding reality TV, and many are ashamed of watching it. In a community of women at Scripps, however, according to Greene, this “guilty pleasure” has erupted into a proud badge of honor.
Thacher shared Greene’s sentiments, saying that she and many other students have realized that there is no need to feel guilty about something you enjoy.
“There really should be no ‘guilty’ in a ‘guilty pleasure.’ If you enjoy it then it’s just pleasure,” Thacher said.
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