Honey Boo Boo Gets a Raise

     Before we get started, let me just inform you not to google "Honey Boo Boo." Instead look up "Honey Boo Boo Child."Do not click on the Wikipedia link. You have been warned.

"A dollar makes me holler, honey boo boo."

     Alas, Honey Boo Boo Child is no other than a reality television series on TLC. With a mother who was featured on Extreme Couponing, Honey Boo Boo Child has had some experiences with the camera. Her real name is Alana Thompson though and she was also a participant in Toddlers and Tiaras. Somehow, she has become quite internet famous and is a character people seem to love to hate. And because of that, her family has gained a raise.

    According to Salon "… the family received between $5,000 and $7,000 an episode at the beginning of the series. We’re told after the second episode it was apparent to TLC they had a big hit on their hands, so network honchos approached the family and told them they were boosting their salary. Our sources would not be specific … but they say the increase gave them somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 an episode."

    Reality TV series that seem to be popular are usually ones that the public can make fun of. Jersey Shore and The Kardashians seem to be the big ones. Or what may have been, considering Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is gaining popularity. Be it negative or not. After all, it is fun to jest and josh about her sayings. 

    How these reality TV shows gain views does not surprise me, but how well known they are compared to other films is what shocking. But it may be due to the fact that reality TV targets a different audience from those who watch and analyze films. With this is makes me wonder, are the cast and crew, the ones behind the scenes who shoot all of this, considered to a lower level type of filmmaker from those who have won Oscars? 

    Whether or not, it seems like this show is earning good money. Some shows are lucky and manage to get the first season right. However, since it is a reality TV show, I cannot help but think about what this means for me as a filmmaker. Would joining reality TV give me a greater chance of earning money right off the bat? Even if I want to create films, would I be okay with having a few failures... I am but one can always wonder what if I took the seemingly easier, but not too easy, route.

     Nevertheless, as a student it may mean more jokes for me to enjoy. It's from reality shows like this that generate memes for the internet to laugh and holler about. A consumer of cable television.. that could mean that there may be more reality shows trying to imitate Here Come Honey Boo Boo's or Jersey Shore's success. Which would be bad for me personally because I don't really fancy them.. 

     Ultimately, this article had interested me because, well, it was Honey Boo Boo. She seems to be the most well known seven-year old currently and its quite frightening how her popularity skyrocketed due to her phrases and attitude. The paycheck is astonishingly high for a new show like this. The ratings are also high and thus her sayings and 'wisdom' grace us all, because we all need to know if farting helps us lose weight and how chicken nuggets affect out digestive tract.