Media Diary Entry 5: Uses and Gratifications Week - Gogglebox and The Apprentice

Gogglebox

            The TV show ‘Gogglebox’ consists of a number of different family from all over the UK reacting to other TV shows that were shown between the previous episode and the next. This is a show that has a lot of gratifications and this fulfils them well. One of them being the ‘personal identity’. This is because the show includes a wide range of different families and backgrounds in which a lot of people will be able to relate to. Some of the families include a family of four, a homosexual couple, two sisters and an older married couple. I can personally relate to the family of four because I also come from a family of four and we also tend to watch the TV and films together. Therefore, the TV show ‘Gogglebox’ fulfils that gratification for me and many others to a high standard.

            Another gratification that the TV show ‘Gogglebox’ fulfils is the ‘entertain/escapism’. This is because of the way that you will be able to watch clips from many different TV shows and films just by watching this one show. This will give the viewer an insight into what else is being shown on different channels and what the public think about them. Some of the families also have very funny comments and reactions to certain TV shows, therefore the viewer will be able to laugh along and relate more with the ‘personal identity’. Also, some people may feel as though they can escape their own lives and families and receive an insight into another family lifestyle for the ‘escapism’ part of the ‘uses and gratifications’. I believe that the show provides a lot of entertainment for those reasons.

            The final gratification that the TV show ‘Gogglebox’ offers is the ‘information part of the ‘uses and gratifications’. As mentioned, this show gives the viewer the opportunity to see the other TV shows that different channels offer and this will also give the viewer a small clip from these shows and some basic information about it; therefore giving the viewer a chance to watch the show and decide whether or not they like it. They can also see what is currently popular on TV screens and what the general public think about them. There is also an important key aspect of the show in which the people that are featured on the show must react to at least one big headline from the week and have their say on the current affairs. This will also give the viewer some vital news information that they may have missed. I believe that because of the stated reasons, this TV show offers a lot of information and education.

The Apprentice

            The TV show ‘The Apprentice’ consists of 18 candidates completing tasks that will show off their business skills in groups in the hope of winning the £250,000 investment and a 50% partnership in their business plan with Lord Sugar. At the beginning of the series, they are split into two teams in which they try to win the weekly task set by Lord Sugar. The winning team will all return for the next week and receive a treat for their hard work. The losing team will have to face Lord Sugar about why they had lost and at least one of them will be fired. This show offers many gratifications such as ‘personal identity’. This is because the candidates are ordinary business people that have chosen to apply for the show and this will give some people the opportunity to relate these candidates to themselves and their own businesses. They will be able to see the mistakes that some candidates make and the good business plans and moves that others make and this could relate to some audience members. I cannot personally relate to any of the candidates as I have never had a job or been in a business situation like this. However, I can see how some of the audience members will be able to relate because of the way in which the contestants make mistakes; like all humans do.

            Another gratification that the TV show ‘The Apprentice’ offers is the ‘information’ part of the model. This is because of the way that the show will educate the viewers about what should be done in business situations and should not be done. The mistakes that the candidates make that may cause them to be fired will teach the audience that these mistakes are crucial to a business and that they should not do the same. By showing that even the strongest of candidates will still have moments where they mess up in important situations, this will show the viewers that they can happen and therefore they can apply the techniques of how to fix this to themselves and make sure that this does not happen to them. I personally feel that this show has given me many ways to help myself stand out in a business and I also feel that when I have a job for the first time, I can use the techniques I have seen in the show in real life.

            The final gratification that the TV show ‘The Apprentice’ offers is the ‘social interaction’ part of the model. This is because of how popular the show is now and the amount of people that consume this TV show. It is now more popular than ever and there will be many people that watch it to be able to talk about it with friends, colleagues or family. Therefore, this show will become a source of major conversation for many people. There are also many people that get involved with talking about the TV show over social media and will be able to have conversations with people from all over the country and discuss different elements of the show. I personally find that quite a few of my friends watch this show and therefore I can talk to them about the show.