http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/emma-ashton/ Ever since Noelene Donaher was on our television screens in Sylvania Waters, Emma has been obsessed with Reality TV. Her addiction has led to her creating Australia’s leading independent reality TV blog - Reality Ravings. This TV genre, for which the term ‘15 minutes of fame’ could have been created, continues to delight and appall, showcase new talent and throw up extreme personalities for the Australian public to either love or hate. With the remote in hand, Reality Raver oscillates from fan to critic as she dissects the latest offerings in this popular format. Despite rumours of its demise, reality TV has gone from strength to strength in Australia and overseas. At less then half the cost of other dramatic forms of television (according to the Australian Media and Communications Authority ACMA) it is likely with the economic downturn reality TV will continue to be a mainstay of the Australian television landscape. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:00:13 +0000 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:00:13 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/top-tips-for-becoming-a-reality-tv-star/ Christmas is over, the hangover from New Years has receded and instead of having a New Years resolution of giving up smoking or losing weight, you have decided you want to be a reality TV star. Whether it is to be famous, or just to have an interesting unique experience, here are some tips that will get you closer to hearing “lights, cameras, action”! Being sexy, humorous or able to cause conflict may help you get on the show, however, all shows need a diversity of people to make it interesting and to keep it real. 1. Decide which show you are best suited for. If you can’t sing or dance forget the talent shows like The Voice, The X Factor or Australia’s Got Talent. If you can cook Masterchef Australia, and My Kitchen Rules are possibilities. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/top-tips-for-becoming-a-reality-tv-star/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/top-tips-for-becoming-a-reality-tv-star/#item7482 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:55:46 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-armchair-critics-for-masterchef-attacks/ In a Courier Mail article this week Karen Brooks wrote that there was a lot of cyber hate on Twitter and Facebook directed at Masterchef Australia contestants. She alleges Masterchef nice has been turned into Masterchef nasty on social networking sites, and some of these remarks were sexist, racist and homophobic. As prolific tweeter I must be on a different stream as the majority of tweets I see are witty, and commenting mainly on what is being shown on the screen. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-armchair-critics-for-masterchef-attacks/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-armchair-critics-for-masterchef-attacks/#item3340 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:35:41 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/How-the-year-end-reality-shows-are-holding-up/ The TV stations are in the final throes of the ratings year and over the past few weeks they have launched the shows to lead them into the Christmas break. The big three stations have included some new reality TV shows in their arsenal to win over the viewers and therefore gain advertising dollars. How are they going? The Apprentice: One of Channel Nine’s highly promoted new programs, made by reality TV gurus Fremantle Media. The show started off to very poor ratings of under 700,000, but this week it improved and look like it is gaining traction. The problem with attracting viewers may not be the show but people lacking faith in Nine not sticking with the program. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/How-the-year-end-reality-shows-are-holding-up/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/How-the-year-end-reality-shows-are-holding-up/#item1496 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:05:23 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/whats-gone-wrong-with-australian-idol/ With the latest episode of Australian Idol still not hitting the 1 million viewer mark in the new 7.30pm time slot, it is time for Channel Ten to hit the panic button. Kyle Sandilands may have presided over the death of Big Brother by being the host in its last year, but has he also contributed to Australian Idol’s demise by not being on the show? Without a doubt this year Idol has had to overcome the challenge of standing down a judge the week the show premiered, the loss of co-host James Mathison, as well as other changes to try and keep a tiring concept fresh. Here is what I see the problems are: feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/whats-gone-wrong-with-australian-idol/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/whats-gone-wrong-with-australian-idol/#item1339 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:35:27 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/will-kyle-get-kicked-off-idol/ UPDATE 3/8/09, 5pm : Ten has just announced that Kyle has been sacked as Idol judge. Here’s what Emma wrote last night… The decision of Austereo to suspend Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O from the morning show will now put pressure on the producers of Australian Idol and Channel Ten to decide whether he should stay as a judge on the popular TV program. On Saturday Channel Ten was quoted in The Age as saying Kyle “will obviously be in the audition episodes as they were filmed some time ago.” “But Idol is a family program, we consider this a very serious incident and our executives will continue discussions over the weekend to come to a decision regarding his future on Idol.” Considering Australian Idol premiers next Sunday, they will have to announce this week whether they are standing by or punting the controversial personality. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/will-kyle-get-kicked-off-idol/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/will-kyle-get-kicked-off-idol/#item797 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:40:54 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-rise-of-the-mummy-blogger/ There is an online revolution occurring with women taking to the blogsphere at a phenomenal rate. They are connecting, supporting, sharing, creating and doing business with people they probably have never met. It is a new wave of feminism. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-rise-of-the-mummy-blogger/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-rise-of-the-mummy-blogger/#item763 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:45:11 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/six-things-i-learnt-watching-masterchef-australia/ Julie Goodwin was crowned the winner of the first series of the highly popular MasterChef Australia. She comprehensively beat South Australian artist Poh Ling Yeow after completing the three challenges they had been set. It was a slightly controversial win of the ‘home cook’ beating the more inventive Poh who was prepared to take risks to produce some unusual and well plated dishes mainly based on her Malaysian heritage. However Julie’s cooking would probably appeal more to the masses, as she was renowned for her roast lamb and comfort food style. MasterChef Australia has been massively successful for Channel Ten, who will be following it with a Celebrity version in October, and applications are already open for series two which will be screened next year. So what did we learn from this show? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/six-things-i-learnt-watching-masterchef-australia/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/six-things-i-learnt-watching-masterchef-australia/#item666 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:30:45 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-masterchef-final-formguide-time-to-cut-the-fat/ After three months, 7500 applications, a top 50, then a top 20, MasterChef Australia now has a Top Six to duke it out in the final week of this extremely popular TV show. The eliminations start on Monday, and there will only be two left standing for the Grand Final on Sunday 19th July. Who will win? I rate the finalists: Chris Badenoch: The beer merchant from Melbourne has barely put a foot wrong in the competition with strong innovative cooking. However he is starting to look like he could do a Greg Norman, and choke as he gets near the finish line. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-masterchef-final-formguide-time-to-cut-the-fat/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-masterchef-final-formguide-time-to-cut-the-fat/#item601 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:54:50 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/and-you-thought-masterchef-was-a-cooking-competition/ It would appear the knives are starting to come out in the MasterChef Australia household as the $100,000 prize gets closer, with allegations of game playing and possible sabotage. And you thought it was just a cooking show - no, it is an extremely entertaining reality TV show. With the ratings of MasterChef Australia nudging the two million mark it would appear that people who do not usually partake in reality TV are watching this show. To the horror of MasterChef UK fans the Australian version uses a different format, and has cherry picked the best bits from other reality TV shows. So if you are a fan of MasterChef and this is your first foray into reality TV, here are some other shows you may enjoy. Key elements of each of these have been cleverly pinched by Masterchef Australia’s producers.   feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/and-you-thought-masterchef-was-a-cooking-competition/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/and-you-thought-masterchef-was-a-cooking-competition/#item381 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:45:30 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ten-things-you-need-to-know-before-going-on-a-reality-show/ 1. It will not change your life Going on a reality TV show may not be the life changing experience you thought it was going to be. The number of people auditioning for MasterChef Australia who thought getting into the top 50 was going to change their lives was mind boggling. Chances are you will be back in your day job flipping burgers before the credits have even rolled. Even winning a show is no guarantee of success. Eboni Stocks, the winner of season 2 of Australia’s Next Top Model was last sighted working in a café, and Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan was spotted busking at Rozelle Markets. Tip: Keep your expectations real. If you are wanting a career change maybe a TAFE course may be a better option feedback@thepunch.com.au (Emma Ashton) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ten-things-you-need-to-know-before-going-on-a-reality-show/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ten-things-you-need-to-know-before-going-on-a-reality-show/#item254 Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:35:34 +0000 Emma Ashton | Author bios | The Punch