So Bravo (home of shows such as ‘Real Housewives of…’, ‘Pregnant in Heels,’ and ‘Make Me a Supermodel’), have announced a new “Reality Show” based around Silicon Valley. I do hope the prospective cast (Hermione Way, Ben Way, Kim Taylor, Jay Holanda, Marcus Lovingood, Dwight Crow, and David Murray) know what they’re letting themselves in for. In all the discussion that have built up online around the show – start at PandoDaily and then carry on – there’s one question I would like to see answered. Actually, I suspect I already know the answer.  Who gets the final edit on the broadcast?  Because it’s all in the edit. No matter the intentions of the cast going in, or the fine words about promoting Silicon Valley culture and entrepreneurship, the show could go in any direction. I suspect it will be aimed straight at Bravo’s regular audience, it will be edited for shock, hedonism, and pre-determined story lines. Over to UK columnist Charlie Brooker to make my point far better than words could (albeit with some rather fruity language).  Until Bravo comes out with some episodes on air, and we see what the angle is, a lot of people in the tech circles are going to be very wary of this show. It’s not just the seven stars of the show that have put their reputation online, but they’re also playing with the perception of Silicon Valley and the fabric of American Tech Entrepreneurship.  And I suspect there’s very little they can do to change whatever story Bravo have already decided to tell.
Bravo have announced 'Silicon Valley', a reality TV show based around tech and entrepreneurship. Does this place the whole culture and perception of the Valley and the hundreds of thousands of jobs in the hands of a few reality TV editors looking to make 'Jersey Shore 2.0'?