The Daily Valet. - 5/11/23, Thursday
✔️ Is This the End?
Thursday, May 11th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
According to my phone’s screen time report, I spend a little less than two hours a day on social media.
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Today’s Big Story
The End of Reality TV?
Have we seen so much that we now require something that's even more Bizarre?
Have you seen Jury Duty? Even if you haven't, I'm sure you've heard things. To give you a quick refresher, The Truman Show-esque sleeper hit is a reality show ... only everyone is an actor except one unsuspecting and lovable juror who has no idea that his jury duty assignment is fake. From the producer of The Office, everything is carefully planned with actors using improv skills and directions in hidden ear pieces to keep the plot moving.The show concluded its first season a few weeks ago, but people can't seem to stop talking about it. In the meantime, clips of its absurdly funny courtroom scenes have unexpectedly blew up on TikTok and made a celebrity of its unwitting star, Ronald Gladden—who is now the main character of a series of fan edits all about the fact that he's simultaneously nice and 6-foot-6.Now, the conversation is moving to what the show really is and what it means. Is it a prank show? No, not really. But, The Ringer, points out, it's not really a reality show either. “But it is what reality TV has long been accused of being: scripted stories crafted by producers and enacted by an all too willing cast.” Reality TV is all about casting the right antagonists because the best reality TV is all about watching people perform at the wildest peaks of human behavior.According to InsideHook, we've reached the end of reality television. No longer satisfied with the thrill of watching what reality television scholar Olivia Stowell calls “non-actors in contrived situations under surveillance,” Jury Duty proves we need more.Stowell's definition of “reality television” draws on scholar Misha Kavka's description of the genre as “unscripted shows with non-professional actors being observed by cameras in prefigured environments.” This entertainment cocktail worked so well, we've been made sick by years of consuming this delightful garbage, searching for the dopamine-inducing thrill of something we've never seen before. This show “probes the limits of contrivance and meta-commentary on what we mean when we say something is reality television,” writes Geoffrey Nelson. “If twisted contrivance is the hallmark of reality TV, Jury Duty might not be its end but its logical conclusion.”
FYC:
Can an actor actually be the best actor if they don't know they’re acting? That’s the conundrum at the heart of Jury Duty's Emmy push.
U.S. Rep George Santos Indicted
Freshman lawmaker accused of money laundering, misleading donors, falsely claiming unemployment
Rep. George Santos, the freshman Republican congressman whose myriad falsehoods became both a scandal and a national punchline, was charged with more than a dozen financial crimes on Wednesday. While this was certainly a dramatic twist in the Santos saga, it wasn't exactly a shock.The indictment includes defrauding his donors and using their money for his personal benefit. Prosecutors accused Santos of embezzling campaign contributions to buy pricey designer clothes, and using the money to give handouts to his associates. He also received $24,000 worth of unemployment during the pandemic, even though he had a job and was pulling down a $120,000-a-year salary.The constant drip of scandal surrounding the 34-year-old congressman from New York, along with the Mad Libs nature of what was alleged, has turned Santos into somethign of an overnight national celebrity (and a staple of late-night monologues). While Santos surrendered to federal authorities yesterday, he pleaded not guilty and said he wouldn't drop his reelection bid. He also defied renewed calls to resign from Congress.
Dig Deeper:
The Intelligencer made a guide to everything he has made up about himself—and the few things that actually appear to be true.
Partner
Thoughtful jewelry for mothers who still like to talk to you about what music you're listening to.
A Social Media Health Advisory
The American Psychological Association Released guidelines on how social networks can cause harm
I don't know about you, but I'm grateful there wasn't any social media when I was a kid. And not only because it keeps some really embarassing photos off the internet. Because, as adults, we're pretty good at recognizing stupid behavior on social media, but even we fall into traps of arguing with trolls or lingering a little too long on someone's Instagram.To be a kid and have to traverse this mine field? Yikes. Which is why the American Psychological Association—one of the country's leading mental health organizations—released its first health advisory on the topic this week. Much of the info is geared toward adults so they can understand how social media might negatively impact youths. And one of the biggest takeaways is how to understand your kids' social media routines and when to tell if something is off because of the digital platforms. The APA recommendations acknowledge that teens, realistically, are going to use social media no matter what. But they compared social media use to driving a car, in that keeping adolescents safe should be a team effort that includes policymaking, parental supervision and changes from the companies that make the products. They also say that more research is needed to understand the full impact social media has on mental health.
Screen Time:
The APA suggests limiting screen time—not because that inherently leads to mental health harms, but because it could interfere with sleep.
Meet Google’s New Pixel Fold
Google is finally giving Samsung some competition in the folding phone space
With all due respect to the American Psychological Association, screens certainly aren't going anywhere. Which is why more and more computer companies want to provide a bigger screen that still fits in your pocket.For the last few years, Samsung has paved the way for what the next iteration of the smartphone may look like. Now, Google is here to challenge that. During the Google I/O keynote Wednesday, the company announced its first foldable phone, called the Pixel Fold. It promises to be the thinnest folding phone (with the biggest battery), but it won't come cheap when it launches this summer. It's got a hefty $1,799 price tag.Brian Rakowski, Google's VP of product management, told CNET that now is the right time to launch a foldable smartphone because the major problems that plagued early foldables have largely been solved. For instance, the Galaxy Z Fold's two screen halves don't lie perfectly flat when folded, leaving a small gap where the hinge is. The Pixel Fold's new screens are flush. You can also run multiple apps side by side.
Meanwhile:
The company also disclosed plans to infuse its dominant search engine with more advanced artificial-intelligence technology.
In Other News
He dug in on his 2020 election lies and dodged on abortion.
Have you heard about ...
Partner
Last-Minute Gifts for Sweet Moms
Tous has everything you need to wow mom this sunday
Tous knows something about familial love. The company's story includes three generations and over 100 years of dedication to the craft of jewelry and watchmaking. For Mother's Day, they have a wide selection of sweet and delicate pieces that are at once classically elegant yet modern. They're for the mothers who still like to talk to you about what music you're listening to and still want the latest iPhone. Here are a few of our favorite gift options.
Silver vermeil mom necklace with cultured pearls, $235 by Tous
Scoubidou tote bag, $279 by Tous
18kt gold plated vermeil chain cord necklace, $179 by Tous
Silver mom necklace with cultured pearls and gemstones, $145 by Tous
San Valentín silver vermeil heart bracelet with cultured pearls, $129 by Tous
You still have time:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
An all-in-one trimmer
Take your at-home grooming to the next level. Braun's newest trimmer is, perhaps, they're smartest and easiest yet. Expertly engineered to give you 100% control over your grooming from head to toe. Multiple attachments allow the Series 9 to trim, edge and fade hair from your head and beard, to your ears, nose and body. The quick and easy ProWheel features 40 length settings and comes with a handy lock to prevent any mistakes so you can trim with confidence. It comes with a premium weighted charging stand and offers 180 minutes of cordless runtime (which means it's great for traveling, too).
Get It:
Series 9 all-in-one trimmer, $129.94 by Braun
Morning Motto
Sometimes you just have to give up.
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