Why is #Gogglebox so appealing?

THE ONLY reality programs I've enjoyed are the second season of Big Brother, the first season of The Contender and some snippets of So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars.

I'm quite open about my disdain of reality television.
I dislike the format, I don't particularly like the talents thrust onto my screen, and I hate the complete saturation of coverage where I can't watch other programs I like without at least four or five ads or references to the reality shows.

That said, I am at a loss to understand why Gogglebox is SO DAMN GOOD.

I'm a little late to the party, having just finished binging on the first three episodes almost four weeks after the Australian version of the hit UK show premiered.
When Gogglebox was first advertised I looked at it with disdain. The concept sounded silly: instead of watching "real" people compete in cooking competitions or being stranded on an island, let's watch people watch programs from the week prior.
It is, essentially, Twitter for television, and maybe that goes some way to explaining why I want more Gogglebox.

For those that follow me on Twitter, you already know I'm slightly addicted to the social network.
I tweet about just about anything: politics, random thoughts, conversations, my thoughts on film and television, and commentating or tweeting live sport.
Therein lies my strange fascination with a program that shows "real" people passing comment on programs from the previous week.

A lot of the scenes, particularly those that covered Four Corners' live baiting investigation and Top Gun, are reminiscent of what happens when I watched the same programs. The shock at seeing defenceless piglets tied to lures for greyhounds, the debate as to whether to allow 15 and 16-year-olds to watch the program in the first place (the Daltons decide to let them watch, but both leave), and the general reaction to Top Gun (particularly THAT volleyball scene) are all real.

I think that is one of the most important aspects: this reality program feels more real than any before.
In programs like Survivor, Big Brother, and Masterchef, the contestants are in an artificial situation that doesn't reflect reality. Masterchef particularly tries to capitalise on the "everyday people", yet trot out recipes and meals with ingredients most families wouldn't have used.

Gogglebox gives us a real situation of which we can all relate. The scenes depicted in the 10 lounge rooms are reminiscent of the viewing experience of most people watching television. Where the 10 groups verbalise their opinions with their offsiders (as they have to for the program to work), a lot of people express themselves via Twitter or other social networks.

The casting seems to dissect society and represent the general quite well, with people from different social economic class. That said, there is one thing that stands out: they're awfully white. The only non-white group are the Sri Lankan Delpechitas. I'm not going to make an issue about it as others can do a far better job of it, but it does stand out for mine. Hopefully that will change when it is (hopefully?) renewed for further seasons.

That aside, there's been a strong variety of programs they've chosen to air, and the casting has been perfect. The groups look to be from extremely different backgrounds, and most have hammered home countless one-liners that have had me in stitches. I haven't genuinely laughed as loudly or openly during a television show as I have watching Gogglebox, and I hope that doesn't change.


Gogglebox airs on Lifestyle Channel at 9.30pm Wednesdays (8.30pm in Qld) and Channel 10 at 9pm Thursdays.