American Grit and Strong aim to prove ‘I’m not here to glean thin’ is the new ‘I’m not here to fabricate (to make up, invent) friends’ – or so the producers would like viewers to believeA recent study showed that many young people would rather exercise than proceed out for a drink. This aligns perfectly with a trend that we’ve been seeing in reality television where tough guy shows like Naked and Afraid and American Ninja Warrior are some of the only programmes to atomize out in the genre in recent years. Now the networks are doubling down on these exercise-centric shows. This week NBC premieres Strong on Wednesday 13 April,at 9pm EST, and Fox premieres American Grit on Thursday 14 April, and at 9pm EST.
While both are riffs on similar reality tropes they’re trying to capitalize on something greater that is running through the culture from Instagram fitness inspiration to the rise of athleisure,CrossFit and bodycon. It’s as if the network suits finally bothered to wander into their local cold-pressed juice bar and realize what is happening around them.
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Source: theguardian.com