By William P. Bohlen. A&E’s new show “Airline” is proof that “reality television” doesn’t always equal “crap.” In fact, the documentary-style show about Southwest Airlines is one of the most refreshing, funny, touching and entrancing new shows on TV this year.
Known to most as the low-cost carrier with goofy flight attendants and barebones operations, Southwest made a brilliant choice in letting cameras follow its employees as they go about their daily jobs at Chicago Midway and Los Angeles International Airports.
The cameras capture the ticket agents, gate workers and baggage handlers during stressful situations–angry customers, lost baggage, delayed flights–and show them handling the circumstances with level heads and a sense of fairness. It’s these two elements–customers and employees–that make the show. In no other industry does the relationship between the two groups become as strained as it is in an airport.
What’s surprising is that the customers who clearly are in the wrong actually give permission to be on camera. Perhaps they hope the situation will come across in their favor, but it almost never does.
Instead, we side with employees such as customer service attendant Colleen Bragiel at Midway who kept customers on an even keel during the recent Northeast blackout.
“Airline” is proof that good reality television doesn’t need hot babes or even disgusting contests. It can be charming and thoughtful and heartwarming. More shows should follow its lead.
Shows to watch
– The Golden Globes air at 7 p.m. Sunday on NBC. Check Monday’s RedEye for a complete rundown of winners.
– “The Osbournes” premieres at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on MTV.
– BET debuts “College Life,” a look at eight students at Southern University, at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
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WILLIAM P. BOHLEN, REDEYE’S TV COLUMNIST, CAN BE REACHED AT CHANNELINGTV@YAHOO.COM.
Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Victoria Rodriguez (vrodriguez@tribune.com)
