NBC’s Songland is changing the way viewers look at songwriting.

The show, which features judges Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, and Shane MacAnally, is marking a new, happier era of reality television.

In my deepest, darkest moments, I’ve always leaned on reality television as a crutch. There's something about watching life events more dramatic than my own unfold on screen (i.e. the stars of the Real Housewives of New York hashing it out on whether Bethenny Frankel supports other women) that has a calming effect on me.

But as our country's political atmosphere heats up and headlines feel more personal, it's hard to lean into the drama as earnestly. Don't get me wrong: I still love reality TV. Recently, however, I've begun tuning into a different side of the genre—not so much to escape from my own life, but to simply feel good. Thanks to shows like The Great British Baking Show, Netflix's Nailed It!, and most recently, NBC’s Songland, I firmly believe reality television is becoming warmer, kinder, and a little more gentle as a reflection of where we are as a culture.



When American Idol first premiered in 2002, no one could quiet down about judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and the notoriously snippy Simon Cowell. Yet, out of that show America got a new best friend—Kelly Clarkson. Who can forget her inability to finish “A Moment Like This” because she was so overcome with emotion after taking home the season one crown?

Well, apparently, viewers. Because for years, America tuned in for the vicious and often cruel criticism Cowell doled out. Until more recently, for many of the seasons since the series premiere, Cowell—and later, a cycle of new featured judges—seemed to mostly focus on the intentional burn, less on encouraging the humans right in front of them—people who had a dream just like they once did.

Which is why Songland is different.

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Each week, the NBC series brings aspiring songwriters in front of a panel of judges—Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, and Shane McAnally—who give them a shot to write a single for artists like John Legend and the Jonas Brothers. And each week, the judges are so hyped about the song placed in front of them that they Can’t. Stop. Dancing. They seem to fully recognize that every person who appears on the show has a dream, a goal, an intention—and they have no reason to knock these people down. They know that even stepping on this platform is a gain with zero losses.

One of my all-time favorite YouTube videos is “The Best Michael Kors Quotes from all 10 seasons of Project Runway." The title pretty much describes it. If you recall, Michael Kors, former Project Runway judge, was as immaculate and impeccable with his feedback to aspiring designers as he is with his clothing. He was also sharp and cutting.

I always laugh at the line, "You achieved the impossible. She has camel toe in big shorts,” every time. But this sassy video is plucked straight out of an era we are no longer in. Sure, Brandon Maxwell tries to keep it real on the latest Project Runway cycle, but Christian Siriano, Karlie Kloss, Elaine Welteroth and the rest of the judging panel are positively enthusiastic and encouraging. Even American Idol has softened its tune, and America's Got Talent—which airs right before Songland—often features contestants whose performances and stories bring the judges to tears. It's clear that Songland is just the latest in an era of TV that's, well...nice.



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This may sound out of the blue, but stick with me. Before and during World War II, Hollywood released projects as a form of escapism, a way of reminding viewers that while the world wasn't in great shape, there could still be something to look at that wasn't quite so bad. And those projects have had a lasting effect. Gone with the Wind (1939), for example, remains the highest-grossing film in box office history, yet it came out during the Great Depression. People may have been struggling, but they found a way to gather their coins and make it to the movies. Similarly, after 9/11, major film adaptations like Harry Potter were more than just epic fantasy films—they were a vehicle for helping others feel a little hope.

Films like these serve as a reminder that the good guys can win—and that the world might not be as awful as we think. Modern day reality television is becoming that exact thing in 2019, during a time when the headlines can be enough to make you want to bury your head in the sand. As the world feels more mean, more violent, more angry, we can turn to shows like Songland and Queer Eye to remember what is truly good.

Support other people and their goals.

On Songland, watching someone with hope be told they are excellent, capable, and—most importantly—worthy resonates with not just the contestants, but the audience. And seeing a group of songwriting panelists who clearly just love what they're doing also feels like a relief from the general snark reality TV. Because if you love what you do, why not help other people do it, too?

So the jury is in: Being kind is cool. (Just look at those Twitter reactions as proof!) As we’re surrounded by so much nastiness and negativity in every other scheme of life, Songland is gently urging us to “Be different, be nice.” And I'm gladly taking the reminder.

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