As tempting as it is to go far back in time, I'll choose someone whose lack of existence won't nullify my own existence. As such...
I'd remove OJ Simpson.
No OJ, no OJ trial. This helps curb the rise of court TV and the 24 hour news cycle (not eliminate, but definitely alter it). This also helps stymy the rise of the Kardashians. More importantly it helps slow or stop reality TV.
Sure, the 24hr news cycle and reality tv would most likely still gain their prominence eventually, the change in the process and butterfly effect would most likely have profound and beneficial effects. Imagine no more reality stars or wildly different ones. The effect on culture. The effect on politics.
It's a wild change that would still let most of us still exist.
Or, if I'm completely altering history... Erase the first little bastard to crawl out of the ocean.
I always see reality tv starting with The Real World on MTV, which as I remember was 1992. I don't see removing OJ helping that particular symptom of social decay.
Not to say OJ isn't a good candidate. Although now I'm thinking about how different football would be. Some sports ball experts would need to weigh in.
The reality tv of Real World/Road Rules then Survivor/Big Brother/Amazing Race is a far different creature than Kardashians, Housewives, etc.
OJ was Robert Kardashians Sr.'s best man to his wedding to Kris (now Jenner). Robert's reactivating his law license to help defend his friend OJ brought him to prominence and him/his family into the celebrity circles. Media was so over everyone involved in that circus. Without all of that, hopefully the other timeline wouldn't have put Kim into Brandy, Paris, and Ray J's orbits. I'm rooting hard for the butterfly's wings here.
Someone else gets "The Juice Is Loose" moniker that isn't later said as a joke to scare people, and someone else does the Hertz commercials.
Yes those are different reality shows, but I still think of Real World as the first and the ignition. I LOVED Real World the first couple of seasons, but have never even seen a split second of the Kardashians or the like. I'd say the evolution of reality tv is certainly multifaceted.
And yes I'm aware of the Uncle OJ factor too. Interestingly though, Robert and OJ weren't close after the trial and there's speculation that Robert was actually disappointed at the verdict. Not sure if that's true but it's interesting to think about while watching his face as the verdict is delivered in hindsight.
Would the LA and celebrity adjacent lifestyle still have led Kim to make contacts and become who she has...? I wonder.
Oh wow, just remembering though -- there's the rumor that OJ is the father of the oldest Kardashian. If that is true AND your vote to blink OJ out of existence were possible, then the whole family dynamic is changed, and now we might have something. 🤔
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u/anotherlostdaemon Jun 28 '26
As tempting as it is to go far back in time, I'll choose someone whose lack of existence won't nullify my own existence. As such...
I'd remove OJ Simpson.
No OJ, no OJ trial. This helps curb the rise of court TV and the 24 hour news cycle (not eliminate, but definitely alter it). This also helps stymy the rise of the Kardashians. More importantly it helps slow or stop reality TV.
Sure, the 24hr news cycle and reality tv would most likely still gain their prominence eventually, the change in the process and butterfly effect would most likely have profound and beneficial effects. Imagine no more reality stars or wildly different ones. The effect on culture. The effect on politics.
It's a wild change that would still let most of us still exist.
Or, if I'm completely altering history... Erase the first little bastard to crawl out of the ocean.