Reality Television
Reality television is a genre of television programming
which, it is claimed, presents unscripted dramatic or
humorous situations, documents actual events, and
features ordinary people rather than professional
actors. It could be described as a form of artificial or
“heightened” documentary. Although the genre has
existed in some form or another since the early years
of television, the current explosion of popularity dates
from around 2000.
Reality television covers a wide range of television
programming formats, _____________game or quiz
shows which resemble the frantic, often demeaning
programmes produced in Japan _____________ the 1980s and
1990s (a modern example is Gaki no tsukai), _____________surveillance-focused productions such __________ Big Brother.
Critics say that the term “reality television” is somewhat of a misnomer and that such shows frequently
portray a modified and highly influenced form of
reality, with participants put in exotic locations or
abnormal situations, sometimes coached to act in
certain ways by off-screen handlers, and with events
on screen manipulated through editing and other
post-production techniques.
Part of reality television’s appeal is due to its ability
to place ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
For example, on the ABC show, The Bachelor, an
eligible male dates a dozen women simultaneously,
travelling on extraordinary dates to scenic locales.
Reality television also has the potential to turn its participants into national celebrities, outwardly in talent
and performance programs such as Pop Idol, though
frequently Survivor and Big Brother participants also
reach some degree of celebrity.
Some commentators have said that the name “reality television” is an inaccurate description for several
styles of program included in the genre. In competition-based programs such as Big Brother and Survivor,
and other special-living-environment shows like The
Real World, the producers design the format of the
show and control the day-to-day activities and the
environment, creating a completely fabricated world
in which the competition plays out. Producers specifically select the participants, and use carefully designed
scenarios, challenges, events, and settings to encourage particular behaviours and conflicts. Mark Burnett,
creator of Survivor and other reality shows, has agreed
with this assessment, and avoids the word “reality” to
describe his shows; he has said, “I tell good stories. It
really is not reality TV. It really is unscripted drama.