Reality TV: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"If reality TV has taught us anything, it's that you can't keep people with no shame down."''|'''Liz Lemon''', |'''''[[Thirty Rock (TV)|Thirty30 Rock]]''''', "Subway Hero"}}

There are three main types of reality TV. In the first, the viewer and the camera are passive observers following people going about their daily personal and professional activities. This style of filming is often referred to as "fly on the wall". The "plots" which are compiled for the program often resemble soap operas, hence the description "[[Docu Soap]]".

Though there were earlier precedents on radio and television, the [[Ur Example]] for this type of reality show was probably the [[PBS]] series ''An American Family''. Twelve parts were broadcast in the United States in 1973. The series dealt with a nuclear family going through a divorce. The parents had several children and one of them, Lance Loud, was openly homosexual; he occasionally wore lipstick and women's clothes and, in the second episode, took his mother to a drag show. Scholars sometimes mention that Lance came out of the closet on TV, but this is technically incorrect -- heincorrect—he was simply homosexual without announcement. His family confirmed that he had been out for some time. ''An American Family'' was controversial in its time and was excoriated by the press, particularly ''The New York Times'', which published a piece criticizing the series and especially Lance Loud. However, this didn't stop it from achieving [[Ratings]] in the 10 million range, proving that there was an audience for reality TV as early as [[The Seventies]].

In 1974, a [[Trans -Atlantic Equivalent|counterpart programme]], ''The Family'', was made in the UK, following the working class Wilkins family of Reading. Australia saw ''Sylvania Waters'' in 1992, about the ''nouveau riche'' Baker-Donaher family of Sydney. Both attracted their share of controversy.

Perhaps responsible for inspiring the recent interest in reality television is MTV's ''[[The Real World]]'', one of the first reality programs to gain mainstream popularity. A new subset of this type has recently emerged in which the daily lives of celebrities are portrayed, many of them Famous For Being Famous. Examples include ''The Anna Nicole Show'', ''[[The Osbournes (TV)|The Osbournes]]'' and ''Keeping Up With The Kardashians''.

In the second type, hidden cameras are rolling when random passers-by encounter a staged situation. The reactions of the passers-by can be funny to watch, but also revealing to the truths about the human condition. Allen Funt, an American pioneer in reality entertainment, led the way in the development of this type of show. He created ''Candid Microphone'', which debuted on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Radio Network in 1947, and the internationally successful ''Candid Camera'', which first aired on television in 1953. He later produced a feature-length reality-film in 1968 entitled ''What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?''. The film was a hidden-camera study of sexuality and mores of the time. For example, in one staged situation, passers-by encountered an inter-racial couple.

In the third type, the so-called "reality game shows" (see [[Reality Show]]), participants are filmed intensively in an enclosed environment while competing to win a prize -- thusprize—thus they are game shows and discussed more thoroughly in that article. The reality game show genre has become pervasive enough to be parodied by Spike TV with ''[[The Joe Schmo Show]]''.

One difference that makes these more like "reality television" than other game shows is that the viewing public and/or the contestants usually (but not always) play an active role in deciding the outcome. Usually this is by eliminating participants (disapproval voting, often one per week) or voting for the most popular choice to win (with some other voting system). Some popular reality-based game shows of this sort are ''[[Big Brother]]'', ''[[Survivor]]'', and ''[[American Idol]]''. There is also a Spanish-language show taped for Latin American audiences, ''Protagonistas De La Musica'', filmed in Miami by Telemundo USA.

See also [[Reality Show]], [[Reality TV Tropes]], ''[[The Truman Show (Film)|The Truman Show]]'', ''[[Ed TVEDtv]]''

{{examples|Examples}}

=== Documentary style ===

* ''[[Sixteen16 and Pregnant (TV)|Sixteen and Pregnant]]'' (2009)

* ''Airline'' (UK; ITV's imitation of Airport)

* ''Airport'' (UK; BBC show that made Jeremy Spake famous)

* ''American Casino'' (2004)

* ''[[American Chopper (TV)|American Chopper]]'' (2003) (Discovery Channel)

* ''An American Family'' (1973)

* ''[[American Guns (TV)|American Guns]]'' (2011) (Discovery Channel)

* ''American Hot Rod'' (2004)

* ''[[American Pickers]]'' (2010) (History Channel)

* ''[[American Restoration (TV)|American Restoration]]'' (2010~) (History Channel)

* ''[[Auction Hunters (TV)|Auction Hunters]]'' (2010)

* ''[[Ax Men (TV)|Ax Men]]'' (2008) (History Channel)

* ''[[Big Rich Texas (TV)|Big Rich Texas]]'' (2011) (Style Network)

* ''[[Billy the Exterminator]]'' (2009) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[The Colony]]'' (2009) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Dallas Divas and Daughters (TV)|Dallas Divas and Daughters]]'' (2009) (Style Network)

* ''[[Deadliest Catch]]'' (2005) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Dirty Jobs (TV)|Dirty Jobs]]'' (2003) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Don't Tell My Mother]]''

* ''[[Dual Survival]]'' (Discovery Channel)

* ''Escape to River Cottage'' (1999) (UK)

* ''The Family'' (1974) (UK)

* ''[[The Franchise (TV)|The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants]]'' (2011)

* ''Fraternity Life'' (2003)

* ''[[Gold Rush (TV series)|Gold Rush]]'' (2010) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Ghost Hunters]]'' (2004)

* ''[[Ice Road Truckers]]'' (2007) (History Channel)

* ''[[I'm a Celebrity ...Get Me Out of Here (TV)!|I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here]]'' (2002-)

* ''[[ItsIt's Me or Thethe Dog (TV)|Its Me or The Dog]]'' (2005)

* ''Lagos Airport'' (UK; Channel 4's take on Airport focusing on the third world conditions in and around [[Useful Notes/Nigeria|Nigeria]]'s main airport)

* ''[[Man vs. Wild]]'' (2006) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Man Woman Wild]]'' (2010) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[NHL 247 (TV)24/7|NHL 247]]'' (2010)

* ''[[Nineteen19 Kids and Counting (TV)|Nineteen Kids and Counting]]'' (2008-)

* ''[[Pawn Stars]]'' (2009~) (History Channel)

* ''[[Pit Boss (TV)|Pit Boss]]'' (2010)

* ''[[Pit Bulls and Parolees (TV)|Pit Bulls and Parolees]]'' (2010)

* ''Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal'' (2008) (A&E)

* ''Rachael Rocks'' (2004)

* ''[[Say Yes to Thethe Dress]]'' (2007)

* ''[[Sons of Guns (TV)|Sons of Guns]]'' (2011) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Storm Chasers (TV)|Storm Chasers]]'' (2007) (Discovery Channel)

** * ''[[Storage Wars: Texas]]'' (2011)

* ''[[Survivorman]]'' (2004) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Swamp People (TV)|Swamp People]]'' (2010) (History Channel)

* ''[[True Life (TV)|True Life]]'' (1998)

* ''<nowiki>U8TV:</nowiki> The Lofters'' (2001) (Canada)

=== Historical re-creation ===

* ''The 1940s House'' (2001) (UK)

* ''FrontierColonial House'' (20022004) (US; PBS show set in the American frontier of 18831628)

* ''LeKlondike: MoyenThe 1903Quest for Gold'' (2003) (Switzerland/TSRCanada)

* ''Quest for the Bay'' (2002) (Canada)

* ''Regency House Party'' (2004) (UK) * ''[[Manor House|The Edwardian Country House'' aka ''Manor House]]'' (2002)

* ''The Ship'' (2002) (UK)

* ''Warrior Challenge'' (2004) (US)

=== Dating ===

* ''The 5th Wheel'' (2001)

* ''Average'' (2003)

* ''[[The Bachelor]]'' (2002)

* ''[[The Bachelorette]]'' (2003)

* ''Bachelorettes in Alaska'' (2002)

* ''Blind Date'' (US) (1999)

* ''Cupid'' (2003)

* ''ElimiDATE'' (2002)

* ''EX-treme Dating'' (2002)

* ''For Love or Money'' (2003)

* ''[[Joe Millionaire (TV)|Joe Millionaire]]'' (2003) and ''The Next Joe Millionaire'' (later the same year)

* ''Millionaire'' (2003)

* ''Mr. Personality'' (2003)

* ''My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé'' (2004)

* ''Outback Jack'' (2004)

* ''Playing It Straight'' (2004)

* ''Temptation Island'' (2001)

* ''Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?'' (2000)

* ''Would Like To Meet'' (UK)

=== Law Enforcement/Military ===

* ''American Fighter Pilot'' (2002)

* ''[[Bait Car (TV)|Bait Car]]''

* ''Boot Camp''

* ''Combat Missions'' (2001)

* ''[[CopsCOPS (series)|COPS]]'' (1989)

* ''[[Dog the Bounty Hunter (TV)|Dog the Bounty Hunter]]'' (2004)

* ''Real Stories of the Highway Patrol'' (1994)

=== Makeover ===

* ''A Makeover Story'' (US)

* ''[[Beauty and Thethe Geek]]'' (US)

* ''Changing Rooms'' (UK) = ''Trading Spaces'' (US) (2000)

* ''Extreme Makeover'' (2002)

* ''How Clean Is Your House?'' (2003) (2004) (UK)

* ''Life Laundry'' (2002) (UK; house clearance)

* ''Knock First'' (2003)

* ''[[Monster Garage]]'' (2002) (US)

* ''[[On the Road Withwith Austin Andand Santino]]''

* ''Queer Eye For The Straight Guy'' (2003)

* ''[[Restaurant Impossible (TV)|Restaurant: Impossible]]'' (2011)

* ''Restoration'' (2003) (UK)

* ''[[TabithasTabitha's Salon Takeover]]'' (2008) (US)

* ''Trading Spaces: Home Free''

=== Life Change ===

* ''Faking It'' (2001) (UK; remade in US in 2003)

* ''Holiday Swap'' (2003) (UK)

* ''[[It Takes a Thief (2005 TV series)|It Takes a Thief]]'' (2005-7) (US)

* ''[[ItsIt's Me or Thethe Dog (TV)|Its Me or The Dog]]'' (2007) (UK) (2008) (US)

* ''Trading Spouses'' (2004) (US)

* ''[[Wife Swap]]'' (2002) (2003) (UK)

=== Docusoaps starring celebrities ===

* ''[[Keeping Up With The Kardashians]]'' (2007-present2007–present)

* ''[[Newlyweds Nick and Jessica|Newlyweds]]'' (2003)

* ''Rich Girls'' (2003)

* ''The Anna Nicole Show'' (2002)

* ''[[The Osbournes (TV)|The Osbournes]]'' (2002)

* ''The Simple Life'' (2003)

* ''The Simple Life 2'' (2004)

* ''The Surreal Life'' (2003)

=== Hidden camera ===

* ''[[AmericasAmerica's Funniest Home Videos (TV)|Americas Funniest Home Videos]]'' (1990)

* ''[[Candid Camera (TV)|Candid Camera]]'' (1948)

* ''[[Scare Tactics (TV series)|Scare Tactics]]'' (2003)

* ''[[T vs.TV's Bloopers and& Practical Jokes]]'' (1984)

* ''[[What Would You Do (TV)|What Would You Do]]'' (2009)

=== Reality game shows ===

* ''[[The Amazing Race]]'' (2001)

* ''Back To Reality'' (2004) (UK)

* ''The Benefactor'' (2004)

* ''[[Big Brother]]'' (2000 - present2000–present)

* ''[[The Biggest Loser]]'' (2004 - present2004–present)

* ''Boot Camp''

* ''[[CanadasCanada's Worst Driver (TV)|Canadas Worst Driver]]'' (2005 - Present2005–Present), except the contestants ''don't'' want to win the trophy.

* ''Dog Eat Dog'' (2003)

* ''[[Estate of Panic (TV)|Estate of Panic]]'' (2008)

* ''Forever Eden'' (2004)

* ''[[Fear Factor]]'' (2001)

* ''[[Full Metal Jousting (TV series)|Full Metal Jousting]]''

* ''I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!'' (2002) (UK)

* ''[[Master Chef (TV)|Master ChefMasterChef]]''

* ''Model Flat'' (Fashion TV, 2002)

* ''[[The Mole (TV series)|The Mole]]'' (2001)

* ''[[Murder in Small Town X]]'' (2001)

* ''Paradise Hotel'' (2003)

* ''Shattered'' (2004) (UK)

* ''[[Survivor (TV series)|Survivor]]'' (2000)

* ''[[Who Wants to Be Aa Superhero?]]'' (2006)

=== Spoofs ===

* ''[[Dead Set (TV)|Dead Set]]'' (2008)

* ''[[Drawn Together (Animation)|Drawn Together]]'' (2004)

* ''[[The Joe Schmo Show]]'' (2003)

* ''Joe Schmo 2'' (2004)

* ''[[LifesLife's a Zoo (Animation)|Lifes a Zoo]]'' (2008)

* ''Real Life'' (movie) (1979)

* ''Superstar USA'' (2004)

* ''[[The Truman Show (Film)|The Truman Show]]'' (movie) (1998)

* ''[[Total Drama Island (Animation)|Total Drama Island]]'' (2007)

=== Talent Searches ===

* ''[[American Idol]]'' (2002)

* ''American Juniors'' (2003)

* ''[[AmericasAmerica's Got Talent (TV)|Americas Got Talent]]'' (2006)

* ''[[AmericasAmerica's Next Top Model]]'' (2003)

* ''[[The Apprentice (TV series)|The Apprentice]]'' (2004)

* ''Australian Idol'' (2003)

* ''[[BritainsBritain's Got Talent (TV)|Britains Got Talent]]'' (2007)

* ''Can You Be A Porn Star?'' (2004)

* ''The Contender'' (2004)

* ''[[Dragons' Den (TV)|Dragon's Den]]'' (2005) (UK, remade for the US as ''Shark Tank'')

* ''Dream Job'' (2004)

* ''Fame Academy'' (2002)(2003) (UK)

* ''Got To Dance'' (UK, remade for the US as ''Live To Dance'')

* ''[[HellsHell's Kitchen (TV)|Hells Kitchen]]'' (UK, remade for US TV in 2005)

* ''[[Last Comic Standing]]'' (2003)

* ''Making the Band'' (2001)

* ''Making the Band 2'' (2002)

* ''Next Action Star'' (2004)

* ''[[The Next Food Network Star]]'' (2005-present2005–present)

* ''Performing As...'' (2003)

* ''Pop Idol'' (2001)

* ''Popstars'' (2000) (UK; launched bands Hear'Say and Liberty X)

* ''[[Ru PaulsRuPaul's Drag Race]]''

* ''[[The Sing -Off]]'' (US) (2009-present2009–present)

* ''[[Superstar K]]'' (2009)

* ''[[Top Chef (TV)|Top Chef]]'' (2006)

* ''[[The Voice (TV series)|The Voice]]'' (2011, 2012)

* ''[[The X Factor (TV)|The X Factor]]'' (2004)

* ''Work of Art: The Next Great Artist'' (2010)

=== Fantasies Fulfilled ===

* ''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]]''(US, 2004)

* ''Thrill of a Lifetime'' (1982-881982–88 and 2002)

=== Survival ===

(Some of the shows in this section are arguably true documentaries, in which the producers make a good-faith effort to document their actual subject, not interfering with the events just to make a better story. Though some situations do seem staged or scripted. Individual episodes are deliberately set up.)

* ''[[Dual Survival]]'' (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Man vs. Wild]]'' (2006) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Man Woman Wild]]'' (2010) (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Survivorman]]'' (2004) (Discovery Channel)

=== Others ===

* ''[[Myth BustersMythBusters]]'' (Discovery Channel)

* ''[[Top Guns (TV)|Top Guns]]'' (History 2)

* ''[[Oddities (TV)|Oddities]]'' (Discovery Channel)

[[Category:Index Index]]

[[Category:indexLive-Action TV]]