Is Reality TV Real?

Reality TV has been around for quite a while and has amassed a huge following of viewers. Reality television programs, which feature real people engaged in real activities rather than professional actors performing scripted scenes, are increasingly popular. These shows depict ordinary people competing in everything from singing and dancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. According to (She Knows) Reality TV Magazine the top Reality TV Shows are Amazing Race (CBS), America's Got Talent (NBC), American Idol (FOX), Celebrity Apprentice (NBC), Dancing with the Stars (ABC), Hell's Kitchen (FOX), Kate Plus 8 (TLC), Kitchen Nightmares (FOX), Project Runway (BRAVO), Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hills (BRAVO), So You Think You Can Dance (FOX), Survivor (CBS), The Bachelor (ABC), The Bachelorette (ABC), The Biggest Loser (NBC), Top Chef (BRAVO), and many, many more.

America seems to have become obsessed with reality TV. Most people believe that the reality these shows portray is authentic. But is reality TV real or scripted? Can a show be termed a reality show when it contains aspects that are devised by the show's producers and not the participants? How can a TV show be called reality IF it isn't really real?

Can a show be termed a reality show when it contains aspects that are devised by the show's producers and not the participants?

Some could say that the TV viewer is being played by the producers and the editing that is being done before a reality TV show is aired. We, the viewer, do not get to see or hear the whole story, only what the editors want us to see. The film has been altered with editing so viewers could be seeing sequences out of context leading us in the direction the producer wants us to go. How many times were you sure so-and-so would be voted off and it turned out to be someone else? The shows also mislead viewers by presenting challenges for the players to overcome. In real life, no one sets up artificial challenges to test us.

Is reality TV real or scripted?

Are the scenarios being played out on these shows real or scripted? Would you behave differently in any given situation if there were not a camera following you around? I would tend to lean toward yes to that question. The player can't help but possibly think, "What do they 'expect' me to do?" instead of just doing whatever comes natural. Instead, they have these unspoken directions in their head causing them to think twice about what they should or shouldn't do.

Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor and other reality shows avoids the word "reality" to describe his shows; he has said, "It's storytelling enveloped in a great concept, great vicarious travel experience and really good casting. I tell good stories. It really is not reality TV. It really is unscripted drama."

Why do people go on a reality show?

Do people want to be on reality TV shows to win money, to possibly become famous, or simply because they like the game? And that's what most reality TV is really - a game. Point in case, how many of these names do you recognize? Richard Hatch, Boston Rob, Russell Hantz, Rupert, Coach, (all from Survivor), Omarosa (The Apprentice), cowboys Jet and Cord (Amazing Race), Terry Fator, Michael Grimm (America's Got Talent), Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtrey (both from American Idol). Phillip Shepherd and Matt Elrod are becoming famous Survivor players in the current season (22). Phillip is being compared to Coach while Matt is making a name for himself as the boy who just won't quit.

These names have become known household wide because they were contestants on a reality TV show. But what does fame get you? For Colby Donaldson from Survivor: The Australian Outback it got him a hosting job for Top Shot on the History Channel; Elisabeth Hasselbeck, also a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, later became a host on the morning talk show The View; Kristin Cavallari, who appeared on Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, has gone on to become a television host and actress and Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino, who appeared on MTV's Jersey Shore, was able to parlay his fame into lucrative endorsement deals. Others, who made a big impression with their big personalities, get invited to participate in other reality TV shows such as Boston Rob who has run The Amazing Race twice and been invited back to Survivor time and again. Some are asked to return as All Stars, Heroes or Villains which puts another spin on the reality show.

Reality TV is entertaining

There is nothing real or valid about reality television other than its entertainment value. Personally, I watch shows such as Survivor, The Amazing Race, Hell's Kitchen and Celebrity Apprentice strictly for their entertainment values and to watch the colorful people that are always popping up on them. I do not believe there is any scripting of the people's personalities in most of these shows, but that the participants are guided or prompted in some form or another. For example, at the confession tree on Survivor, do you think the player sits there and just starts talking to the camera? I believe there is someone there prompting them with questions. "So Rob, what do you really think of Phillip's baggy underwear?"

Reality TV stirs controversy which viewers love

Reality TV is popular due to its controversy. If everyone got along and there were no villains, these shows would not be interesting. Russell Hantz is probably the latest best thing that ever happened to Survivor as far as ratings and publicity are concerned. It's the characters that make the game enjoyable to watch. Without the Russell's, the Boston Rob's and the Phillip's of the show (to name a few), I would have stopped watching a long time ago. Look at Survivor's last season (21): There were no "characters" and it was widely considered one of the worst seasons ever. Like every season, I couldn't care less who ultimately wins it. I just hope Rob and Phillip (i.e. the enjoyable ones to watch) make it to the end so it will be entertaining the whole way through. Haters of the villains and lovers of the heroes watch to see if those players will win or lose - that passion keeps fans glued to the TV.

Like them or not, reality TV shows are here to stay. According to TV Guide, Survivor has just been extended for 2 more years along with host Jeff Probsts' contract as has The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss.

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Sources:

Reality TV Magazine (She Knows)

Mark Burnett, "Surviving and thriving". Melbourne: The Age. November 13, 2003

Colby Donaldson, Top Shot

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, The View

Kristin Cavallari, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County

Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino, Jersey Shore

Omarosa, The Apprentice

Richard Hatch, Survivor

Boston Rob, Survivor

Russell Hantz, Survivor

Rupert, Survivor

Coach, Survivor

Jet and Cord, Amazing Race

Terry Fator, America's Got Talent

Michael Grimm, America's Got Talent

Kelly Clarkson, American Idol

Chris Daughtrey, American Idol

Phillip Shepherd, Survivor

Matt Elrod, Survivor

TV Guide, Survivor; Jeff Probst

TV Guide, Amazing Race, Undercover Boss