Reality Television

Reality television, a wide-ranging genre purporting to depict the “real” lives, experiences, and/or circumstances of its subjects, is rooted in shows such as Candid Camera, which first appeared in 1948 and lasted through 1992; the British documentary Up Series (1964–2005); and 1970s game shows produced by Chuck Barris, including The Dating Game, The New-lywed Game, and The Gong Show.

Current reality television programs appear in varying forms, generally falling into broad categories such as the “docudramas” or “docusoaps” that chronicle the supposedly candid experiences of “ordinary” individuals (such as The Real Housewives) or celebrities along with their friends and families (for example, The Osbournes). Celebrity reality shows are vehicles meant to elevate the star of the show—and/or his/her family—to a higher level of fame/fortune through book deals, fashion lines, and record contracts marketed through the Internet. Non-celebrity individuals who appear on reality shows often attempt to parlay their appearances on reality television into securing recognition and renown, by appearing on more reality [Page 1215]shows and/or starring in their own program. Moreover, individuals who are somewhat “infamous” for their outrageous and/or controversial behavior will often successfully transform their public personae into a reality show, such as “Octomom” Nadya Suleman.

Competition shows are another major category of reality television, in which groups and/or individuals use their talents to compete for entry into as well as recognition in a designated field and/or to win a monetary prize by successfully competing in extreme physical challenges. Another popular group of reality television shows are the “makeover” shows, of which perhaps Bravo's Queer Eye (originally titled Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) is the most well known. Queer Eye paved the way for the genres of makeover, home-and self-improvement and dating reality shows, some of which combine aspects of the makeover, self-improvement, and the competition reality genre. Yet another group of reality television programs focus on personal/family issues and crises, including rehabilitation for drug/alcohol addiction, unplanned teenage pregnancy/motherhood, and dealing with out-of-control children. Still other reality shows combine aspects of lifestyle change/self-improvement with documentary and competition, while many of the competitive shows require that cast members live together in a group setting.

The phenomenon of reality television, whose influence has increased exponentially throughout the world at the onset of the 21st century, arguably since the competition program Big Brother first appeared in 1999 in the Netherlands, is a pervasive element of broader global popular culture since the late 20th century. Subsequently, reality television took the world by storm. The current success of reality television is undeniable: 21st-century American reality shows such as Survivor and American Idol—both based on similar, earlier UK programs—have remained top-rated shows.