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Reality Television - History of the Genre
Contestants compete for millions of dollars in rugged conditions. Complete strangers live together in less-than-total harmony while being filmed continuously. Couples find true love, or anything else that gets good ratings, while the world watches. It is safe to say that reality television has gained immense popularity in the last decade.
The Origins of Reality Television
Despite the current popularity of reality television and many comments to the contrary, it is actually not a recent invention. The inception of reality programming dates back as far as radio shows. Candid interviews with individuals designed to elicit humorous or off-guard responses developed as early as 1947. However, the invention and popularity of the television set created a veritable boom in the industry.
The Early Years
With the advent of television entertainment, reality programming took a few steps forward. Candid programs similar to the earlier radio shows as well as talent programs were common. In many programs, contestants would have an opportunity to showcase a skill or talent in hopes of achieving stardom. Other shows would attempt to interview or surprise individuals on the street and hope the situation would provide an amusing anecdote.
Reality Programming Starts to Catch On
Beginning in the 1970s, reality programming began moving in a new direction. Shows more similar to the programming of today were developed. Sample programming included watching a typical family work through a divorce or adjusting to life as nouveau rich. Naturally, shows such as these developed controversy, but despite critics, a new genre was gaining ground.
The Adolescence of Reality
Approximately twenty years later, a new genre of reality television was born – the talk show. The most notable of these involved guests, a very loosely applied term in this case, discussing issues and more often than not, discussion would disintegrate quickly into a fight onstage. Other talk shows attempted to take a more civilized approach with more subdued non-celebrity guests.
Shows geared toward teenagers and young adults became standard fare around the same time. These shows found strangers, set them up as roommates, and hoped for something scandalous, often with great success. Another popular format for reality shows during this time was crime shows – specifically shows which depicted police officers in action.
Reality Programming Today
Reality programming, as it is understood by many today, is anything that involves average citizens in an unscripted setting. There are many different styles of these shows including home design, personal style make-over, plastic surgery, romance, adventure, and various forms of competition.
Television audiences can now watch contestants compete for love in romantic destinations, or wait with clenched fists for the next round of eliminations on a rugged tropical island. Plastic surgery patients undergo extreme procedures under the watchful eyes of worldwide viewers, and couples can test their faithfulness in the face of extreme temptation.
With the plethora of reality programming choices available, it is only natural that contention and controversy would follow. Many argue that reality television no longer reflects reality, but instead has low-paid amateurs following orders or suggestions through scripted situations designed to garner higher ratings. With the confidentiality agreements and secretive nature of the industry however, this, at least for the present, will remain an unsubstantiated rumor.
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