A brief history of reality television from Candid Camera to today

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7. 1973, An American Family

8. You probably don’t associate reality TV with PBS, but in 1973 PBS introduced the first
documentary style reality television show, a 12 part series that followed the lives of
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an actual America family ---“An American Family” 1973

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The Louds

10. An American Family was groundbreaking on several
accounts. It showed the ups and downs of a real
family and portrayed the real coming out of the gay
son and the eventual divorce of the parents
While the intent was to make a show about
ordinary people, it made celebrities of them.
The show provoked controversy. Even the critics
disagreed; while some saw it as the greatest
realism, other found it artificial.
1983 documentary updates
The Loud family
2003, PBS broadcast Lance Loud!: A
Death in an American Family. The
family is shown again, before the
death of Lance.

11. 1988
Based on a 1967 German show and a 1984 British
show America’s Most wanted premiered in US. The
show featured low budget re-enactments of crimes.
Within four days of the first broadcast, one of FBI’s
Ten Most Wanted was captured.irect result

12. Writers Guild of America Strike –– MMaarr 77-- AAuugguusstt 77,, 11998888
Photo: Monica Almeida/The New York Times

13. Commissioned 1988 - Premiere 1989
COPS was commissioned for the Fox Network as the result of the
Writer’s strike.

14. Camera crews follow real police officers as they perform their duties.
Low cost and unscripted.

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16. 1992
The Real World on MTV
debuts. Inspired by PBS’s
An American Family, the
show depicted youth issues
such as sexuality, death,
politics, substance abuse
and AIDS.
Seven strangers picked to
live in a house and behave
badly.
The show is credited with
launching the modern era
of Reality TV.

17. Late 1990s- 2000s- Explosion of Reality TV
Big Brother broadcast in 1999 in the Netherlands, later
becoming a worldwide TV franchise.

18. Late 1990s- 2000s- Explosion of Reality TV
May 31, 2000 – Survivor, an American version of a Swedish
TV series created in 1997

19. 19
Mark Burnett
The King of Reality TV
"Eco-Challenge," 1995
“Survivor,” 2000, for CBS
"The Apprentice" for NBC
Are You Smarter than a 5th
Grader
The Voice
Shark Tank
Has produced over 2,400
hours of TV airing in +70
countries

20. Why are Reality Shows so successful aanndd uubbiiqquuiittoouuss??
Carefully selected contestants to engage in antics
People want to become famous and are willing to act up
Editing increases the drama and spins or manufactures stories
E! Online says 30-minute reality show costs about $100,000-
$500,000 per episode. They are not paying expensive actors.
Product tie-ins – placement are easily done
and…..
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21. Schadenfreude is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.
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22. Effects of Reality TV
Surge in non-scripted television
"Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Crank Yankers”
"Reno 911”
“The Hills”
“All-Reality Network” from FOX
What is the effect on our view of reality?
Does viewing change our perception of civility,
friendship, fame, relationships, race, and consumerism?
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