Cue the Sun!

1. Reality TV's Roots: From Radio to "Dirty Documentary"

They stripped away the barrier between the star and the viewer.

Early audience participation. Reality TV didn't spring out of nowhere; it evolved from radio shows in the 1930s and 40s that featured ordinary people, like call-in advice programs and quiz shows. These shows, often dismissed as vulgar, were incredibly popular, offering a new kind of "authenticity" by letting regular people share their stories and secrets.

• Lester Kroll's "The Good Will Hour" invited guests to confess their marital woes.
• Shows like "People Are Funny" and "Truth or Consequences" featured wacky dares and humiliating punishments.
• These early formats were cheap to produce, relying on unpaid volunteers rather than actors and writers.

The "misery show" trend. Shows like "Queen for a Day" focused on female suffering, offering prizes to women with the most tragic backstories. These programs, while exploitative, also provided a rare platform for women to share their experiences publicly.

• "Queen for a Day" was a blend of abjection and Vegas glitz, with women competing for prizes based on their hardships.
• Critics condemned these shows as "cruel carnivals" that traded in humiliation.
• However, they also offered a space for women to bond over shared troubles and express a kind of prefeminist candor.

Allen Funt's innovation. Allen Funt's "Candid Camera" took audience participation a step further by recording people without their knowledge, creating the first prank show. This marked a shift from willing participants to "involuntary amateurs," capturing authentic reactions by throwing people off balance.

• Funt's hidden-camera stunts were initially designed to capture "the beauty of everyday conversation," but evolved into a form of social provocation.
• He became the first major auteur of reality TV, inventing the hidden-camera stunt and the producer-provocateur.
• His work was both praised as a study of human behavior and condemned as a cruel exploitation of vulnerability.

2. The Rise of the "Misery Show" and the Voyeuristic Prank

Reality programs are shows that merge documentary techniques with some more rigid, easily repeatable approach to storytelling, like the game show or the soap opera, the talent contest or the sports competition—old-school episodic structures that were native to serialized radio and television.

"Misery shows" as a cultural phenomenon. Shows like "Queen for a Day" and "Strike It Rich" became popular by showcasing the suffering of ordinary people, particularly women. These programs were often criticized for exploiting poverty and trauma, but they also offered a rare glimpse into the lives of those often ignored by mainstream media.

• These shows were often condemned as "disgusting spectacles" and "national disgraces."
• They were also seen as a way for women to share their stories and bond over shared troubles.
• The focus was on the "kinetics of distress," capturing the gasp, the sob, and the pause.

The hidden camera's power. Allen Funt's "Candid Camera" introduced the concept of the hidden camera, capturing people "in the act of being themselves." This technique, while controversial, became a cornerstone of reality TV, blurring the lines between observation and manipulation.

• Funt's early sketches were recorded in his office, using a wire recorder that weighed over 100 pounds.
• He later used portable recorders, hiding them in hats or arm casts.
• The show's success lay in its ability to capture authentic emotional responses, often by throwing people off balance.

The reveal as a key element. Funt's addition of "the reveal" – the moment when subjects learned they were being filmed – added a new layer to the format, providing a moral escape hatch for the viewer and transforming the prank into a collaboration.

• The reveal allowed subjects to regain some agency and control.
• It also added an extra beat to the comedy, shifting the focus from the prank to the subject's reaction.
• The show's theme song, "Smile! You're on Candid Camera," reinforced the idea that being pranked was a compliment.

3. Barris's Bawdy Game Shows: Sex, Schmaltz, and Subversion

In our shows, people have no choice but to be honest…. They may try to psych us out, but it doesn’t work. We’ll get ’em every time.

Barris's rise as a TV impresario. Chuck Barris, a self-described "Ayatollah of Trasherola," brought a new level of bawdiness and subversion to the game show format. His shows, like "The Dating Game" and "The Newlywed Game," were marked by their suggestive humor and focus on personal relationships.

• Barris's shows were a product of the sexual revolution, reflecting the changing attitudes towards sex and marriage.
• "The Dating Game" featured hot, dumb Angelenos flirting across a wall, while "The Newlywed Game" exposed the often-awkward realities of marriage.
• Barris's shows were popular because they were cheap to produce and tapped into a desire for authenticity.

The Newlywed Game's transgressive humor. "The Newlywed Game" was particularly notable for its focus on marital conflict and its willingness to explore taboo subjects. The show's most notorious moment, a wife's response to a "making whoopee" question, became a cultural touchstone.

• The show's questions often focused on sex and marital secrets, pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable on television.
• The show's success lay in its ability to capture genuine emotional responses, from laughter to anger.
• It also revealed the gap between the idealized image of marriage and the messy reality.

The Gong Show's chaotic energy. "The Gong Show" was Barris's most outrageous creation, a talent contest for the talent-free. The show's chaotic energy and embrace of the absurd made it a cult classic.

• The show featured a panel of wisecracking C-list judges who would "gong" performers offstage.
• Barris himself became a key part of the show's appeal, with his nervous tics and inarticulate mumbles.
• "The Gong Show" was a celebration of failure, a camp delight that sliced through the cornball sentimentality of 1970s pop culture.

4. "An American Family": The Birth of the Real-Life Soap Opera

This series is about the William C. Loud family…. This was a cooperative venture in every sense of the word.

A groundbreaking documentary series. "An American Family" was a revolutionary project that followed the Loud family of Santa Barbara, California, for seven months, capturing their lives with cinéma vérité techniques. The series became a cultural phenomenon, sparking intense debate about privacy, family, and the role of television.

• The show was initially conceived as a "youthquake" series, exploring themes like divorce and psychedelics.
• It became a deeply personal and intimate portrait of a family in crisis, as Pat Loud asked her husband for a divorce on camera.
• The series was a radical departure from traditional documentaries, with no narrator and a focus on raw, unmediated emotion.

The Louds as reality stars. The Loud family became the first reality stars, their lives dissected and debated by the media and the public. The show's focus on their personal struggles, particularly Pat and Lance's relationship, made them both iconic and controversial figures.

• The show's marketing emphasized the family's dysfunction, leading to a backlash from the Louds themselves.
• The series sparked a debate about the ethics of documentary filmmaking and the exploitation of its subjects.
• The Louds became a symbol of the changing American family, with all its complexities and contradictions.

The show's legacy. "An American Family" paved the way for future reality shows, establishing the real-life soap opera as a powerful and enduring format. The series also raised important questions about the relationship between the camera and its subjects, and the impact of television on our understanding of reality.

• The show's influence can be seen in later reality series, from "The Real World" to "The Real Housewives."
• It also highlighted the power of television to both reflect and shape our understanding of the world.
• The series's legacy is a complex one, full of both beauty and pain.

5. The Clip Show Era: AFV and the Rise of "Involuntary Amateurs"

We are at the beginning of the Age of the Involuntary Amateur, the man who doesn’t know it’s loaded. The possibilities are limitless; the prospect is horrifying. Wait till they get the Candid Television Camera. You won’t be safe in your own bathtub.

The rise of the clip show. In the 1980s, as scripted shows became more formulaic, a new type of reality programming emerged: the clip show. These shows, like "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Cops," relied on short, often outrageous bursts of action, blurring the lines between comedy and violence.

• "America's Funniest Home Videos" featured viewer-submitted videos of slapstick accidents and cute animals.
• "Cops" offered a raw, unmediated glimpse into the world of law enforcement, often focusing on urban poverty and crime.
• These shows were cheap to produce and tapped into a desire for authentic, unscripted content.

AFV's family-friendly appeal. "America's Funniest Home Videos" became a massive hit by offering a lighthearted, family-friendly take on the reality genre. The show's focus on slapstick and cute animals made it a safe and accessible form of entertainment.

• The show's theme song, "You're the red, white, and blue! / The funny things you do," reinforced its patriotic and wholesome image.
• It was a low-stakes form of stardom, with viewers sending in their home videos for a chance at fame and fortune.
• The show's success demonstrated the appeal of found comedy and the power of the "involuntary amateur."

Cops's gritty realism. "Cops," in contrast, offered a much darker and more controversial take on reality, filming real police officers as they made arrests. The show's shaky-cam aesthetic and focus on urban crime made it a powerful and often disturbing viewing experience.

• The show was criticized for its racial biases and its portrayal of police as heroes and suspects as villains.
• It also became a template for future reality shows, demonstrating the power of the "producer-provocateur" and the "hidden camera."
• The show's success demonstrated the appeal of raw, unmediated footage, even when it was morally ambiguous.

6. The Reality TV Boom: Survivor, Big Brother, and the New Millennium

They were rogue documentarians and amateur sociologists, gleeful manipulators and shameless voyeurs, piratical entrepreneurs who kept a sharp eye on the bottom line.

The reality TV explosion. The turn of the millennium saw a massive explosion in reality TV, with shows like "Survivor" and "Big Brother" becoming cultural phenomena. These shows combined elements of game shows, soap operas, and documentaries, creating a new type of entertainment that was both addictive and controversial.

• "Survivor" was a high-stakes competition show that stranded contestants on a remote island, forcing them to compete for survival.
• "Big Brother" was a voyeuristic social experiment that confined contestants in a house, filming their every move.
• These shows were marked by their high production values, their focus on strategy and manipulation, and their ability to generate intense emotional responses from viewers.

Survivor's strategic gameplay. "Survivor" became a hit by combining the adventure of a nature documentary with the strategic gameplay of a game show. The show's focus on alliances, betrayals, and tribal councils made it a compelling viewing experience.

• The show's format was designed to create conflict and drama, with contestants voting one another off the island.
• It also introduced the concept of the "reveal," the moment when the winner was announced, adding a new layer of suspense.
• The show's success demonstrated the power of a well-designed format and the appeal of watching people compete for power and status.

Big Brother's voyeuristic appeal. "Big Brother" took a different approach, focusing on the voyeuristic appeal of watching people live their lives under constant surveillance. The show's live feeds and focus on personal relationships made it a unique and often unsettling viewing experience.

• The show's format was designed to create a sense of intimacy and connection between viewers and contestants.
• It also explored the darker side of human nature, revealing the ways in which people behave when they think they are being watched.
• The show's success demonstrated the power of the "feed" and the appeal of watching people's lives unfold in real time.

7. The Bachelor and Joe Millionaire: Romance as a Spectacle

It’s hard to nail down one clear definition for reality programming, but in this book I conceive of the genre as “dirty documentary”: It’s cinéma vérité filmmaking that has been cut with commercial contaminants, like a street drug, in order to slash the price and intensify the effect.

The rise of dating reality. "The Bachelor" and "Joe Millionaire" took the reality genre in a new direction, focusing on the spectacle of romance. These shows combined elements of dating shows, beauty pageants, and soap operas, creating a new type of entertainment that was both aspirational and exploitative.

• "The Bachelor" featured a single man dating multiple women, with the goal of finding a wife.
• "Joe Millionaire" was a parody of "The Bachelor," in which women competed for the affections of a man they believed was a millionaire.
• These shows were marked by their focus on glamour, romance, and the pursuit of love and status.

The Bachelor's romantic fantasy. "The Bachelor" became a hit by offering viewers a romantic fantasy, complete with roses, exotic locations, and dramatic declarations of love. The show's focus on heterosexual romance made it a popular choice for female viewers.

• The show's format was designed to create a sense of suspense and anticipation, with contestants competing for the bachelor's attention.
• It also tapped into a desire for traditional romance, with its focus on marriage and commitment.
• The show's success demonstrated the power of a well-crafted fantasy and the appeal of watching people fall in love.

Joe Millionaire's cynical twist. "Joe Millionaire," in contrast, offered a cynical and often cruel take on romance, exposing the ways in which people are willing to manipulate and deceive one another in the pursuit of love and money.

• The show's twist – that the "millionaire" was actually a working-class man – revealed the shallowness of the contestants' motivations.
• It was a parody of "The Bachelor," exposing the artifice and manipulation that often underlie reality TV.
• The show's success demonstrated the appeal of a cynical and often cruel take on romance.

8. Bravo's "Affluencers" and the Gentrification of Reality TV

Like other “lowbrow” art forms—comic books, horror films, pornography—reality has often been treated as a substance sold under the counter, less an art form than a drug, powerful because it was forbidden.

Bravo's brand of "aspirational" reality. Bravo, under the leadership of Lauren Zalaznick, carved out a unique niche in the reality TV landscape by focusing on "affluencers," a demographic of wealthy, stylish, and often gay viewers. The network's shows, like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Project Runway," were marked by their high production values and focus on taste and sophistication.

• Bravo's shows were designed to appeal to a niche audience, rather than the mass market.
• They were marked by their focus on glamour, style, and the pursuit of a better life.
• The network's success demonstrated the power of a well-defined brand and the appeal of aspirational content.

Queer Eye's cultural impact. "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" became a cultural phenomenon by celebrating gay male style and expertise. The show's Fab Five became iconic figures, offering makeovers to straight men and challenging traditional notions of masculinity.

• The show was a celebration of gay culture, but it also made that culture more accessible to a mainstream audience.
• It was a feel-good show that emphasized the power of self-improvement and the importance of personal style.
• The show's success demonstrated the appeal of a positive and inclusive portrayal of gay men.

Project Runway's fashion focus. "Project Runway" took a different approach, focusing on the world of fashion design. The show's focus on creativity, skill, and competition made it a hit with both fashion enthusiasts and casual viewers.

• The show's format was designed to showcase the talent and creativity of its contestants.
• It also offered a glimpse into the often-cutthroat world of the fashion industry.
• The show's success demonstrated the appeal of a high-stakes competition and the power of a well-defined aesthetic.

9. The Apprentice: Reality TV as a Political Training Ground

If you could knock your subjects off balance, they’d reveal a moment so shocking and, sometimes, so tender or surprising, that it would shatter viewer skepticism.

The Apprentice's corporate setting. "The Apprentice" took the reality genre in a new direction, focusing on the world of business. The show's format, which featured Donald Trump as the host and judge, combined elements of a game show, a talent contest, and a workplace drama.

• The show's premise was that contestants were competing for a job with Trump, a real estate mogul.
• It was marked by its focus on competition, strategy, and the pursuit of success.
• The show's success demonstrated the appeal of a high-stakes competition and the power of a charismatic host.

Trump as a reality TV star. Donald Trump's role as the host of "The Apprentice" transformed him into a national celebrity, a figure who was both admired and reviled. The show's focus on his business acumen and his catchphrase, "You're fired," made him a cultural icon.

• The show's success was due in part to Trump's larger-than-life personality and his ability to connect with viewers.
• It also tapped into a desire for success and the American dream.
• The show's legacy is a complex one, with Trump's persona becoming a key element in his later political career.

The show's political implications. "The Apprentice" became a training ground for Trump's political ambitions, providing him with a platform to build his brand and connect with voters. The show's focus on business and success made him a popular figure among conservatives.

• The show's format, with its focus on competition and hierarchy, mirrored the political landscape.
• It also demonstrated the power of reality TV to shape public opinion and influence political discourse.
• The show's legacy is a cautionary tale about the dangers of celebrity and the blurring of lines between entertainment and politics.

10. The Enduring Paradox: Authenticity, Exploitation, and the Viewer's Gaze

It’s hard to nail down one clear definition for reality programming, but in this book I conceive of the genre as “dirty documentary”: It’s cinéma vérité filmmaking that has been cut with commercial contaminants, like a street drug, in order to slash the price and intensify the effect.

The blurred lines of reality. Reality TV has always been marked by a tension between authenticity and artifice. The genre's reliance on real people and unscripted moments is often undercut by the manipulations of producers and the demands of commercial television.

• Reality shows are often described as "dirty documentaries," blending cinéma vérité techniques with commercial contaminants.
• The genre's success lies in its ability to capture authentic emotional responses, even when those responses are produced under pressure.
• The line between reality and fiction is often blurred, with producers manipulating situations and editing footage to create a compelling narrative.

The ethics of exploitation. Reality TV has always been criticized for its exploitation of its subjects, particularly those who are vulnerable or naive. The genre's reliance on real people and their personal stories raises ethical questions about consent, privacy, and the impact of fame.

• Early reality shows often relied on the innocence of their stars, their inability to understand what they were consenting to.
• The genre's focus on humiliation and conflict has led to accusations of cruelty and sadism.
• The question of consent remains a central ethical challenge for reality TV producers.

The viewer's role. Reality TV is not just about the people on screen; it's also about the people who watch them. The genre's success lies in its ability to tap into our voyeuristic impulses and our desire to see ourselves reflected in the lives of others.

• Reality shows function as a mirror of the people who watch them, reflecting both their best and worst qualities.
• The genre's popularity is due in part to its ability to break taboos and explore forbidden topics.
• The viewer's gaze is a powerful force, shaping both the content of reality TV and its impact on the culture.

Last updated: February 3, 2025