Reality shows free essay sample

â€Å"I do like reality shows, and I watch some of them because they’re high drama. Its also just fun to watch people have honest reactions† Lisa Kudrov . People love reality shows for its drama, its entertaining to them. Americans spend 1/3 of their free time watching television and of that 67% are reality shows. This means that more than half of America watches reality shows. Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents unscripted situations and actual occurrences, and often features a previously unknown cast. The genre began in earnest in the early to mid-1990s with The Real World. It then exploded as a phenomenon in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the global success of the series Survivor. These shows and a number of others (usually also competition-based) became global franchises, spawning local versions in dozens of countries. Reality television as a whole has become a fixture of television programming. We will write a custom essay sample on Reality shows or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Reality shows are so popular because first, fame and fortune are very appealing features. They can lure everyday people out of their boring lives with offers of money and appreciation by television viewers. The second reason reality TV shows are so popular is television viewers are quite simply nosey. They like to know what is going on behind closed doors and if it involves some type of controversy, that just makes it more intriguing. Its not scripted. One Reason why reality shows are so popular is because fame and fortune are very appealing features. They can lure everyday people out of their boring lives with offers of money and appreciation by television viewers. Reality TV shows have gone from exposing personal lives, for example keeping up with the Kardashians, to almost anything imaginable. There are reality TV shows about cooking, magic, business, relationships, jobs, skills, fitness, sports, cooking, home repair, car repair – you name it and there is probably a reality show about it on some channel. It motivates some people to better with themselves. Seeing these celebrities with money, big houses, cars, etc. gives the viewer an incentive to get that, too. It’s almost like an instant gratification. As the average American, we often long for those things. So when people see that, it motivates them, and makes them tune in every week to watch the show. More viewers equals more popularity. First and foremost reality shows are unscripted. Everything in the set happens spontaneously which gives the show a natural and not forced humor. It is based on real life events that is why a lot of people can relate to whatever is aired by the TV show making them more popular to the crowd. Also, most people featured are the ordinary looking ones and not the bigtime celebrity other TV shows usually have as a guest. Most of the time its just everyday people such as you and me. It can also relate to people that already have money. it’s because freedom and free speech. As reality shows basically reflects our actions in our daily lives. This will help the viewers to gain the confidence in voicing out their opinions. Those people have an equal opportunity to express their opinion. Reality shows are popular as it helps to bring out the voices of the people. Another reason why reality shows are so popular is because television viewers are quite simply nosey. They like to know what is going on behind closed doors and if it involves some type of controversy. Viewers love watching drama that has nothing to do with them. Its like they get a kick out of seeing others argue or fight. As long as there’s drama, there will be viewers. Reality shows are most similar to gossip between friends, neighbors and people, especially women, like to watch and talk about it. It makes the viewers feel like they actually know the characters. Like real life when we often gossip about people we know, or know about. Its an infatuating group conversation. Because of this reason they have a large amount of peoples watching it. Most of the scenes are not scripted and everyone wants to see what each character is up to, said or do that week. Each reality shows has their own theme which makes the show very interesting, but what make all realty TV show so popular are the reality stars they make the show gorgeous and keep people on track, that’s why people are so impatient to see the other episode. We love them! We follow them weekly and we never got enough time for watching them every week. It‘s difficult to watch every one. But many have favorites and they watch them weekly. In conclusion, reality shows are very popular. Whether it be from the money and fame, or simply because of the drama, reality shows are favored amongst viewers. Some people may disagree, but reality shows are only going to get more and more popular. Reality Shows free essay sample Fame seekers may claim that reality TVs biggest advantage comes in its unrivaled ability to produce more 15 minutes of fame stars than other TV genres. A reality show provides exposure that people could not get anywhere else, giving non-celebrities the potential to become household names and land opportunities that otherwise may evade them. Achieving Ones Dream Competitive reality programs offer another advantage to participants: the opportunity to follow dreams, land big breaks or win large amounts of cash. Viewers, in turn, may think they can accomplish the same and apply. Aside from the winner, numerous finalists on Foxs American Idol secure a record deal, while the triumphant contestant on CBS Survivor wins $1 million. Romantically challenged people could find love by appearing on reality dating shows such as ABCs The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Couples from both series went on to enjoy lengthy post-show relationships, though like real life, Cupids arrow sometimes shoots and misses the mark. We will write a custom essay sample on Reality Shows or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Sponsored Links Who. is Lookup Free A Global Who Is Lookup for Domains. Most accurate listing online! www. ho. is Lack of Privacy Participants (and in some instances viewers) also have to deal with reality TV disadvantages. Applicants need to read the fine print in every legal document they sign, as a personal release form gives TV producers the rights to film them during every aspect of the program. If you apply to appear on a reality program, you have no grounds to complain about lack of privacy, or that you cannot control what ends up on TV. Every stipulation usually appears in personal and location release forms, as well as informed consent forms. Harmful Effects to Reputation When participants surrender their rights to privacy, they may not consider reality TVs long-term effects, subjecting themselves to potentially humiliating events that harm their reputation. Some participants emerge unscathed and parlay bad reputations into other ventures, but others may experience less fortune. If participants engage in questionable behavior and it appears on television, it could impact their relationships with family and friends, not to mention employers and the law. Established celebrities have no immunity to reality TVs consequences; any questionable behavior on a reality program may cause Hollywood to have little to no interest in working with celebrities on future projects. The Editing Process and Inauthenticity Viewers often wonder if reality TV projects real-life, unscripted moments. Programs like Foxs COPS depend on authentic interaction between law enforcement and criminals. Most reality shows, though, may edit programs to fit their own agenda, presenting viewers expecting reality with inauthentic programming. Such actions may result in exaggerations of events or painting participants in an inaccurate, non-flattering light. Participants in programs like The Real World claim producers influence what people do on camera. Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, who emerged with a less-than-flattering reputation while on NBCs The Apprentice, told Time magazine that producers never filmed her when she was making nice, only during heated, great-for-TV moments. Some participants use reality TV as a means to portray a type of person they could not be in real life. Such was the case for Russell Kairouz, who claims that his jerk-like behavior was all a show on on CBS Big Brother in summer 2009. Regardless of whether reality shows fake it, most viewers do not seem to mind, according to a 2006 Time poll. More than half of respondents said that accuracy did not impact their enjoyment of a program, while less than one-third believed reality shows depicted real experiences.