How Do Viewers Get Hooked On Reality Television?

The Cast of Jersey Shore, a reality show following the lives of housemates living in Jersey Shore
Retrieved December 6, 2010, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jan/03/mtv-jersey-shore-guidos-italian

    After spending about three weeks here in Dublin, Ireland, I have noticed several similarities and differences to the U.S in regards to the entertainment world. The one thing that took me by surprise the most though, was the simple common addiction to reality television. For some reason, I had it in my mind that it was only America that had their televisions dominated by unscripted drama. Little did I know that if I'm not able to find the American version of a show on TV over here, it is almost guaranteed that I'll find a similar UK version. I was actually amazed at how much more was out there that I wasn't even aware of!

    In fact, I've learned that a lot of our shows were originals from the UK! They developed X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, and Pop Idol. These three reality shows virtually have the same concept, yet all have been extremely successful here. X Factor finale controversy is all over the news right now. And guess what? We've had American Idol, America's Got Talent, and next year Simon Cowell will be heading over to the states to launch his successful X Factor.

    Since the times of Survivor, reality television has taken off without much sign of stopping. I wanted to explore why it started and why many of the shows are still so successful today. According to an article in the Kansas City Star, the cut of costs is still one of the main attractions for producers. Star's Aaron Barnhart states that "It’s not unusual for an hour of scripted, primetime entertainment on NBC to exceed $3 million per hour. An unscripted show such as The Biggest Loser costs NBC less than $1 million per hour." The shows involve much smaller crews than a scripted show, and they don't have to hire actors or writers. From the producer's aspect, I can't see why you wouldn't want to go the reality television route if the ratings are good, and they have proven to be so! After reading some of the show synopses, its puzzling how they are.

    I'm still perplexed at how pitches of some reality shows got approved! Dance Your Ass Off? Cupcake Wars? Pawn Stars? Ice Road Truckers?! Please take a look of this list that I found of just American Reality Television Shows that have been produced. Any of them sound ridiculous to you? The list is unbelievable. You know what though? I have found myself way too often skimming through channels, landing across something I find unbelievably stupid, yet unable to pry myself from the TV. There seem to be two equally appealing types of reality shows that I've noticed. There are the ones that are based on some sort of competition, and there are those that seemingly just follow the lives of any and all different types of people. I'm guilty of watching both.

Dance Your Ass Off contestants compete in a competition hoping to simultaneously lose weight and gain dancing ability.

Retrieved December 6, 2010, from http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-fitness-and-health-in-national/casting-call-for-dance-your-ass-off-kicks-off-show-renewal-on-oxygen

    At the time I had started watching the History Channel's Top Shot, I knew nothing about guns, and really didn't have any desire to learn. I was amazed that they were able to make an entire reality show based on a shooting competition and truly thought the idea was awful. Yet, every week where did I end up?....On the couch with my father and boyfriend, practically making them watch the show! I couldn't believe how addicted I had gotten. I also cannot count the times one of my family members have walked in on me, fully engrossed in an episode of The Kardashians. Needless to say, I was embarrassed every time and felt like I had to give some sort of explanation. How did I get sucked in so easily to a show that seemed to virtually be about nothing?

Top Shot contestants compete in a battle of marksmanship.

Retrieved December 6, 2010, from http://pupista.blogspot.com

    I read further into the article, hoping to find a reason for what was so easily hooking audiences from the start. I think I found my answer. Even though the theme of all of these shows are completely varied, whether it's a competition or a camera crew living with the cast, they all have one thing in common: you get attached to the subjects! It is about the people. Although I didn't care one bit about marksmanship, I still HAD to know who would get eliminated from Top Shot next. After my favorite got the boot, I can honestly say I was sad! Reality shows have made it so that the producers can take any subject matter, and make it entertaining for all sorts of audiences. We become invested in the people and the drama, in a way that is different from scripted television shows. According to the article, "Reality also allow[s] for surprisingly rich character development as viewers f[ind] the real people cast on these shows [are] often more entertaining than the stock characters of prime time." So, it's not necessarily always the icy roads that draw us into the History Channels Ice Road Truckers, it is the people that drive on them. Other than the fact that in reality television it seems like everything has been done and pitched, the phenomenon doesn't seem to be going anywhere for now. 

 History Channel's Ice Road Truckers follows drivers as they make their way through treacherous territory.

Retrieved December 6, 2010 from http://sharetv.org/shows/ice_road_truckers

Barnhart, Aaron (2010, December 5). Reality TV shows find success with small budgets, strong personalities. The Kansas City Star. Retrieved from http://www.kansascity.com/2010/12/05/2499791/biggest-loser-other-reality-shows.html

Reality TV World. Retrieved December 6, 2010, from http://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvworld/allshows.shtml