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REALITY TV STILL COMING ON STRONG
By Erin Day
There was a time when a number of media critics were confident over the failure of reality television. Guess who ‘survived?
Even if you don’t watch reality TV, it is becoming increasingly hard to avoid. Networks keep lining up the shows, as viewers keep tuning in like addicts. Is reality television now considered a legitimate TV genre, or is it yet another fad?
Strictly, speaking, reality TV refers to that semi-documentary style of programming first made popular 10 years ago on cable, where the lives of ordinary people are depicted and the “drama” plays out, unscripted, over a set period of time.
The modern version of reality TV actually started in 1973 when PBS aired An American Family, which documented the hardships of a California family. In 1992, MTV debuted The Real World, a reality show about a group of 20-year-old’s living together in a Manhattan loft apartment.
It wasn’t until the year 2000 when the blockbuster arrival of Survivor on CBS proved that reality TV had mass appeal. That summer, millions of Americans tuned in to watch 16 people stranded on a deserted island.
America’s obsession with Reality TV has left some people wondering what is it about this genre that makes us tune in? Steven Reiss, Psychology Today, conducted a survey of 239 people, asking them about their television viewing habits.
Two of the most commonly repeated misconceptions about reality TV viewers are that they watch in order to talk with friends and coworkers about the show, and that they are not as smart as other TV viewers. The study found that while some people watch it for their social life, it is not the only reason they tune in. And a person’s intellect has nothing to do with who watches reality TV, and who doesn’t.
Reiss also believes that Reality TV allows Americans to fantasize about gaining status through automatic fame.
“Ordinary people can watch the shows, see people like themselves and imagine that they too could become celebrities by being on television. The fact that millions of Americans are paying attention means that the contestants are important, said Reiss.”
For networks, the reality show’s appeal is obvious. They’re cheap, quick fixes, costing half as much as dramas or comedies to produce. They get great ratings in the short run, and the short run is what the TV business is all about these days.
Unscripted shows cost from $500,000 to $700,000 for a new series compared to $1.2 million for a typical drama or sitcom.
“It is a quick hit. They can change the fate of a network probably quicker than a drama or a comedy can. Few dramas and comedies come out of the box as quickly as reality shows do,” said president of CBS Leslie Moonves.
However, with all things that are too good to be true, there is always a catch. Even though TV schedules are cluttered with reality shows, which dominant ratings in every time slot, many executives believe it’s only a phase.
Jordan Levin, president of entertainment at the WB network told New York Times that the economics for reality TV do not provide for the long-term like a scripted series.
“You often can’t repeat the programming and the demand for reality shows is driving the prices up. Also, the shows can’t be syndicated, which also drives their cost up for one-time broadcasting, he said.”
Television has had its history of phases and crazes. Go back in time to look at network programming and you will see that for every genre, such as the sitcom, or the TV game show had its spotlight, and then faded away. For example, in the 60’ssitcoms with a supernatural twist such as Bewitched and The Munsters was a big hit
Most fads in television have a shelf life of about three years, with a number of knockoffs that hope to capture the magic of the original. While one or two imitators may catch on, the rest disappear.
Games shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire followed the pattern of Twenty-One and 64,000 Question. All of these shows were well into their third season before audiences started getting tired of the concept.
However, a small ratings drop hasn’t stopped reality television from coming on strong. Sitcoms have actually been moved off the schedule to make way for reality shows. There were 62 sitcoms on the schedule for network television in 1997, and only 35 this season.
If networks can somehow find a way to create another Seinfeld or Friends, reality TV will continue to be a sitcoms largest competition.
Robert Thompson, director of Syracuse University’s Center for the Study of Popular Television says reality TV is “beyond a trend.”
“It’s now a form, just like soap operas, doctor shows, or legal shows. I doubt you, me, our children or our grandchildren will know a time without it.”