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Reality Shows That Are Actually Real
Posted on 8/1/22 at 1:42 pm
Posted on 8/1/22 at 1:42 pm
Not scripted.
Watching Alone for a while now and I feel like it's one of the few reality shows that's actually not scripted. You're just thrown out there with a camera and a few items and see how long you last. Not much you can script with that.
Anything else? I've said for a while now that the popularity of reality shows has been a shot to creative TV. They're cheap to make and people eat them up.
Also, how does a show like The Curse of Oak Island or Finding Bigfoot stay on TV? I've never watched an episode but how many seasons can a show go on before people actually think, "you know, they're probably not going to find bigfoot."
Watching Alone for a while now and I feel like it's one of the few reality shows that's actually not scripted. You're just thrown out there with a camera and a few items and see how long you last. Not much you can script with that.
Anything else? I've said for a while now that the popularity of reality shows has been a shot to creative TV. They're cheap to make and people eat them up.
Also, how does a show like The Curse of Oak Island or Finding Bigfoot stay on TV? I've never watched an episode but how many seasons can a show go on before people actually think, "you know, they're probably not going to find bigfoot."
Posted on 8/1/22 at 2:08 pm to iwyLSUiwy
I think people have a misconception of what “scripted” reality shows are (same kind of thing came up in another thread(
These shows aren’t writing out lines for the characters, atleast the ones like you’re describing, the real world type shows aren’t writing a script, they simply get people as hammered as possible and cut together different scenes and audio clips to over dramatize smaller arguments or in a lot of cases inventing a completely new argument that never happened.
The other avenue for reality shows would be more scripted based, like Duck Dynasty or Pawn Stars, where they are at the very least sketching out plot points and some pre conceived zingers to go along with the same cast that become sort of their own TV characters over time. I get the impression that people think these reality shows are more realistic than the other type, and I think they are relatively closer to portraying things that actually happened, but ironically they rely on a script much more than your traditional reality show like The Real World or Survivor and things like that
Not sure I really agree with this. There’s no shortage of creative TV right now (can’t say the same for film unfortunately)and those projects are getting more funding than anything else being produced. Reality TV is it’s own vein and for the most part isn’t in some peak popularity area. If anything I’d say the 2000s-2010 ish was probably the peak of the over saturation of reality shows and now they are back to being mostly niche shows cheaply made by a few companies like Viacom
These shows aren’t writing out lines for the characters, atleast the ones like you’re describing, the real world type shows aren’t writing a script, they simply get people as hammered as possible and cut together different scenes and audio clips to over dramatize smaller arguments or in a lot of cases inventing a completely new argument that never happened.
The other avenue for reality shows would be more scripted based, like Duck Dynasty or Pawn Stars, where they are at the very least sketching out plot points and some pre conceived zingers to go along with the same cast that become sort of their own TV characters over time. I get the impression that people think these reality shows are more realistic than the other type, and I think they are relatively closer to portraying things that actually happened, but ironically they rely on a script much more than your traditional reality show like The Real World or Survivor and things like that
quote:
Anything else? I've said for a while now that the popularity of reality shows has been a shot to creative TV. They're cheap to make and people eat them up.
Not sure I really agree with this. There’s no shortage of creative TV right now (can’t say the same for film unfortunately)and those projects are getting more funding than anything else being produced. Reality TV is it’s own vein and for the most part isn’t in some peak popularity area. If anything I’d say the 2000s-2010 ish was probably the peak of the over saturation of reality shows and now they are back to being mostly niche shows cheaply made by a few companies like Viacom
This post was edited on 8/1/22 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 8/1/22 at 2:27 pm to wildtigercat93
My ex-wife was on an episode of swamp pawn. They gave her a script a few days before.
Posted on 8/1/22 at 2:28 pm to wildtigercat93
quote:
I think people have a misconception of what “scripted” reality shows are (same kind of thing came up in another thread(
These shows aren’t writing out lines for the characters, atleast the ones like you’re describing, the real world type shows aren’t writing a script, they simply get people as hammered as possible and cut together different scenes and audio clips to over dramatize smaller arguments or in a lot of cases inventing a completely new argument that never happened.
The other avenue for reality shows would be more scripted based, like Duck Dynasty or Pawn Stars, where they are at the very least sketching out plot points and some pre conceived zingers to go along with the same cast that become sort of their own TV characters over time. I get the impression that people think these reality shows are more realistic than the other type, and I think they are relatively closer to portraying things that actually happened, but ironically they rely on a script much more than your traditional reality show like The Real World or Survivor and things like that
When I think scripted TV I pretty much think of Pawn Stars and Duck Dynasty. I would agree that they are much more scripted than something like Survivor. I tried giving this show on Netflix a shot, Rust to Riches I think it is called. They fixed up super nice cars and one of the "mechanics" was just some incredibly hot braud. It was just so scripted I couldn't do it. The shop owner called the girl his engine expert. I looked online and she was just an Instagram model

I don't mind Forged in Fire because its pretty real. But its basically just "hey, make a knife better than the guy next to you." Not much you can do wrong with that.
quote:
Not sure I really agree with this. There’s no shortage of creative TV right now (can’t say the same for film unfortunately)and those projects are getting more funding than anything else being produced. Reality TV is it’s own vein and for the most part isn’t in some peak popularity area. If anything I’d say the 2000s-2010 ish was probably the peak of the over saturation of reality shows and now they are back to being mostly niche shows cheaply made by a few companies like Viacom
There is no shortage of non reality shows for me. There is plenty enough stuff for me given all of the streaming services. It might not be peak reality TV years, but it definitely still takes a hit at creative writing. How many channels now are almost all strictly reality TV? The History channel puts out about two mini series a year and make it seem like some major motion picture event when they do. They started H2 just so they could show some actual history shows and now that's even mostly reality TV.
This doesn't bother me at all. Like I say, I have plenty of good stuff to watch. Not sure I've watched a cable TV show since Parks and Rec. But there is a massive amount of lazy TV out there.
Posted on 8/1/22 at 2:35 pm to iwyLSUiwy
I got hooked on the 90 day fiancé show. Most are still married years later so I guess there’s some genuinity to it.
It’s amazing to me what some loser American male will put up with just so he can have some half assed decent looking chick who can’t speak English.
It’s amazing to me what some loser American male will put up with just so he can have some half assed decent looking chick who can’t speak English.
This post was edited on 8/1/22 at 2:39 pm
Posted on 8/1/22 at 2:40 pm to wildtigercat93
quote:
The other avenue for reality shows would be more scripted based, like Duck Dynasty or Pawn Stars, where they are at the very least sketching out plot points and some pre conceived zingers to go along with the same cast that become sort of their own TV characters over time. I get the impression that people think these reality shows are more realistic than the other type, and I think they are relatively closer to portraying things that actually happened, but ironically they rely on a script much more than your traditional reality show like The Real World or Survivor and things like that
But shows like Survivor, Big Brother, Amazing Race, etc. can be heavily weighted by the producers and showrunners deciding on competitions that favor certain contestants at certain times. Sometimes, it's very obvious. I consider that fairly scripted. It often seems very scripted when certain people find Idols at certain times as well.
Posted on 8/1/22 at 2:45 pm to MrFreakinMiyagi
quote:
Cops
That is all
Not necessarily. Each PD/Sheriff's office featured reserved final editorial say in what did and didn't make the cut for broadcast. It was in a way a recruiting video to serve as a LEO.
The Cops episode of Dark Side of the 90s was pretty interesting.
Posted on 8/1/22 at 3:09 pm to cgrand
quote:
survivorman
That was my first thought. Les Stroud heads out alone, films himself as he shows his survival skills and is finally extracted.
Someone mentioned those "Finding Bigfoot" type shows which there seem to be several going on right now. They are beyond silly for the most part with a bunch of old, bearded fat rednecks running around the woods with guns claiming every noise they hear is a bigfoot.
Those shows are almost as funny as watching wild haired Georgio making claims about how space aliens are responsible for just about every architectural marvel in ancient history---the pyramids in Egypt, the ancient ruins in Central and South America of the Inca and Aztec, etc., etc.
Posted on 8/1/22 at 3:14 pm to LaLadyinTx
Yeah I don’t mean to say those shows are super realistic or not manipulated like you say, I just think putting it under the umbrella of “scripted” gives off the wrong impression to what’s actually happening
Any kind of competitive show like that will have some aspect of the producers influencing the winners, mostly because you need interesting characters to have a show, and if left to their own devices, those characters would probably be kicked out in like 2 episodes every time
But I don’t think it’s at the level of “hey John for this scene we need you to yell at Kelly about the idol”. The best versions of this show let that happen naturally by putting external pressure on the people on the show (booze, physical exhaustion, desperation etc) as well as some post production magic in the editing room
Any kind of competitive show like that will have some aspect of the producers influencing the winners, mostly because you need interesting characters to have a show, and if left to their own devices, those characters would probably be kicked out in like 2 episodes every time

But I don’t think it’s at the level of “hey John for this scene we need you to yell at Kelly about the idol”. The best versions of this show let that happen naturally by putting external pressure on the people on the show (booze, physical exhaustion, desperation etc) as well as some post production magic in the editing room
Posted on 8/1/22 at 3:33 pm to LaLadyinTx
quote:
But shows like Survivor, Big Brother, Amazing Race, etc. can be heavily weighted by the producers and showrunners deciding on competitions that favor certain contestants at certain times.
I feel like out of the three Survivor does this the least. But shows like this have carved out their own genre of reality based gameshows as opposed to reality TV. You can lump in anything where a prize is attached but it isn't shot in a traditional studio.
I just to love junkyard wars back in the day.
Posted on 8/1/22 at 4:02 pm to Tacktheritrix
quote:
16 and pregnant
I read that during the years that this was aired that there was a staggering reduction in teen pregnancy. Also lots of web searches and Memes about their poor decisions.
Posted on 8/1/22 at 4:03 pm to iwyLSUiwy
There’s a new show on HBO called the rehearsal. They pick people that struggle to do some thing in real life and they rehearse it. The rehearsals are so elaborate it’s hard to believe that it’s real…
Posted on 8/1/22 at 4:14 pm to iwyLSUiwy
quote:
When I think scripted TV I pretty much think of Pawn Stars
But it works for what it was...yeah it's miraculous that these dumbos can see an item and give a history lesson on it off the cuff...but hey, it's the history channel. And the show is there to show us cool shite, even if it's not actually being purchased...but just there for TV.
I wish Rebecca had gotten a spinoff show.

Alone feels real but there's no way they don't have safety nets and protections due to liabilty. The viewing of Bears could be Circus Bears planted for all we know.
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