Disadvantages Of Reality Shows

Introduction

The popularization and immense success of reality TV shows in the past two decades have led to a great change in the entertainment industry. According to Cianci (2009), small production costs make reality TV shows appealing to producers and broadcasters, and the programming of reality TV shows has developed so much that it now provides to global markets.
However, the amount of realism that goes into making these reality TV shows has always been an issue of debate. More often than not, these shows have been revealed to be scripted. This is completely in contradiction with the nature of reality TV shows which are supposed to be based on actual occurrences. In addition, producers have been known to go to extreme lengths in order

Styles include: documentary-style, reality legal programming, Reality competition or game shows, makeover shows, renovation, social experiment, hidden cameras, supernatural and paranormal, hoaxes, and etc.
In some shows the camera and the viewers are passive observers as the reality TV stars go about their daily/professional lives (E!’s Gulianna & Bill). Other shows create artificial living environments (Big Brother) or use competition as the main theme (Dancing with the Stars). Some shows even utilize extraordinary people and their talents and put an emphasis on particular behaviors and conflicts (Celebrity Love Island).
Reality TV shows can also be divided into shows revolving around celebrities, non-celebrities, or both. Some reality TV shows feature the day-to-day activities of a famous person or a celebrity. The point is to further develop the celebrity’s persona by bringing to the viewers a more down-to-earth version of them. Producers play on the ordinary person’s wish and curiosity to know more about a celebrity than what is displayed in the

Since their subject matter isn’t complicated, it doesn’t require much concentration. In addition to being an easy watch, reality TV shows build on the suspense which is the basic component of entertainment, and are specifically designed to raise and satisfy curiosity.
Christenson and Ivancin (2006) discuss the positive aspects of reality TV shows as given by TV industry people and fans. They argue that reality TV shows have “…the potential to provide inspiration for lifestyle changes such as weight loss or smoking cessation… [they give] a voice to normal, everyday people rather than stars; provides exposure to a broad range of human experiences not available in other programs; and may also provide viewers a sense of personal validation, an awareness that there are “people out there like me with the same kinds of problems I have” (Christenson and Ivancin, 2006,