Reality TV

This passage discusses what drives people to take part in, as well as watch, reality TV shows

Lexile Level: 1230L

Categories: People & Places

While hidden camera shows and documentaries have been around since the beginning of television programming, never has reality television comprised such a large percentage of the total programs offered by the networks. Every season, dozens of people walk out of their everyday lives into national stardom. Producers have no trouble finding people prepared to submit themselves to outrageous and potentially embarrassing scenarios. They leave family and friends for days, weeks, or months for little compensation beyond a shot at celebrity. Potential fame offers a rather simple explanation as to what motivates reality cast members. Trying to explain the viewing public's fascination, however, may be a bit more complicated. What compels millions of Americans to spend large quantities of time watching strangers coexist with others? Could it be that a large portion of Americans are voyeurs at heart? Or have changes in technology created a social environment that makes much of the population feel so isolated that we seek "connections" with strangers on television? Perhaps through reality programming we learn as much about the culture at large as we do about the strangers who weekly enter our living rooms.