Originally coined as an alternative to "Doumentary", to apply to shows done in a more cinema verite' style (first used for PBS's "An American Family" in the 1970's - not to be confused with current PBS fictional drama "American Family"), later for documentary series that followed the same subjects week after week (Fox TV's looking-over-the-policeman's-shoulder series "Cops"). First perverted by the dishonestly titled MTV series "The Real World" which placed several different types of MTV target audience members who otherwise would never have met each other (or likely, anyone like each other) into a totally artificial high-rent common residence and filmed their interreaction. Totally perverted with the debut of CBS' "Survivor", which by dropping its participants into an artificial primitive environment, then selecting the winner of a million-dollar prize on essentially a slow-motion popularity contest, was and is essentially an Extreme Game Show, as are other similarly formatted shows ("Big Brother", "Fear Factor"). Now the category has been further extended (and diluted beyond all reognition) by other programs with artificially contrived formats, like dating/mating competitions ("The Bachelor/Bachelorette" "Joe Millionaire"), talent contests("American Idol") and even home decorating and personal makeover shows ("Trading Spaces", "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"). Can these formats be entertaining television? Sometimes, yes. Are they anything resembling reality? No way!

submitted by Wendell

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