Article
Reality TV
Overview
Reality television became a dominant mainstream television form in the 2000s. Competition formats and docusoaps attracted mass audiences and exported local formats internationally.
Key Points
- Formats: competition shows (e.g., "Idol"/"American Idol"), survival formats ("Survivor"), talent shows, lifestyle/docusoap series and celebrity family reality shows.
- Globalisation: many formats were licensed internationally, producing local versions across Europe, Asia and Latin America.
- Cultural effects: reality TV shaped ideas of fame, produced new celebrity pathways, and influenced fashion, music cross‑promotion and social norms.
Writing Tips
- Use casting calls, live finales, voting mechanics, and confessional interviews as narrative devices to show public spectacle and private emotion.