How have game shows influenced reality TV?
Game shows have influenced reality TV in a number of ways due to the fact it has basic format which can be easily changed to suit different audiences and countless settings. Game shows rely on chance and the contestant’s knowledge and ability to make life changing decisions in the space of time of a television programme. A game show like Survivor relies on the contestants to not only make decisions that will affect their life but to do so within the framework of the game.
“After the ‘smash-hit’ of Survivor, the networks scrambled to glut the market with a winning formula of gameshow, observational documentary and high drama” (Hill 2005 p. 104). Programmes such as Hells Kitchen and The Biggest Loser use this format to create a programme which involves the audience by pulling at their emotions and getting them hooked on the possible outcome. This sort of reality programme led to the production of life experiment shows. “Part social experiment, part makeover and part gameshow, life experiment programmes usually involve ordinary people experimenting with their lives in various different ways” (Hill 2005 p. 105). Like the programme Queer Eye for the Straight Guy which involved a team of stylists giving one heterosexual man a makeover including redecorating his home and providing him with advice on his love life.
Another way in which gameshows have influenced reality TV is in terms of shows such as I’m a celebrity…get me out of here and Celebrity Big Brother. These shows focus on turning celebrities into ‘ordinary people’ for the purpose of seeing how they cope with their change in setting and lifestyle. Turning the camera on celebrities so to speak also paved the way for shows such as Punk’d a celebrity version of Candid Camera. As stated by Hill (2005) “…as reality gameshows move into the realm of popular entertainment and performance becomes even more central to the success of contestants” (p. 106) it is no wonder that the reality gameshow has had such an impact on the success of reality TV.
Why is reality TV so popular for both programme makers and TV viewers?
Reality TV is so popular for both programme makers and TV viewers as it incorporates well established television genres and programme formats and adapts them into something new and fresh for the TV audience. “Popular factual programming can fit under a range of traditional categories, such as entertainment, and/or topics such as health, but it can also be labelled as reality TV when beneficial to the industry” (Hill 2005 p. 45).
Its popularity can be linked to the fact that is easy to produce and in most cases is highly riveting. “The target viewers of reality TV are the type of viewers who choose popular rather than traditional or specialist factual programming precisely because it is factual and entertaining” (Hill 2005 p.53). The popularity of reality TV makes it worth the while of programme makers to invest time and effort into making shows which captivate television viewers.
Good responses, although it would have been interesting to read your own opinion of Reality TV in the second one. Also what are your views on the fact that Reality TV is now the dominant genre on TV primetime?
ReplyDeleteReality TV is now a dominant genre on TV prime time as it IS so captivating. Most people can't help wanting to know what is happening in the lives of everyone else. I personally am a big fan of Project Runway, number one because I am interested in the fashion, but secondly because it is amazing to see what people put themselves through in the hope of making it big. In my opinion the show is made even more interesting by the fact that it does have a game show format. People are set tasks which then have to be carried out in a limited time frame and then are judged by a panel of experts. Based on how well the contestants do, one person is voted out every week and you find yourself either rooting for someone to stay or hoping someone is sent home, therefore making you feel involved. I guess that is another reason why reality TV is so popular, audience members feel they have a vested interest in the outcome.
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