2008 Woodie Awards
Coming soon ... More reality TV
Amber Ernst
Issue date: 12/7/04 Section: Lifestyles
"You might possibly be the worst singer in the entire world."
"This week, you are the biggest loser."
"You don't look like an 'American Idol'."
"You're fired!"
This is what Americans call entertainment.
Many students, like sophomore Karen Stirnaman, claim to watch one or two reality TV shows religiously each week.
"I watch 'Real World' and 'Laguna Beach' every Tuesday," Stirnaman said.
According to Spencer Tang in his article "The Phenomenon of Reality TV," reality TV has been dominating American TV screens with game shows, daytime talk shows, "amazing" home videos, wild animal attacks and cops since the early 1990s.
However, today's more popular examples of reality TV include "The Bachelor," "Survivor," "Temptation Island" and "The Amazing Race."
To get a better idea of exactly how common reality TV has become, the Web site reality Tvworld.com said there are currently 209 reality TV shows running through U.S. airwaves.
Also, the Web site VH1.com claimed, "In the last few years, reality TV has become television's most popular form of entertainment. Each season, reality producers find new and outrageous ways to stir up emotion, romance and humiliation."
The geocities.com Web site offered three main reasons why reality television has become popular: money, fame and the guilty pleasure phenomenon.
Mark Fishman, a sociology professor at Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, has made a study of reality TV.
"The Germans have a word for the appeal of some of these shows-it's called schadenfreude and means taking delight in the misfortunes of others," Fishman said. "Schadenfreude is an unconscious desire of human nature and is mainly responsible for the success of reality TV producers."
Although many think the concept of reality TV is a more recent fad, Reality News Online said the concept actually began in the 1960s with Chuck Barris and the "Newlywed Show." Barris based the show around the embarrassment of the contestants when they did not know items such as their spouse's favorite food or worst habit.
"This week, you are the biggest loser."
"You don't look like an 'American Idol'."
"You're fired!"
This is what Americans call entertainment.
Many students, like sophomore Karen Stirnaman, claim to watch one or two reality TV shows religiously each week.
"I watch 'Real World' and 'Laguna Beach' every Tuesday," Stirnaman said.
According to Spencer Tang in his article "The Phenomenon of Reality TV," reality TV has been dominating American TV screens with game shows, daytime talk shows, "amazing" home videos, wild animal attacks and cops since the early 1990s.
However, today's more popular examples of reality TV include "The Bachelor," "Survivor," "Temptation Island" and "The Amazing Race."
To get a better idea of exactly how common reality TV has become, the Web site reality Tvworld.com said there are currently 209 reality TV shows running through U.S. airwaves.
Also, the Web site VH1.com claimed, "In the last few years, reality TV has become television's most popular form of entertainment. Each season, reality producers find new and outrageous ways to stir up emotion, romance and humiliation."
The geocities.com Web site offered three main reasons why reality television has become popular: money, fame and the guilty pleasure phenomenon.
Mark Fishman, a sociology professor at Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, has made a study of reality TV.
"The Germans have a word for the appeal of some of these shows-it's called schadenfreude and means taking delight in the misfortunes of others," Fishman said. "Schadenfreude is an unconscious desire of human nature and is mainly responsible for the success of reality TV producers."
Although many think the concept of reality TV is a more recent fad, Reality News Online said the concept actually began in the 1960s with Chuck Barris and the "Newlywed Show." Barris based the show around the embarrassment of the contestants when they did not know items such as their spouse's favorite food or worst habit.
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