REALITY TV A BLAST FROM THE PAST

 

Reality TV is described as an unscripted dramatic or humorous situation that documents actual events featuring ordinary people instead of actors. Sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded. A television program usually consist of a film making process called  television production. A season of a show may include 12 to 26 shows or episodes. These days anyone equipped with a fllip cam or might just be related to a star can be considered a producer. I know and understand this industry because I attended college and majored in Communications where we took film and production classes, public speaking and radio 101.  I recall being on the porch with my couisins in the 70's with a tape recorder and making our own variety and talk shows. Even though recent shows have flooded the airwaves and our tv screens with this concept, the show considered to be the granddaddy of them all was "Candid Camera". This show was based on a 1947 radio show that made its way onto television in 1948. I remember watching this show faithfully in the 70's and had no idea it was from a radio show that started when my mom and dad were both only two years old. Nor did I perceive the direction that television was heading in the future. Maybe we should have saved our recordings from the 70's. This show Candid Camera featured Allen Funt with hidden cameras approaching people on the street unaware of the cameras getting the most humorous reactions out of these people. Sounds like "What Would You Do"? doesnt it??? The Miss America Pageant first debuted in 1954 promising winners status as a celebrity. This promise to fame was granted for several stars we know that went into several different directions. The list of shows that followed suit are too long to list but, you know the drill. What is has been, and what has been, will be again.

Before "COPS" there was a series called "Nightwatch" from the early 50's. This radio show tape recorded the daily activities of the Culver City, California police force. In 1988 The Writers Guild of America went on strike. This strike brought a need for programming and in the spring of 89 the show "COPS" was aired for the first time. Also brought to the screen was a style of documentary filming called cinéma vérité or truthful cinema. This style made it cool for shaky, camcorder style filming from different angles and home video views. Avid Technologies introduced a computer based non-linear editing system in 89 that made it easy to quickly edit hours of footage. Most of these reality shows originated from European shows like "Nummer 28" a Dutch tv show in 1991 that featured putting strangers together for extended periods of time, a la "The Real World". Another show in Sweden called "Expedition Robinson" by Charlie Parson aired in 97 and seemed to be the template for "Survivor" which was translated in several countries.

The atmosphere in the 60's and 70's that reflected alot of free love brought about shows like "The Dating Game". In December of 1965  Chuck Barris made this the first of several shows throughout the 60's, 70's and the 80's he would produce. He also aired another big show in 66 "The Newlywed Game" which pited new couples against each other in a competition of revealing questions to see who knew each other the most. These shows made him the man in this genre of shows for a string of decades.

The Indique hair wearing ex basketball wife Tami Roman (Anderson) transferred her "Real World" fame from the 93 to a brand new styled reality show about basketball wives. 18 years later she didnt cash in on "The Real World", but she is supposed to be starting her own line of luxury 100% Virgin Hair thanks to the popularity of her new reality show in which we will go deeper into on the next blog so tune in for part 2.
If you didn't know...... now u know talk to you next time


HOW DO U FEEL ABOUT REALITY TV???

                                                             ~DAJOURNALIST~