This thread is for non-fiction TV, including but not limited to reality television (So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef: Masters, Project Runway), documentaries (The History Channel, The Discovery Channel), and sundry (Expedition Africa, Mythbusters), et al. [NAFDA]
I'm just watching last night's show, and I'm impressed when the coaches recognize people who have tried out before. I mean, they must see a ton of people! Unless they get prepped about returnees coming on, which is of course possible.
So naive! Even if he would have recognized the kid, no producer would leave it up to chance.
I consider myself pretty skeptical but I recently met a writer for Master Chef and was pretty blown away to find out Christine (the blind girl) actually wasn't the real deal.
ETA: I mean, she is blind, just wasn't the best chef in the competition.
bon bon did the writer say how much of the competition is scripted?
I mean, she is blind, just wasn't the best chef in the competition.
Seriously? What the fuck is that? Just ... good TV?
I didn't get specific details-- I didn't want to get him in trouble/buttonhole him. He did say that the second place woman (forget name) was the real deal. Top Chef, as I understand it, is more true to life but Master Chef results sounded pretty manipulated.
That's disappointing. I thought I was already cynical enough, but I guess not.
Meaning they gave her the win over a better dish from the second place finisher at the final, or thumb on the scales throughout, or it was BS from the get go? Those are pretty different.
I am cynical about how much "reality" is in reality TV. Anything after the very first Real World, I just assume that there is a lot of producer manipulation going on. Especially on the judged competition shows. Maybe it's just from years of watching the SiNi overtly pull the puppet strings on AI and later on SYTYCD, but I always figure that the producers are heavily scripting what judges say and have final sign off on any decisions affecting who stays and who goes. I'd be shocked if I ever found out one of these shows wasn't chock full of producer manipulation to keep their favorite storylines and characters on screen. It's a TV show and they need eyes on the screen, so they want to keep what sells.
Anything after the very first Real World
I watched that in real time when it aired, and it really was new and fascinating. Good times.
I'd add the first Survivor and Big Brother to the list, but yeah - not much reality in Reality
