Dancing with the Stars, Biggest Loser, The Real Housewives, Keeping Up With The Kardasians, Auction Hunters, Celebrity Apprentice and of course any reality cooking show is watched in my home. Does my fiancé enjoy all of these shows? The answer is a firm “no”. Thank god for DVR!
So what do all of these have in common? They are watched by millions of viewers and are a few of the most popular shows on television. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch. Reality TV has taken over my television and the nation’s television viewing and has made sitcoms television’s past.
So, why is Reality TV so popular and winning the hearts of millions of viewers over sitcoms? Viewers can relate to the reality stars, their drama and the challenges they have to face. We tune in week after week to find out more.
Going back to 2000, Reality Television was featured primarily on MTV and a few other networks. More than a decade later, I find myself channel surfing reality shows on most networks. Reality covers a broad range of genres, from competitive cooking shows that help propel a chef’s career, to races around the world to win a million bucks, to the privileged housewives arguing over, we’ll, nothing important. All of the above entertain me. Reality TV has become must-see-TV to many viewers and I’m no longer ashamed to admit that I’m a reality junkie. Reality is not a passing fad. It’s here to stay. Heck, I’m friends with someone who was on the Real World.
Take a look at this infographic (below) to see just how popular reality television has become, and exactly how much influence it has on society.
One main reason that reality shows are multiplying is how cost-effective it is to produce a weekly show. Producers are realizing that a reality star is cheaper than say, the cast of Friends. Instead of paying millions for the actors, reality shows can get away with thousands per actor.
These days there are so many reality shows on TV it’s hard to watch every one. My dad still watches Survivor and my fiancé loves Gold Rush. Does that make us any less smart? Nah! It makes for interesting dinner conversation with loved ones. Reality TV is here to stay and continues to capture viewers’ attentions. And that’s just the reality!