Is reality TV scripted?

[mitchedwards]

I watch a few reality shows on TLC/Discovery and I'm noticing a trend.

John and Kate. Conflict leading to messy divorce

American Chopper, Paul and Paul Jr split and go their own ways

Little People Big World, Now Matt and Amy are at each others throat

Storm Chasers last weeks episode was horrible. Instead of chasing storms it was about Reed and his Friend Joel fighting the whole trip to chase a storm.

Now, I'm not a rocket scientist, but it sure looks like TLC/Discovery is scripting their shows since they all now want to center around conflict instead of the people/families that made the show popluar

[Brue]

i think the survivor types that go on for a limited time have a loose script.

i don't think they are scripting peoples lives like jon and kate.

they don't create it but they do focus on what sells - like the conflict they showed in storm chasers.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Remember that they film THOUSANDS of hours of film every year, and we get 13 hours worth. They edit it for the desired effect; and I have NO doubt the editors come up with a "script" after seeing what they get. They'll also load the deck with certain kinds of people, hoping for certain kinds of reactions. (Notice how the people on "Survivour" get prittier every season. It's not an accident.) But I don't think there's a standard written, prepared plot. You don't have to prod people into making asses of themselves.

Don C.

[mitchedwards]

Hmmmm....

Remember that they film THOUSANDS of hours of film every year, and we get 13 hours worth. They edit it for the desired effect; and I have NO doubt the editors come up with a "script" after seeing what they get. They'll also load the deck with certain kinds of people, hoping for certain kinds of reactions. (Notice how the people on "Survivour" get prittier every season. It's not an accident.) But I don't think there's a standard written, prepared plot. You don't have to prod people into making asses of themselves.

Don C.

I agree about the editing part. After last Sundays episode of Storm Chasers, Reed Timor posted on his web page, that the show made the conflict look much worse than it really was. He said there were 4 days missing from the filming that would have explained what really happened.

When I say scripted I'm thinking in term that pro wrestling is scripted. Everyone knows the ending, but the action is made up by the players as they go along.

[Riffster]

I think ost reality shows are designed to lead down certain paths, they bring in known issues to have conflict cause no family can be happy and have good ratings.

for shows that have people living together like real world, they cast polar opposites and then light a match and watch the fireworks. VH1 had a speacial the secrets of reality shows.

i remember the season of Survivor when they were in Austrailia some local DJ snuck on the set and watched them practising with boomerangs for a challenge

[Mikey]

I think people in reality shows are told what to do in advance.

Not exactly scripted word for word, but as an example they are told ... ok, we need a good arguement today.

Real people don't have the drama in their lives that reality shows portray.

Reality shows is like making a movie as you go along with no script but a general idea of what you want to happen.

[ctc]

>I'm thinking in term that pro wrestling is scripted.

....pro wrestling's SCRIPTED.....?

*sniff*

>Real people don't have the drama in their lives that reality shows portray.

You should meet the losers I work with.

>Reality shows is like making a movie as you go along with no script but a general idea of what you want to happen.

That's the best way of explaining it.

Don C.

[toys2cool]

I think most of it is

[Mikey]

The thing about reality shows is they are a haven for great actors that can't read or act to a script.

Back when me an my buddies used to do amateur films, you would not believe how many poeple can act really well with just a general idea as to what suppose to happen in the scene - on the other hand if you gave them a script they acted worse than a 3'rd grade play.

In a way, reality show acting is like method acting taken to a new extreme ... Instead of the actor BEING the character ... The actor actually IS the character -- does that make sense ?

[SUP-Ronin]

Yeah they certainly seem to thrive on the conflict betwen the cast. Look at that Expedition Africa show. None of them were "pretty", IMO, but the whole show was just them arguing and being passive aggressive. Here you had an excellent opportunity for a neat journey and adventure, but it ended up being totally boring, with a bunch of Alpha types arguing. A running theme for many of these shows. I stopped watching them because the bottom line is, I'm not entertained by the conflict and dissent. Totally boring and utterly predictable.

[Werewolf]

The dirty little secret of Reality TV is, it isn't actually real. This isn't anything new. The shows are scripted, they do casting calls and the plots and outcomes are predetermined.

[jds1911a1]

all the reality game shows are heavily scripted (who wants to be a superhero was almost entirely d list actors with alot of acting experience)

the tlc shows may or may not be scripted but as a general rule put people in a confined space for an extended period and blow ups happen. Put a nosy camera crew and it gets worse.

These poeple are fairly disfucntional to begin with otherwise they's be boring. John and Kate got drunk with the fame (so dod OCC) and it took over their lives

I still enjoy watchign deadliest catch but last season seemed to have alot more human drama that felt "planned" (like the firing of Russ or the newguy who misses his girlfrend and quits) as opposed to ealier when it's really just watching guys fish but it hasn't got to the point where it feels fake

[YANOULI]

I think some aspects are, for example:

We get several American versions of British reality shows and at the start they state that " Unlike the British version, some situations have been created for dramatic effect ".

Is the reality so c..p that they have to make stuff up?

[Riffster]

i was shocked to find out the girl in Expedition Africa was an NFL chearleader

[Mod Style]

I'm a KISS fan, but I think that Gene Simmon's show is as scripted as they come.