REALITY CHECK

Hidden cameras around the four corners of the room, trapped in an island for 39 days with nothing to consume but some scattered seashells-- survival is the name of the game. Bungee jumping, eating cow’s liver, and swimming in mud full of snakes--fear is definitely not a factor. This is reality TV.

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Reality show is a type of documentary program which deals with ordinary people’s reaction and emotion towards invented and fabricated situations. However, reality TV is not to be confused with documentary shows. It is distinguished from documentaries in a sense that the said show has a “set up” concept and as much as possible the characters ignore the cameras around them. Subjects of reality TV may be given directions off-screen but the point is to perform as natural as possible. Although the genre has long existed, the term “reality show” was used to describe these types of programs only in 2000. It has various types and covers wide range of formats like dating contests, game shows, social experiments, and makeovers.
The hit television program “Big Brother” is a prime example of reality TV. The show was developed by Dutch Johannes “John” de Mol, one of the men of Endemol production. It features a group of strangers living together for three months while they remain isolated from the outside world. They have no privacy and are under constant surveillance. The said show was franchised worldwide including here in the Philippines. The program was, in fact inspired from George Orwell’s book “1984.” Big Brother is an omniscient and omnipotent fictional character in Oceania, a totalitarian state where everybody is under total surveillance via telescreens. Hence, the word “Orwellian” was coined to mean “under scrutiny.”
British producer Mark Burnett, on the other hand, created more prominent reality shows. He conceptualized “Eco Challenge,” a race between teams of strangers who competed against each other in several challenges. The said program aired in 1995 and triggered the emergence of other types of reality shows. The success of “Eco Challenge” resulted in the production of “Survivor,” which debuted in 2000 and is about a group of strangers who strive to survive in an island for 39 days under different circumstances, like immunity games, and competitor alliances in which the “sole survivor” will be named. The said show was dubbed as the mother of all reality shows, because the popularity of “Survivor” signaled the green light for the production of other reality programs.
What sets reality shows apart from other usual television programs is their nature to be actual, exact, and natural. They are real and unpredictable. Although its “realness” is debatable, the concept of genuine reaction of characters is definitely a plus factor. There are characters who audience has and will come to admire and personalities others will inevitably love to hate. Their actions and emotions seem authentic. The “realness” of the program hooks the viewers. Reality TV has seemingly become the answer for hungry viewers who crave for something out of the ordinary.

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The warm reception of viewers worldwide towards reality shows triggered the creation of their local versions. Philippine television networks have produced reality shows like “Pinoy Big Brother,” “Survivor Philippines” and “Fear Factor.” They were altered to suit the needs of Pinoy viewers. The challenges and everyday task however, are not exactly copied but merely inspired by the originals. The twists and turns of the said local versions come naturally as the shows progress.
Even before the trend of franchising international programs started, Philippine TV has adopted shows from abroad which led to the production of our very own reality programs. “The Weakest Link,” an American game show, inspired the concept of “Game KNB?,” one of the longest running television programs in the country. “Fear Factor” on the other hand influenced the concept of Eat Bulaga’s segment “Sige, Ano Kaya Mo? (Sak Mo?).” The program showcased the participants’ abilities to endure unusual situations such as eating chili, ripping off the coconut husk using one’s teeth, and other out of the ordinary features one could think of. The same format goes for Manny Pacquiao’s “Pinoy Records.” Another hit program “Extra Challenge,” a mixture of “Survivor” and “Fear Factor” presented how challengers compete with each other and face their fears.

What’s New?
Despite the popularity of reality shows, the “staying power” of television programs, whether reality show or not, is based on its ingenuity and originality. Loy Braun ABC Entertainment Chairman, have said that “the days of believing that because it is an unscripted reality show it’s going to get good numbers (ratings)…are over.” The network executive added that reality shows will always be part of primetime schedule but will never dominate it again. What is top-rated today can be a flop tomorrow. The “staying power” of a show depends on its consumers. It is a challenge then to reality show creators to inject new ideas that would continue to entice viewers, since these do not have the longevity of some programs people have come to know.
Philip Zimbardo, psychology professor at Stanford University, criticized that reality shows are “misleading.” He then conceptualized his own version, “Human Zoo” which aired in Discovery Channel. The show, which is more of a psychology experiment, was produced to understand the behavior of the volunteers in a novel situation and to highlight how participants behave in a certain situation.
The unpredictability of reality show means that the situations of the characters are not supervised. Aspiring artists also join the show to enter showbiz and jumpstart their careers. Joining reality shows has become the key to fame and fortune. Most participants become household names right after the program.

CrazyforPerceivedReality

Despite the criticisms on reality shows abroad, there have been positive feedbacks towards reality-themed programs locally. Pinoy Big Brother ended its 5th year, the “Big Brother” teen edition with a bang. According to Philippine Entertainment Portal, “Survivor Philippines, first season” received an average of 30% audience ratings over the estimated 17% of ABS-CBN teleserye “Kahit Isang Saglit” last November 10, 2008. The frenzy over Pinoy reality shows has just begun based on this trend.
What people see on boobtubes however, does not reflect reality – at least their own.
Televiewers are insatiable. They want something that will satisfy their wants, their preferences change every time. It’s drama over reality shows today, tomorrow may the other way around. The changes of viewing habits of audience inevitably results in franchising or producing new programs. But in the mean time, grab your remote control and watch reality shows. Do they satisfy your need for good all entertainment? Or are these shows just another unworthy replacements to traditional-themed programs? Real or reel. Whether they gradually fade into history or continue to evolve as a unique TV genre, hungry viewers, after all, are after the entertainment they bring. The reason audience patronize these shows is because they are “entertained” by the emotions of real people under contrived conditions. Some may relate or see their selves in these programs. Reality shows can be upsetting or even inspiring, but the fact that real emotions and real people are presented in these shows, the viewers’ appetite for authentic drama continues and can be as addictive as those script-based and highly conclusive dramas. Who knows, better genres are still in store. What viewers need though is reality check. Assess what you see on your boobtubes. Check your reality.