It's funny. Today the New York Times talked about a new reality show co-created by Seventeen Magazine and MTV (Adam wrote about it here.) And then also in today's issue they devote an entire feature story to how reality programming might be coming down the other side of the life curve. The format, it says, may be hitting maturity and so is no longer quite the ratings powerhouse it once was. It does say, though, that the audience may be shifting from competition-focused shows like The Apprentice to the wish-fulfillment/fantasy programming of Extreme Makeover and the like. Is the reality tide turning?
It's funny. Today the New York Times talked about a new reality show co-created by Seventeen Magazine and MTV (Adam wrote about it here.) And then also in today's issue they devote an entire feature story to how reality programming might be coming down the other side of the life curve. The format, it says, may be hitting maturity and so is no longer quite the ratings powerhouse it once was. It does say, though, that the audience may be shifting from competition-focused shows like The Apprentice to the wish-fulfillment/fantasy programming of Extreme Makeover and the like. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-10-2005 @ 8:22PM
Tim said...
I love how TV pundits are always on the cutting edge when it comes to pointing out TV trends.
It should be OBVIOUS to anyone who truly observes TV that the reality is in trouble. It's been past the saturation point for well over a year - how else do you explain FOX's horrible August and September last year?
Reality will continue to have its well established hits like SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE. (I don't count AMERICAN IDOL because it's a talent show not a 'reality' show!) - as long as network programmers avoid being too greedy (see NBC's mistake of double booking THE APPRENTICE.)
The latest trend in reality seems to be less "let's get a group of strangers together, place them in odd situations and see how they react, while tweaking the outcome with transparent editing" and more "let's document how we can change people's lives" I think there's probably room for a few more shows like EXTREME MAKEOVER and THREE WISHES. Thank God the 'relationship reality' crap like TEMPTATION ISLAND has given up the ghost.
Reality will stick around. They're cheap to make. They do a good job at selling soap - and what else does a network really want from a show?
End rant.
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10-10-2005 @ 9:23PM
Julia said...
Reality TV on the way out? Maybe there is a God.
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