Behind-the-scenes content is a way for marketers to give audiences a glimpse into the production of a show or film. This strategy has been around since the era of early cinema when film studios tacked on a brief behind-the-cameras tidbit to each movie release (Arthur, 2004).
It’s important for marketers to be careful about what they show. Sharing behind-the-scenes content that includes messy desks or negative team dynamics can hurt a brand’s image.
Reality TV isn’t actually real
If you’re like most people, you love reality shows that seem to be so real they could actually happen in your life. But you also know that, if they didn’t have cameras rolling on a regular basis, reality shows couldn’t keep you hooked with their fakery.
Reality TV has morphed into a huge genre that includes hidden camera stunts, lifestyle-change shows, dating reality series and just about every other format you can think of. But is all of it real?
It turns out that many reality show scenes are staged to add drama and excitement. This is especially true for the incredibly popular Keeping Up With the Kardashians and other reality-show franchises featuring the glamorous (and very rich) family of Kris, Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie.
The first reality show ever aired was a documentary called “This Is Your Life,” which aired on radio in the 1940s and then made the switch to television in the early 1950s. The show featured a celebrity, such as Johnny Cash, being interviewed about his or her life and was filmed in front of a live audience or on location. The series was so successful that it spun off a number of similar programs such as “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila” and the “Real World” series.
As reality TV became more common in the 1990s, MTV introduced a whole new type of series with its premiere of “The Real World.” The show followed seven strangers who shared a home together in a city, and over 30 seasons, cameras documented arguments, tears, heartwarming moments and everything in between. The Real World is arguably the longest-running reality show of all time, and it was followed by other shows such as “Breaking Amish,” which claimed to follow five Amish people who moved to New York City to experience the outside world for the first time. But most of the cast members on Breaking Amish had already left their Anabaptist communities before the show began, and two even had children while appearing on the program.
HGTV’s wildly successful House Hunters is one of the most famous reality-show franchises, and its stars are usually pretty open about the fact that the show isn’t completely real. For example, hosts Mike Fleiss and Bryan Greenberg frequently lie to viewers by saying they’re viewing a house that’s for sale when they’re really touring an apartment or condo owned by someone else.
While some of the secrets of reality-show filming are easy to figure out, others are a little more difficult to decipher. For example, it seems that the infamous Jersey Shore house isn’t as luxurious as it appears. The famous rooftop deck that Snooki, Nicole and Vinny hung out on was actually the property of the store next door, and the duck phone that gave off a quacking ring tone was a thrift-store find, reports Jezebel. Other secrets revealed by former reality-show stars include that the driveways of many reality homes are hosed down to make them sparkle all night long and that, on Love It or List It, some of the homeowners are merely renting their houses for the season.
Reality TV isn’t real
A slew of reality shows have gained a foothold in our entertainment culture and it appears that they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. However, some people have taken issue with how real these shows are, especially when it comes to issues like the repercussions of a certain episode on “Vanderpump Rules.” Whether these episodes are edited or not, they still leave their mark. It may be as small as a clip that’s been reversed to make something seem more dramatic or it could be as big as a cast member getting fired over an indiscretion. Either way, it’s a topic that isn’t easy to ignore.
Reality TV became popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, with competition-based shows such as “Survivor” and “Big Brother” capturing enormous audience attention. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the genre also gave rise to lifestyle shows that focused on relationships and families. Examples include Vanderpump Rules, Real Housewives and The Amazing Race.
HGTV’s Love It or List It is another hit that has secured a loyal fan base. But even this show isn’t exactly what it seems, as allegations of fakery are rampant. According to Reddit, an insider reveals that the renovations on Love It or List It aren’t always true to life. Instead, producers often record two different endings and pick the one that looks best. Then, Anupama Spoilers edit the video accordingly.
Before there were show such as Ice Road Truckers or A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, television that portrayed unscripted situations began in the late 1940s. Shows such as Queen for a Day and Allen Funt’s Candid Camera featured unsuspecting viewers reacting to pranks.
In 1988, a 22-week writers’ strike caused TV networks to rethink their programming. This led to the premiere of shows such as Cops, which followed police around the country and filmed real response calls and arrests. This paved the way for reality shows to dominate the airwaves.
These shows can help expose the public to communities and situations that they wouldn’t otherwise see. Some of the most groundbreaking reality shows have been about marginalized groups, such as I am Jazz: The Story of a Transgender Teen and Little People, Big World, which follows a family with dwarfism.
It can be difficult to tell the difference between real and fake when it comes to reality TV, especially since many shows use cameras and other technology to create realistic scenes. The ambiguity of what is real can have negative effects, from small moments being edited carefully to maintain drama to casting choices that promote unrepresentative body ideals. These types of problems are why some believe that reality TV isn’t actually real.
