The History of Reality TV Shows



So, it's that time of day when you settle down in front of your television and prepare to watch your favorite reality TV show. But do you even know what led to that show being on the air? In order to comprehend the reality TV boom, you have to look at the history of this type of programming. Reality TV didn't start when most people think it did, as you may be surprised to discover.

When most individuals contemplate the origins of reality TV, they picture MTV's Real World, which debuted in 1992. While the Real World was a groundbreaking deviation from the typical programming of the day, it certainly was not the first reality TV show.

The honor of being the first reality TV show in America goes to COPS. This dynamic program, which follows real cops as they battle criminals on various city streets, first aired on March 11, 1989. A predecessor to this was America's Most Wanted, which aired in February of 1988, however, though AMW depicted real people and their crimes, it did so through reenactments. COPS followed police officers on their actual beats.

Next, of course, came the Real World, which brought together a diverse group of young adults to reside under one roof and be filmed. The show always had some drama as different personalities clashed throughout the season. Many subsequent seasons put college-aged people in houses in cities such as New Orleans, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Paris.

The next big breakthrough in reality TV came with the mega hit Survivor, which first aired in May of 2000. A group of diverse individuals were brought together on a remote island where they were separated into groups. The groups faced survival situations, including having to eat rats in order to avoid starvation. The teams were brought together to eliminate people until only one was left standing. Richard Hatch, the show's first winner, won $1 million, then was subsequently investigated and charged for tax fraud. This unique show started a revolution in elimination-related reality TV programming.

Now, of course, you can't turn on the TV without seeing some kind of reality show. Whether it's a competition between supermodels (America's Next Top Model) or a show which teaches people how to live in event of an apocalyptic event (The Colony), there is truly a reality show for every taste. From Project Runway, which showcases fashion designers, to The Apprentice, which is a platform for business gurus, every genre is now covered by this segment of the TV industry.

Home