The television landscape is dominated by reality TV shows, from dating shows like “The Bachelor” to different installments of “The Real Housewives” series. The show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” has become so successful it has spawned three spin-offs.

Accounting for the popularity of reality TV, aside from the entertainment value, is the cost effectiveness in comparison to scripted shows with real actors.

In the midst of the success of reality TV is the awareness that these shows do not accurately represent day-to-day life, but manipulate and distort reality to reel in audiences. Producers can create storylines, scenes can be staged and participants can receive cues from the show’s crew on how to play up the drama.

On the 16th season of the long-running reality show “The Bachelor” last March, one episode revealed what was supposed to be a private conversation between one of the show’s contestants and a producer when the microphones were accidentally left on in between camera takes. The accidental recording allowed viewers to hear the producer coaching the contestant on how to act for the camera, as well as urging her to fake certain reactions.

In June, HGTV, a channel general manager Kathleen Finch claimed was “a network of journalistic storytelling, not dramatic storytelling,” conceded that its reality show “House Hunters” was not genuine reality after a participant explained what really goes on behind the scenes. The show follows individuals, couples or families who are searching for the perfect home with the assistance of a realtor. The participants select among three different properties, and the seller usually accepts the buyer’s offer.

A woman who was featured in an episode of the show spoke to a blog about the contrivances of the show, which included having the final decision and the purchase of the house being made prior to filming. The participant said the producers changed the story of why she and her husband were moving, and before they were selected to be on the show, they had already chosen their new home. The other two options the couple explored were houses that belonged to their friends and were not even on the market.

“The Real Housewives” reality series is known for its dramatic catfights among its cast members – situations far too outrageous to be genuine. Alex McCord, a former cast member of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” gave insight into how producers increased the potential for conflict between the show’s housewives.

In an interview with Celebuzz, McCord said a spat between cast members Aviva Drescher, Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan in the fifth season was staged by producers to appear spontaneous. In one scene, when Drescher arrives in St. Barts, it is daylight. When the scene cuts to Singer and Morgan, they are drunk and it is dark outside. McCord explained Singer and Morgan were given time to get intoxicated to ramp up the drama.

As for the Kardashian spin-off “Kourtney and Kim Take New York,” the website Reality Tea examined a scene from the show said to have been taped in Dubai in October of 2011. In the scene, Kim Kardashian is telling her mom Kris Jenner her doubts about her new marriage to then-husband Kris Humphries, who she later filed for divorce from at the end of the month. However, the scene has Kim and Kris wearing the same outfits, hairstyles and jewelry as they do in paparazzi photos taken of them in December of 2011, leaving many blogs to conclude the scene was staged.

Part of the reason audiences continue to be enthralled by reality TV shows although they are partially scripted is the emotional resonance these shows can have.

“Even if some things that happen on reality shows are scripted they can touch a person who has gone through that event,” said sophomore child development major Evelyn Barron.

From decades of various reality TV shows and the revelations of behind-the-scenes editing tricks, we know the “reality” in the shows isn’t completely real, but if audiences get a kick out of the entertainment served up, then reality show producers will continue to crank out the same content and raise the stakes — authentic or not.

 

Christine can be reached at: [email protected]