The rise of reality TV has profoundly transformed television, evolving into a genre that blends documentary elements with entertainment, from game shows to talent competitions. Shows like The Voice, Queer Eye, and The Real World pioneered formats that bring viewers into participants’ personal lives, fostering an emotional connection rarely seen in scripted TV. Today, reality TV spans various themes, from dating to competition, captivating audiences with its raw, often exaggerated, authenticity.

In academic circles, reality TV remains controversial and difficult to define, as it shares features with multiple genres, including game shows, documentaries, and soap operas. Critics like Holmes and Jermyn argue that reality TV functions as a “post-documentary” genre, diverging from traditional documentaries by emphasizing individual stories and entertainment over social issues. This shift has redefined the way TV audiences engage, moving away from informational programming to content that invites emotional and personal investment.

Reality TV’s influence has expanded significantly with the advent of streaming platforms. Netflix and others have embraced the genre to meet the demand for diverse, easily consumable content, leading to global hits like Too Hot to Handle and The Great British Bake Off. In response, platforms like Hulu and HBO Max have also launched reality series, capturing younger viewers accustomed to influencer-driven media on platforms like TikTok. Shows featuring influencers, such as the D’Amelio family’s The D’Amelio Show, reflect the blurred lines between reality TV and social media, resonating with Gen Z and establishing the genre’s appeal across generations. Far from becoming obsolete, reality TV continues to thrive in the streaming era, adapting to modern tastes and maintaining a lasting impact on popular culture and viewer expectations.

Credit:

• Egginton, William. “The best or the worst of our nature: Reality TV and the desire for limitless change.” Configurations 15.2 (2007): 177-191.
• Penzhorn, Heidi, and Magriert Pitout. “A critical-historical genre analysis of reality television.” Communicatio 33.1 (2007): 62-76.
• Bondebjerg, Ib. “The mediation of everyday life: Genre, discourse and spectacle in reality TV.” Realism and ‘reality in film and media (2002): 159-192.
• Berman, Judy. “How Reality TV Has Reshaped Our World.” Time, Time, 4 Aug. 2022.

By Jimena Saavedra