Many shows on TV that claim to be "Reality" are just made better by adding "Drama" and by overdoing everything. Of course I could be wrong, tell me what you think. Examples: Survivor, Top Chef, Hells Kitchen, Ex.

No ways. They're all edited so we see what they want us to see.

I don't know nor do I care. I don't watch them, they don't affect my daily life, and anyone who does is a little too into blindly following every stupid fad that pops up.

No, they did a investigation on them a while back and had people that were on reality shows talk about what really happens behind the scenes.

When you put a camera in front of someone's face, they'll act differently, so no.

It's partially real but most of the time they stack those shows with crazies to heighten the drama, and I'm sure they do a lot of things to alter the interactions between the people on the show.

They cut parts from here and there sure it's not real but think about your life is it really that interesting? would you like to waste your life watching someone else do something not particulary interesting? or would you like to see a clip show of the more entertaining parts of life?

I make a point to ignore them relentlessly in the hope that they will just go away and leave me to my Family Guy, Simpsons, and assorted documentaries.

total bs. its all edited to create the experience the producers want. I cant remember the last time one actually held my interest for more than a few seconds.

They are reality in that you are watching real, unpaid people on the screen. But they are stupid people who act independently for the camera (come on we all know we would put on a show if you had someone watching you all the time). Half the people on these shows are thick and pretend to cry and act like a choice is hard to create drama; the sort of people you meet in high school who break up with their boyfriends every week just to cause a scene.

in short, yes. It is a sad, pathetic, bleak reality...but it is real reality.

lets put it this way, its more real than your average fantasy rpg

from reading/watching interviews with the guys from the ulitmate fighter, they say that a lot of the "big issues" on the show was just good camera work and editing

there is some truth there but really once ppl know there's a camera in front of them they act stupid. also ppl will always try and be that season's (in)famous person that everyone cheer for or loves to hate

There is only one decent reality show. The Ultimate Fighter.

Man, Griffin Vs Bonnar at the end of S3, that was awesome.

No.. No they're not.

Nope...

They just higher real people so that they won't have to pay them as much or at all...

Sshhhhh.. you'll scare the sheeple.

From a psychological standpoint, no. You place people in an environment different from their own(eg big brother) they will behave differently. Therefore it's not reality. Also reality shows that document the 'real lives' of celebrities and such is not reality because the very presence of the camera and film crew will cause them to behave differently.

Aardvark:
There is only one decent reality show. The Ultimate Fighter.

Man, Griffin Vs Bonnar at the end of S3, that was awesome.

no it wasn't, it was at the end of season 1 not season 3, although his trainer and friend Rory was in season 3

cleverlymadeup:
no it wasn't, it was at the end of season 1 not season 3, although his trainer and friend Rory was in season 3

Oh yeah, 3 had Ortiz and Shamrock as the coaches. Herman was the loser who got the contract anyway at the end of that one.

Yeah but what I mean is stuff like Big Brother. Jade Goody makes very racist remarks so Ch. 4 remove it (very sensible imo) but then it's taking away the reality. Instead we see only what the executives want us to, whether be it for good or bad.

a few of them are real, big brother UK. most of the american ones I have seen have had me screaming "IT'S SO FUCKING SCRIPTED!" but then I did the same for the family on C4.

Most are fake. Some are real, but many possible-to-put-on-tv scenes are edited. (Scenes of physical love especially.)

I've known people who've worked on them. Really nice fellas. Did say that the higher ups had the final say on what they show.

In short - no, no, no, no.

Reality shows suck hairy man ass

Big Brother is supposedly "reality".

Of course, i'm given to wonder what kind of reality the producers live in if that's what they think it is... I, and no one else I know, lives in a luxery house where cleaning is considered a form of fanatic extremism, performing bizzarre tasks on the whim of an omnipotent entity are the norm to gain food (that died out in the middle ages) and most importantly of all the people who I associate with do not consist of strippers, washed up actresses and celebrities and a rapper down on his luck.

Reality? Nonsense...

Optimus Prime:
Yeah but what I mean is stuff like Big Brother. Jade Goody makes very racist remarks so Ch. 4 remove it (very sensible imo) but then it's taking away the reality. Instead we see only what the executives want us to, whether be it for good or bad.

what you mean like castmates having sex and such? they edit that heavily in the states

the ironic part of reality shows is that to best observe someone and how they really act is not observe them without their knowledge

Unless it's news, no show on TV is reality. Do people actually think Dr. Phil talks with people with real issues?

There is nothing 'real' about a predetermined group of people entering an unfamiliar environment to complete tasks to keep themselves in the unfamiliar environment.

Generally, the act of observation changes the observed. It's impossible to have a true reality show with the participants knowing about it.

Don't get me started on Most Haunted... I've been doing ghost investigations/tours since I was 12, and sure as heck we didn't get ghosts turning up every night waiting for their cues.

However, the videos where Yvette gets caught out are worth their weight in gold.

No, nope, nay, noes, not in the slightest, not by far, not in any way, etcetera.
They collect the dumbest, least mature, most extrovert morons devoid of self-respect and pride, and show the dumbest, most immature, most extrovert, self-humiliating, embarrassing things these individuals can possibly do in an environment constructed to bring out the most of this in them. And some of them even have actors and/or scripts. I am nauseous at the thought of it.

perfectimo:
There is nothing 'real' about a predetermined group of people entering an unfamiliar environment to complete tasks to keep themselves in the unfamiliar environment.

I wouldn't characterize survivor as reality so much as an extravagent gameshow.

Many have been made that are 100% staged. I can't remember what it was called but it was basically a bunch of blondes trying to get some Aussie guy. It was so obviously staged I couldn't believe some people actually thought it was real.

There was one part where the evil chick you we're suppose to hate was in some kind of a pool and laughing about her evil plot and there was just no way it was real, no person would do that. I mean why goes to a swimming pool alone and gives the most stereotypical evil plot speech followed by an evil plot laugh. Only thing missing was her rubbing her hand together like a evil mastermind should.