Talent Based Reality Television

Introduction
Reality television is a sub genre of television where unscripted groups of non actors are filmed continuously so that their natural and spontaneous behaviors are captured in a way where the audience views the situation as it truly happened. The film captures the player’s real life occurrences, emotions, and interactions between one another. The purpose of this genre is typically for entertainment.

History
MTV’s The Real World premiered in the mid 1990’s and sparked viewers interest in reality t.v. The Real World is MTV's longest running season with over 191 episodes. The Real World is thought to have started the genre of reality t.v. [] After this show many more began to appear. People were fascinated with the real aspect of these shows and tv networks began to create more reality programs. [| American Idol] can be credited as the first successful American reality talent show, airing it’s first episode in 2002. Since then, American talent reality shows have been centered on “talent discovery” process and have expanded the performance from singing to a wide array of other talents including dancing, modeling, cooking, preforming arts, and just about any strange entertainment America can produce.

Talent Based Reality Television
Talent TV shows are like other reality TV shows where the non actors' true actions are filmed in a way that is natural and unscripted. They are centered on a completion in which all players are competing for a grand prize. The prize in most cases is money. In several other cases, namely [| America’s Next Top Model]and [| American Idol], the grand prize is a contract. Winners of [| American Idol] receive a major recording contract, which will help launch them into a successful singing career.

The shows usually begin without players, in other words the competition is opened to those of general public who believe they posesss the talent to win the competition. From this massive group, judges will select the players based on the talent being considered. From the base group, players complete a set of competitions that increases in difficulty as the show progresses. After each task or competition, players who preformed the worst are removed from the competition. A player is removed usually every episode until there is only one player left. Talent based reality typically follows this audition, semi finals, and then finals process. In live talent shows, like [| American Idol] or [| Dancing With The Stars]], the audience is often given an opportunity to be a part of the voting process. Modern technology such as text messaging has mad it possible for the audience to submit their vote to the live show. Other talent shows like [| America’s Next Top Model] are prerecorded and a fixed panel of judges decides all voting and elimination. The last player remaining in the competition is considered to be the most talented and will be rewarded with the grand prize.

America’s Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model aired its first season in 2003. America's Next Top Model is a talent based reality show where 14 contestents are judged and elimitated week;y depending on how well they preformed during a photo shoot. The show is hosted by Tyra Banks. Banks and 3-4 other fashion icons serve as the panel of judges who evaluate the model contestents after each photo shoot. The winner of the competition wins a modeling contract with a major modeling company that varies from season to season.

America’s Got Talent
America's Got Talen aired its first season in 2006. America's Got Talent is a talent based reality tv show where regular citicens of the American public audition for a spot in the competition. Talent displayed on the show can range from singing and dancing, to gymnastics and magic tricks. All talents are considered. A panel of judges along with texts and phoned in votes from the audience choose who is elimanated from the competition. The winner of the competition wins one million dollars.

American Idol
American Idol aired its first season in 2002. American Idol is a talent based reality tv show that focuses only on vocal talent and vocal preformance. This show is a prime example of the audition, semi finals, and finals model. The show is hosted by Ryan Seacrest and has a panel of judges that has included Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdual, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban. The winner recieves a major recording contract.

The Voice
The Voice aired it's first season on 2011. The Voice is a talent based reality tv show that, like American Idol, only focuses on vocal talent and vocal performance. This show has a panel of celebrity judges and coaches including Adam Lavine, Blake Shelton, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Usher, Pharrel Williams, Gwen Stefani. The winner of the competition wins $100,000 record deal.

Dancing With the Stars
Dancing With the Stars aired it's first season in 2005. Dancing with the stars is a slightly different type of talent based reality tv because the competitors are chosen before the competition begins and the competitors are comprised of celebrities. Each celebrity is paired with a professional dancer and has a dance technique they must learn each week. The panel of judges is comprised of knowlegablele dance critics who give the competors a score 1-10. The rest of the voting is sent in via text message and phone call.

Audience
The five main factors for watching reality tv are social learning, habit-pastime, entertainment, voyeurism, and relaxation-escape.

People watched reality t.v. because they were intrigued and wanted to learn more about the “world” the people lived in, or they were curious as to who would win the competitions. Some people were just bored and reality tv is what they flipped to on t.v. Furthermore, entertainment plays a big role in why people watch reality shows. Whether it’s a guilty pleasure, one of those “I couldn’t turn away” shows, the drama and suspense of reality t.v. entices people to watch, and keep watching.



Most reality programs are geared towards the young adult crowd. In 2006, four out of the ten most commonly watched programs for children under 17 were reality shows. Of the people that watch reality t.v., 40% of viewers are more likely to be in the 18-34 age range.