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The Influence Of Reality Television On America

Reality television is the most popular genre of television in America. People love to sit and enjoy the unscripted dramatics or humorous situations, the ordinary people instead of famous paid actors, and the real situations. Reality television has existed in different forms since television began, but the term is most commonly used to describe the programs produced since the year 2000. Reality television contains a wide range of topics that range from game shows to surveillance shows. However, the type of reality show that seems to get most of America’s attention is reality dating shows. Each week millions of viewers tune in to their favorite reality dating shows to see what drama and fights occur, who has the better chance of winning, and who will be eliminated. It all originated with reality dating game shows that had new contestants every week. Eventually, the show “The Bachelor” came out and changed reality television history. The whole season of the show was focused on one man choosing from twenty different women. Each week the audience got to know each contestant more and more and became more addicted to the show. Bachelor-like spin-off shows have come out recently that give the term reality television a whole new meaning. These shows are full of fighting, craziness, drama, and sex appeal; this is what America is drawn to.
The first spin off show featured a man named William Drayton, an African-American hype man, who America knows as Flavor Flav. His career began in 1987 with his rap group Public Enemy. Flavor Flav was the “hype man” or the “rap sidekick” of the group. He kept fans entertained with his different choice of clothing and crazy personality. He later was a part of the Vh1 reality show “The Surreal Life,” which put B list or washed up celebrities in a house to live together. He became so popular on the show that Vh1 decided to give him his own dating show, and so the show “Flavor of Love” began. It featured twenty contestants (mostly African...