In the past decade, reality television has been growing enormously. Every year more and more reality TV shows are produced replacing non-reality programs (Frankel 1). In the case of Music Television, Daniel Frankel makes it clear that the point of its creation was solely based on music programming, but has now become reality TV oriented as well (2). Music Television was built around and for the young generation. Youth culture is changing faster than ever, this is obvious even with a comparison of a child today to that of their parent just a generation ago. These “TV Babies”, as stated previously are easily distracted and able to do many things at once. Therefore, to hold their attention, a television station must present what its viewers want to see. Hence, reality television has grown, because that is what people want to see. This leaves the question, why is reality television so popular?
George Gerbner quoted by Michael Newman, a communication scholar, told New York Times, “people are less tolerant of boring things than they used to be” (591). The boring part is not that of technology, but rather the lives of the young generation themselves. Life today is often fast-paced and planned. One must be here at this time, then rush from here to there, and so on. After a short while, this hurried life becomes monotonous and dull. Reality television offers an escape from a repetitive, uninteresting schedule.
The Real World, was the first reality television series on MTV that was tremendously successful. The show is centered on seven seemingly normal and average strangers, who are forced to come together and live under the same roof. In the words of the show, they “start getting real”. Cameras follow several house members throughout their everyday lives, from relaxing in their house to partying at the club, and even to work. The show gives a sense a real life, in the aspect that a person can see himself in the show. Justin Lewis claims “part of the pleasure of reality TV is the way it allows us to apply our expertise about so-called ordinary people to the less tangible logic of the mediascape” (300). Unlike politicians or characters on a soap opera, whose realities follow their own particular scripted narrative, the actions of ordinary people are more intimately knowable. The everyday person can frequently relate to the situations the people in the show encounter, and put their own agenda into place to see what he or she would do. This connection between the people in the reality television show and those sitting in front of the TV, results in an increase of interest in the TV show and more production. The Real World is arguably the best at creating this connection, supported by the fact that as of now it has been on for nearly two decades and remains a show with high ratings.
In addition to being able to see oneself in the show, reality television touches on some of the most infamous American values of our culture. James Poniewozik points out first, there is an aspirational quality, democratic quality, to reality Television (4). Every country has their flaws, but in America one can truly be himself or herself. Reality television portrays a democratic quality, that everyone is an individual. According to Poniewozik, MTV’s reality shows are "American" in the sense that what is true of countries is true of TV genres: their worst traits are inseparable from their best ones (4). Each person has his or her own opinion, and reality TV highlights this. Secondly, everyone has a shot to make it big (Poniewozik, 4). Starting from the earliest years of life, Americans are told that we can do whatever we want; all a person has to do is dream big, do one’s best, and one can become anything one wishes for. As each person ages, it becomes quite apparent that this is not the case, except for a select few. Reality television ignores this aspect of life. The actors of reality television for the most are picked at random. If their show is popular, those actors become celebrities. This is the case in almost all reality shows on MTV. MTV’s programs for the most part center on a group of people living in the same house and forced to interact with each other, i.e. The Real World and most recently the Jersey Shore. A number of people from these shows, have become large parts of the celebrity world. These people were relatively unknown, and now are known by all. Americans can relate not just with the actors of these shows, but also with the values instilled to us at an early age.
In close relation to the idea that everyone has a shot to become a star, is the idea of a fantasy life. For the most part, everyone dreams of having the easy life, including having a beautiful house, always doing something exciting, not working for their possessions, just receiving them, etc. As stated earlier, in normal life one cannot simply attain everything he or she wants. Reality television allows one to dream. Reality shows hand over, to the people on the show, everything they need. One could argue that the people of these reality shows have to get jobs and work. Truthfully, how hard do they actually work when they are already getting paid thousands of dollars to be on the TV show? Reality television allows the person watching to fantasize that maybe one day they to could have an easy life like that portrayed through reality shows.