No One Saw It Coming Creepy Guy Meets Recording Device: The True Origins of Reality TV
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Jul 28, 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Emily Nussbaum, a staff writer for The New Yorker and author of 'Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV', explores the surprising origins of reality TV. She reveals that its roots trace back to 1940s radio and the intriguing influence of Allen Funt's Candid Camera. Topics include the ethical dilemmas surrounding the genre, the psychological engagement of viewers with reality-based pranks, and how catchy theme songs helped mold public acceptance of this now ubiquitous format.
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Alan Funt's Controversial Innovation
- Alan Funt's boundary-crossing secret recordings created a primal entertainment element.
- He believed his work was beautiful and beneficial for the human soul.
Binge and Discover Reality's Roots
- Emily Nussbaum first researched reality TV's history after binge-watching Big Brother.
- She discovered reality TV roots go back to the 1940s, long before television.
Audience Radio as Reality TV
- Audience participation radio in the 1940s was an early form of reality TV.
- Critics called these shows tawdry and narcissistic, yet they were hugely popular.
