From The New Yorker Radio Hour: Emily Nussbaum on the Beginnings of Reality TV
Jul 4, 2024
auto_awesome
Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic Emily Nussbaum chats about the history and craft of reality TV with a focus on 'Candid Camera,' 'An American Family,' and 'Cops.' She aims to make you understand, not necessarily like, reality TV.
Reality TV's origins were influenced by audience participation and edgy stunts, showcasing varied reactions from participants.
The Loud family from 'An American Family' faced media frenzy and paved the way for authenticity in reality TV.
Deep dives
Evolution of Reality TV from Candid Microphone to Candid Camera
Reality television's origins trace back to Alan Funt's Candid Microphone, the precursor to Candid Camera, showcasing audience participation and edgy, influential stunts. The show's pranks ranged from endearing interactions like a talking mailbox to slightly humiliating scenarios, prompting varied reactions from participants. Funt's innovation of the 'reveal' added depth by capturing individuals' responses post-prank, providing viewers with a cathartic release from voyeuristic guilt.
Impact and Legacy of 'An American Family' on Reality TV
The documentary 'An American Family' depicted the Loud family's intimate life, including a divorce and openly gay son, triggering a media frenzy and establishing the Louds as the first reality stars. Despite post-show challenges, the family remained resilient and sought to reclaim their narrative. The series paved the way for modern reality TV formats like 'The Real World,' emphasizing authenticity and individuality as defining characteristics of public figures.
Controversies and Significance of 'Cops' as a Reality TV Show
The show 'Cops,' despite critiques of racial profiling, aimed to portray a 'cinema verite' look at police work and societal dynamics. Parallel to coercive power dynamics, the show's crew emphasized obtaining consent for filming, highlighting vulnerabilities faced by participants. The economic motivations behind reality TV production, including cost-effective content creation during strikes, underscore the industry's complexity and impact on entertainment evolution.
Reality television has generally got a bad rap, but Emily Nussbaum—who received a Pulitzer Prize, in 2016, for her work as The New Yorker’s TV critic—sees that the genre has its own history and craft. Nussbaum’s new book “Cue the Sun!” is a history of reality TV, and roughly half the book covers the era before “Survivor,” which is often considered the starting point of the genre. She picks three formative examples from the Before Time to discuss with David Remnick: “Candid Camera,” “An American Family,” and “Cops.” She’s not trying to get you to like reality TV, but rather, she says, “I'm trying to get you to understand it.”