The reality of reality TV

The New York Times got some reality show participants whose non-disclosure agreements had expired to tell about what happened. Here are a few highlights—or should that be lowlights?

 “…the programs routinely use isolation, sleeplessness and alcohol to encourage wild behavior. During the 2006 season of the popular ABC dating show “The Bachelor,” the contestants waited in vans for several hours while the crew set up for a 12-hour “arrival” party where, two contestants said, there was little food but bottomless glasses of wine. When producers judged the proceedings too boring, they sent out a production assistant with a tray of shots.

 

“If you combine no sleep with alcohol and no food, emotions are going to run high and people are going to be acting crazy,” said Erica Rose, a contestant that year. “

 

Mark Andrejevic, author of “Reality TV: The Work of Being Watched,” added:

 

“The bread and butter of reality television is to get people into a state where they are tired, stressed and emotionally vulnerable, “That helps make them more amenable to the goals of the producers and more easily manipulated.”

 

The article reveals, “Phones, computers and periodicals are taken away before the start of taping. On “Project Runway,” when contestants were allowed to make a rare phone call, it was monitored by a producer, contestants say. They were also not allowed to listen to music. Jessica Cabo, from the 2005 “Hell’s Kitchen,” said even the production crew would not interact with contestants.”

 

Next step, waterboarding.