Reality TV has taken over most networks. Even such networks that we used to turn to for documentaries are embracing this mode of what pretty much amounts to cheap television. After all, those who are reality TV “stars” tend to work cheap. A lot cheaper than stars like Charlie Sheen, Jerry Seinfeld and Ted Danson, all of whom commanded big salaries during their sitcom heydays. And reality TV shows can offer bare budget entertainment, if someone can call watching a man pull a pole out of a ground for about 15 minutes entertainment. Reality TV is here to stay because it is cheap to produce, actors do not have to be professional or even very good and there is minimal set costs.
But how real are the Reality TV shows? Pawn Stars is one of the biggest hits on cable TV. It airs on the History Channel and features the proprietors of a Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. The concept was developed by Rick Harrison, who owns the shop along with his father and son. Harrison’s father is referred to as “the old man” and his son as “Big Hoss” although his name is Corey. A portly worker named Chumley often provides comic relief along with Corey for the half hour show that airs on Monday evenings.
Another show on the History Channel is American Pickers. This is a concept developed by Mike Wolfe and features two guys going across the country in a white van looking for unique collectibles. The two men are often seen discussing their conquests in the white van while driving with Wolfe often taking his eyes off the road for long periods of time that leads credence to the fact that they are not really driving the van but are using it as their set where they take the time to let viewers know what is going on through the course of their dialogue.
The magic of editing comes into play for both of these shows which are carefully scripted. The people who bring the items into the pawn shop for appraisal know that they are going to be on television, as a matter of fact they have been screened and rehearsed. People have to sign a release to be on this sort of television program so there are no surprises in that pawn shop. Harrison and his cohorts know the items that are going to be brought in and the outcome of whether they are authentic prior to filming. Careful editing causes the cliff hanger moments (is the document a fake or the real deal?) between commercials.
The same goes for the cast of American Pickers. They are not just randomly driving up to a house full of collectibles. They have a camera crew with them and the premise has already been set up with the property owners. The pickers already know what they are going to purchase and for how much.
Reality TV is big business and there are many, many people pitching their concepts for these shows to the host of cable television networks that are always looking for something new. The kicker is that Hollywood does not come calling to anyone – they go to them. Those who make these pitches are less interested in getting exposure for their business than they are of being in show business. It has been reported that Harrison spent nearly 7 years trying to get his concept for a show based on his pawn shop to come to fruition. The beauty of this type of entertainment is that most of the stars of the shows are also putting up some money as executive producers and are unlikely to pull a Charlie Sheen and ask for more money. The down side to this is that these programs are short lived in that there are only so many items to be pawned or collectibles stored in attics that people want to see before they switch the channel to something else.
Those who dislike Reality TV and miss the days of real actors and writers, can take comfort in the fact that there will most likely not be any 200 episode celebrations of Swamp People or Ice Road Truckers. The reality stars of today will soon become like the child stars of the past in that they will soon achieve more than their 15 allotted minutes of fame and will eventually have to go back to just taking in pawn items or looking for old signs. Sure, they may sign the occasional autograph here and there, but the fame that they worked so hard to achieve will diminish and their stars will fade.
Are reality shows real? Although most of the concepts have been based upon real premises, they are show business vehicles designed to capture an audience and keep them from switching the channel. The reality stars? With limited acting abilities, they should enjoy the fame they have while they have it and be careful not to let it go to their heads and quit their day jobs.