The seminal "reality" show, if you can find it, was on Fox (the entertainment channel, not the news channel). "Temptation Island" was the single purest example of outright exploitation and bad faith that has ever been transmitted. All the "reality" programs that followed, including "Survivor," are built on that original formula. Two young people are put into compromising positions, then they are shown video of each other in the compromising position without context; drama ensues.
The seminal "reality" show, if you can find it, was on Fox (the entertainment channel, not the news channel). "Temptation Island" was the single purest example of outright exploitation and bad faith that has ever been transmitted. All the "reality" programs that followed, including "Survivor," are built on that original formula. Two young people are put into compromising positions, then they are shown video of each other in the compromising position without context; drama ensues.