Fame seekers may claim that reality TV's biggest advantage comes in its unrivaled ability to produce more "15 minutes of fame" stars than other TV genres. A reality show provides exposure that people could not get anywhere else, giving non-celebrities the potential to become household names and land opportunities that otherwise may evade them.
Competitive reality programs offer another advantage to participants: the opportunity to follow dreams, land big breaks or win large amounts of cash. Viewers, in turn, may think they can accomplish the same and apply. Aside from the winner, numerous finalists on Fox's "American Idol" secure a record deal, while the triumphant contestant on CBS' "Survivor" wins $1 million.
Romantically challenged people could find love by appearing on reality dating shows such as ABC's "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette." Couples from both series went on to enjoy lengthy post-show relationships, though like real life, Cupid's arrow sometimes shoots and misses the mark.
Participants (and in some instances viewers) also have to deal with reality TV disadvantages. Applicants need to read the fine print in every legal document they sign, as a personal release form gives TV producers the rights to film them during every aspect of the program.
If you apply to appear on a reality program, you have no grounds to complain about lack of privacy, or that you cannot control what ends up on TV. Every stipulation usually appears in personal and location release forms, as well as informed consent forms.
When participants surrender their rights to privacy, they may not consider reality TV's long-term effects, subjecting themselves to potentially humiliating events that harm their reputation. Some participants emerge unscathed and parlay "bad" reputations into other ventures, but others may experience less fortune.
If participants engage in questionable behavior and it appears on television, it could impact their relationships with family and friends, not to mention employers and the law. Established celebrities have no immunity to reality TV's consequences; any questionable behavior on a reality program may cause Hollywood to have little to no interest in working with celebrities on future projects.
Viewers often wonder if reality TV projects real-life, unscripted moments. Programs like Fox's "COPS" depend on authentic interaction between law enforcement and criminals. Most reality shows, though, may edit programs to fit their own agenda, presenting viewers expecting reality with inauthentic programming. Such actions may result in exaggerations of events or painting participants in an inaccurate, non-flattering light.
Participants in programs like "The Real World" claim producers influence what people do on camera. Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, who emerged with a less-than-flattering reputation while on NBC's "The Apprentice," told Time magazine that producers never filmed her when she was making nice, only during heated, great-for-TV moments.
Some participants use reality TV as a means to portray a type of person they could not be in real life. Such was the case for Russell Kairouz, who claims that his jerk-like behavior was all a show on on CBS' "Big Brother" in summer 2009.
Regardless of whether reality shows fake it, most viewers do not seem to mind, according to a 2006 Time poll. More than half of respondents said that accuracy did not impact their enjoyment of a program, while less than one-third believed reality shows depicted real experiences.