Television formats portraying ordinary people in unscripted situations are almost as old as the television … See more

There have been various attempts to classify reality television shows into different subgenres:
• A 2006 study proposed six subgenres: romance, crime, informational, reality-drama, co… See more

The authenticity of reality television is often called into question by its detractors. The genre's title of "reality" is often criticized as being inaccurate because of claims that the genre frequently includes elements such as premeditat… See more

A number of fictional works since the 1940s have contained elements similar to elements of reality television. They tended to be set in a dystopian future, with subjects being recorded against their will and often involved vi… See more

Some scripted and written works have used reality television as a plot device:
• Real Life (1979) is a comedic film about the creation of a show similar to An American Family gone horribly wrong.
• Louis the 19th, King of the … See more

A number of scripted television comedy and satire shows have adopted the format of the documentary-type reality television show, in "mockumentary" style. The first such show was the BBC series Operation Good Guys, which prem… See more