A pop culture phenomenon, reality programming continues to dominate the airwaves and is big business for networks. This volume will cover the evolution of reality programming, reviewing early programming in the 1970s and the ascendency of the genre in the 1980s; the rationale behind why viewers of all ages are drawn to reality programming; and the celebrity culture that surrounds some of the most popular shows. Also covered is the “reality” behind reality programming, considering the ways some of the most reality-based shows are developed and, in some cases, manipulated. This volume offers an interesting look behind the scenes of the most significant development in entertainment the last decade.