How do reality television programs shape our view of the world and what we perceive as real and normal? This book explores the bizarre and highly controversial world of reality television, including its early history, wide variety of subject matter, and social implications.

• Explains why reality television plays such a large role in popular culture and why it is so representative of American society in the 21st century

• Contextualizes reality television as a postmodernist form of new media that has vastly altered the landscape of traditional television programming

• Examines the phenomenon of reality programming in the context of the history of radio and television broadcasting as it originated in the U.S. market

• Answers the common question, "Why would anyone want to watch this show?" by describing and analyzing the reason for a specific program's construction—and often, success—within the framework of audience study findings