Culture | In defence of the “dirty documentary”

Reality TV is irritating but irresistible

There is more to the format than meets the eye

The illustration shows a group of people standing inside an old-fashioned television set, which has vertical bars resembling a prison cell. The people inside appear as if they are confined within the screen.
Illustration: Pablo Delcan

In New Zealand a contestant on “Race to Survive” has been disqualified for killing and eating a weka, an endangered flightless bird. In Britain a performer on “Strictly Come Dancing” has left the show after kicking his on-air partner. In America the makers of “The Real Housewives of New York City” are being sued by a housewife who says producers got her drunk to make for better television.

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Reality bites”

From the August 17th 2024 edition

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