# Why do people misbehave on reality TV (or TV of any sort)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166 "2018-11-08T00:17:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/21 "2018-11-08T18:37:03Z")
A lot of it is editing after filming. Some is creating disputes where none really exists. And some is directing the “actors” to do stupid shit. I know a couple of guys who fished on the F/V Maverick in early seasons on The Deadliest Catch. And Browning Logging from the early Ax Men shows, their office is less than a mile away from me and the loggers are very local to me. My local bar is called The Logger. Browning pulled out of the show because the directors kept trying to create something that looked dangerous or stupid and were interfering with the actual job of, you know, getting the logs out of the woods and sold. I admit that I am a sucker for the car rebuilding shows but come on, would I really want a car built under an intense schedule by people working late into the night arguing with each other? No, no, please take a few more days, another week wouldn’t hurt, I can wait for you to do it right! Really! Instead the shows give a sense of a false deadline that MUST be met. Parts supply issues, paint issues, and the idea that you can custom build a car in 5 days. Maybe if you have spent months getting everything premade and staged. Chip Foose is a great artist, makes fine looking wheels, but if he actually slaps a car together the way it looks on his show, I don’t want the thing. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/22 "2018-11-08T19:25:15Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I had wondered if bratty characters were scripted and in fact ordered to brat or perform something but it didn’t seem scripted; too genuine. It depends on your definition of “scripted.” Their lines aren’t written out for them. But the casting department selects for certain personality types. They look for people who want to be the center of attention. During the “talking heads” segments, they are asked leading, disingenuous questions that prompt specific types of answers (“Do you think it’s fair for people to cheat? What if Rachel had cheated? What would you say to her?”). They’re put in situations where they’re on edge with a bunch of other people who are on edge, and reminded what the situation is. And then the footage is edited to the best cuts. But if you don’t write the words out for them - you don’t have to pay writers’ union prices for writers. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/23 "2018-11-08T19:47:34Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Something I’ve wondered is why being on television - in front of an audience of millions, and also the YouTube era where every gaffe or mistake is preserved forever for all to see - doesn’t seem to stop some people from throwing tantrums or behaving their worst or saying terrible things. Some people want fame, even if comes from infamy. Whoever creates the drama gets more camera time, and more time on camera means more deals later on. They’ll be more likely to get invited to interview shows, reunion shows, get endorsements, get paid to be the “celebrity” at a club, get noticed on the street, get special treatment, etc. And then producers will be more likely to cast them in spinoff shows since they need the drama to create ratings. So for someone who wants to be famous, it can be a valid career path. However, for just normal folks who go back to their normal life and job, displaying bad behavior could have a lot of negative consequences. Your friends and family might look at you differently. You may lose your job. A normal person is more likely to feel the consequences of whatever behavior they display. So you probably would do best to display the behavior you would want to be known by. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/24 "2018-11-08T19:54:08Z")
I know someone who worked behind the scenes at a big reality show wedding. She said the producers have a VERY heavy hand in what happens. Down to how someone enters a room. “Come in again, but this time bigger.” The ceremony itself felt cold and unemotional. She got the impression that many of the numerous guests were hired bodies. I also know someone whose brother was on one of those “that’s not my baby” episodes of Maury Povich. Again, the producers urged them to shout and make a scene. In reality, they were on much milder terms with each other. Basically, people misbehave because they’re told to. It doesn’t hurt that they’re also already inclined to drama. ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2018, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/25 "2018-11-09T02:14:07Z")
Check out “American Idol.” In the first season, they filmed some of the failed auditions in which Simon berated them and offered hateful insults. People figured out pretty quick that the best way to get on the show was to be as crazy and terrible as possible. It’s clear most of the “bad” auditions in later seasons are people just screwing around so they can get five seconds on TV. I think that’s a big part of why people empathized with William Hung. He’s one of the few “bad” auditions that appeared genuine rather than contrived. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2018, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/26 "2018-11-09T05:58:54Z")
When the only tool you have is a tantrum, every situation looks like THEY’VE thwarted you again. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/27 "2018-11-09T17:14:53Z")
Reality shows are almost never scripted, if by “scripted” you mean that a writer writes down lines of dialog, which are handed to the people in the scene, and the people in the scene perform the dialog as written. That’s a huge waste of time and there’s absoutely no reason for it. Reality shows aren’t scripted, they’re improved. The producers come up with a premise. They cast the show. They might have pointers for some people on developing their character, but the expectation is that the performers create their own character. It’s 2018, people understand reality television. They don’t hire an actor and tell him the character and hand him lines to memorize. Instead they hire a guy, and that guy figures out what his character should be, and comes up with what to say. If you have to hire a writer to figure out what the character is supposed to say, why not just hire the goddam writer and put him in front of the camera instead of the schlub who can’t come up with his own angles? Yes, performers are coached up by the producers. Yes, scenes are cooked to increase or manufacture drama. When you see someone saying something, and then a reaction shot of someone making a face, it is a pretty good bet that’s not a genuine reaction shot, they just got a shot of a person making a face and edited that in. But “scripting” is a waste of time, and not how it’s actually done. If you can’t improv your own lines about how Jessica is such a bitch, then you’re not the person they’re looking for. They’re going to put the cameras on people who know what they’re doing, and the person who would need to be fed lines is going to end up on the cutting room floor. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/28 "2018-11-10T11:53:33Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > Here’s an hypothetical example, I roll around in my mind from time to time: > > Gordon Ramsay, three or four seasons into the US version of _Kitchen Nightmares_, went to a Manhattan lobster restaurant, and did what he’d done dozens of times, as far as I’d seen – he orders a bunch of entree’s to taste them. So we see the following scene: > > - > > cut to office, **Arkcon** is typing receipts into his computer, enter **Brian** \*: > > **Brian:** Hey, did you see that Ramsay is here. > **Arkcon:** Uh, yeah, Greg met him, I think, I’ll meet him once I’m done with these receipts. I don’t want to look like some sort of attention hound on camera, or a slavering fanboi. > **B:** He just ordered three lobster rolls, is he gonna pay for them!? > \*\*A: \*\* _exasperated sigh, tsk_ I dunno, **B** , maybe check the rider we signed when we signed on for this show _gestures to behind the camera_ maybe the cost is covered? > > **Director:** Cut! Ok, first of all, **Brian** , luving your energy, do try to stay in it. Now **Arkcon** , you’re doing great, however, you’re going to have to lean less heavy on that fourth wall. Alright, lets take that again. And … action. > > **B:** He just ordered three lobster rolls, is he gonna pay for them!? > **A:** _shrugs, makes I dunno sound, continues typing with head down_ > > Director: Beautiful, that’s just what we need. Thanks **Brian** and **Arkcon**. Let setup in the dining room people, clear out the equipment. > Cameraman: Want some action shots of **Arkcon**? > Director: Nah, he’s beautiful, we’re beautiful, its in the tin. > > The second take was more like what we got in that episode. Was there a take like first take? Kinda depends on the person. Would they have shown the first take? No. That reminds me how every Kitchen Nightmares has the exact same scenario play out for when Ramsay first tests the food out every single time. Owner: Ramsay is here, quick prepare our best dish! Head Chef: You got it! \ Owner: You sure Ramsay is going to like this? Head Chef: Well it’s a day old steak but he won’t notice. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/29 "2018-11-10T15:57:44Z")
I finally made myself stop watching reality shows a few years ago. I regularly watched all of Gordon Ramsey’s shows. I finally got to a point where the obviously manufactetered drama and over reactions were too much to swallow. The final straw was learning practically none of the restaurants Gordon tried to _save_ have closed. That bothers me because top chefs in the real world do paid consultations. They can make a difference in a restaurants future. It’s not a one week job and they certainly don’t curse every couple minutes. I was hooked on Survivor for several seasons. I’d structure my entire schedule around seeing that show. The manufactured drama and game play reached a point where I lost interest. I’m struggling to stay interested in DIY programs. I love home renovation and worked my way through college in construction. But they keep adding more and more reality show bs to DIY. It ruins it for me. My pet peeve is seconds before the commercial they always insert a OMG something went wrong moment. Then they buy new paint after the commercial. Sigh, they are ruining it for real people that know DIY. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/30 "2018-11-10T16:10:15Z")
Don’t you miss documentaries? There was a magical time Jacques Cousteau explored the oceans and took us along for the ride for twenty-five years! No bickering. No drunks. No women in bikinis, No OMG my swim fin fell off or OMG there’s a shark close to me. This Old House featured real tradesman. That had decades of experience. No hunky male models that conveniently know how to use a skill saw while the camera is running. Then, cut! and it’s time for the real carpenter to build the cabinet. It’s called educational entertainment. A show format almost totally lost thanks to reality show b.s. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/31 "2018-11-10T16:26:26Z")
There is an audience for The Bachelor, Big Brother, Real Housewives and Survivor. It’s not my cup of tea but I understand other people love these shows. That’s great that they are entertained. I hope these shows stay on for another ten years. I just wish real documentaries that focused on the actual task were still made. I’m sure Cousteau’s crew enjoyed an occasional drink (in town when the boat docked) and argument. But the focus of the show is exploring the ocean. Any personality clashes were left on the cutting room floor, where they belonged. Imho ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/32 "2018-11-10T16:51:38Z")
There was a BBC reality show a few years back ‘The Great Pottery Throwdown’ where one of the contestants just straight deadpanned his way through. After the first episode he really didn’t show more than a small smile when he did well, or any reaction to negative judging other than one like a calm ‘Yes that’s a good point. I’ll work on that in future.’ It was really funny; because it was a show where contestants got voted out on what they’d been filmed making and his stuff was obviously really good, they couldn’t subtly just vote him out without refilming, not when someone else showed up with a pot that had cracked in the kiln or was miles off what they’d been asked for, when he had something clearly lovely that fit the brief perfectly. At the same time though, he just wasn’t good TV at all. They just cut him more and more out of the show, because he simply showed up, quietly made a lovely pottery item and didn’t so much as look stressed, barely spoke and when he did it was always in the same tone of voice and all related to pottery, week after week. By the later episodes the camera crew pretty well gave up; he was barely there, just visible in the background, while the rest of the contestants freaked out about going home, cried, chatted and made reality television. He just made pottery. IIRC the guy was a teacher, and clearly decided he was going to act like he had his class watching at all times when cameras were present, regardless of what the studio tried to get him to do. Until he won, when at least he did start reacting happily, in an understated sort of way. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/33 "2018-11-10T18:18:04Z")
> [@bump](#): > > That’s the real answer; one of my son’s preschool teachers was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader for a couple of years, but was NEVER on the show. She’s absolutely gorgeous and articulate and a really nice person. Why wasn’t she on the show? > Because she deliberately refused to get involved with any of the dramatic stuff or gossip or anything like that. > > Makes sense; a reality show consisting of all well-adjusted, sane people who want to get along and accomplish a task together would be insufferably boring. > > “Oh, Jane just held her tongue… AGAIN.” “Bill let some annoying stuff slide.” “Everybody’s being deliberately NICE!!!” There was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/34 "2018-11-10T18:26:01Z")
Tom Colicchio mentioned in a blog that the cast was being too nice to each other. Actually helping each other when needed. Which is how a REAL kitchen operates. Didn’t take long for the douchery to begin. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/35 "2018-11-10T18:33:47Z")
It’s the bs cooking challenges that bug me. Go in a convenience store and buy $8 of crap. Give the judges a fine dining experience. They ended up cooking with slim jims, baked beans, and Vienna Sausage. Oh those crafty producers they know how to bring the class. I used to wonder why the chefs were given 20 mins to Shop in Whole Foods. They often had to prepare a 100 course meal. That’s a lot of food to buy in 20 minutes. It finally dawned on me that chefs running like crazed people made for exciting video. If they get hurt it’s even better. But Top Chef, for the most part is watchable. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/36 "2018-11-10T21:16:41Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > They purposely select the drama queens, put em together and edit the bullshit drama. It’s not a complicated recipe and they don’t have to pay writers. > > And the drama queens know to stir up stuff for more screen time. Throw in a couple of more, by comparison, likeable types and you’ve got a hit on your hands. > > Big brother has been on for like twenty years, and in many different versions for different countries. Eek! Well, a sane, calm Ontarian might say ‘eek’, but you’d never pass the audition. If you put down your third drink [always lots of free booze on set] began ranting, started blaming a fellow contestant, perhaps did something spiteful or used it to illogically justify your own egregious behaviour [‘Because they’ve made a Big Brother Moldova! That’s why I shat in your sleeping bag. Duhhhh!!!’ - I can hear the crowd favourite saying] then you’d be much loved by producers and audiences alike. I suspect your restaurant does not get a look-in for a Gordon Ramsay treatment unless you can show: - You’ve always wanted to run a restaurant, and that’s why you’ve been doing something else your whole life - You employ close relatives who [surprise!] don’t seem to be burdened by lots of other things in their lives - You idealise your mother’s cooking, which is why you’ve not paid attention in any restaurant you’ve been to for the past 40 years. Meet those criteria, and its Winner, Winner, borderline fatal chicken dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/37 "2018-11-11T00:30:10Z")
If you want programs that actially show people making real things withoutbthe drama, Youtube is the place to be. Interesting people doing interesting things. You can find pretty much every activity or art being done. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/38 "2018-11-11T00:42:15Z")
The bigger question is why do people enjoy watching this? ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/39 "2018-11-11T02:37:10Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > The bigger question is why do people enjoy watching this? If I remember correctly the demographic who watches a lot of these reality show is the same demographic who use to watch daytime soap operas. Which is why the ratings for daytime soap operas has gone done and many of them have been canceled. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166/40 "2018-11-11T03:24:51Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > There was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show? More like “is”. It’s on CMT I believe, and it’s basically a show that chronicles each season’s new crop of cheerleaders and the trials and tribulations they undergo making the team. Of course, in, uh… workout clothes(?) Truth be told, it’s a little like watching “Showgirls”- you get a bit worn out by all the short shorts and what-not after like an episode or two. It’s just overwhelming- even the girls who need “help” still have incredible figures. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-misbehave-on-reality-tv-or-tv-of-any-sort/824166.md?page=3)