Some Disadvantages of Reality Television Shows Reality television shows dominate many television networks today. There are reality shows enjoyed by virtually every age group. However, many people are unaware of the truth behind reality shows. They are unaware of the planning and pre-established situations that occur in most "reality shows". Reality television represents some important harms to society, including presenting invented situations as reality, promoting unethical values, and presenting humiliation as a form of entertainment. It's no secret that reality shows often present fictional situations as reality. Many producers say that no scripts are used in the production of reality shows. They claim that nothing in the participants' lives is planned solely for the entertainment of viewers and that what is presented in the show is their actual reality. However, most people know that this is not true to a certain extent. Events and situations in reality shows are often staged, re-enacted, or cleverly edited to make them appear more dramatic, and therefore more interesting, than they are. Elizabeth Larkin writes, “After so many “reality” programs, we can discern a pattern of “characters” that is not much different from the standard characters found in fictional programming. There's the sweet, naive small-town person trying to make it big while maintaining small-town values. There is the party boy/girl who is always looking for fun and who shocks those around them, and the list goes on” (Larkin 290). Participants in reality television shows often seek to gain wealth and fame and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal. Also t...... middle of paper ......bing. In summary, the real harms of reality TV far outweigh the artificial claims that some people see as benefits. Reality television is a successful form of entertainment for many people, but nothing good comes from it. Entirely fictional scripted television programs can serve all the same purposes. They can be just as dramatic, catastrophic and interesting as reality TV shows. It's important that viewers take the time to evaluate and understand the reasons they enjoy reality TV. It is essential to become familiar with reality TV statistics, learn about the production process, and examine the morality of such programs. Presenting fictional situations as reality, promoting unethical values ​​and presenting humiliation as a form of entertainment are just some of the many disadvantages of reality television shows..