The Reality of Reality TV"The winner of the first Survivor competition is... rich." It was the name heard across the country on the night of August 23, 2000, as 51 million viewers tuned in to the Survivor finale. The questions, the predictions, the bets and the reality rested on that one name. For three months America watched and wondered. Who could it be? Who is the ultimate survivor? With the discovery of that one, now infamous name, you could almost feel the country exploding with emotion. The collective gasp of the shocked was surrounded by the applause and screams of all the Richard Hatch fans scattered across the country's living rooms and sports bars. But how real is this reality show? The idea of ​​a "reality show" was first presented by MTV in the early 1990s. The idea of ​​the show was to place seven strangers in a communal house for six months, recording their social interactions in the meantime. The intention was to observe the social dynamics and development of the housemates as (according to the show's opening tagline) "they stop acting polite and start getting real". The real-world debut was a huge success for the network, especially because it attracted a large audience of teenagers. Set in New York City, the show has thrived by broadcasting the housemates' adventures both inside and outside the house. From downtown raves to bedroom battles to intimate encounters, every move the housemates made was seen by the curious eyes of the American public. The Real World, now in its tenth season, has become a mainstay of the MTV network. Changing cities each season, the show constantly explores the issues and problems that young people face in today's society. In this way the show tends to only achieve a sp...... middle of the paper ......F? Who wants to divorce their ungrateful spouse? Survivor: In Space? Well, once again I am shocked by the headlines. Released to the press (I kid you not) on September 12, 2000: "NBC inks deal for 'Survivor' show in space." How on earth could this happen? How real can it be? I'm sure they understood everything. Instead, we should ask ourselves: does the degree of reality determine the quality of entertainment? Perhaps a better question is: should the degree of reality determine the quality of entertainment? The decision is in the hands of the viewer, who grabs the almighty television remote control. Many destinies are determined by the simple click of a button. As for me, you can bet I'll be the first to watch as the lucky winner is launched into the stratosphere during the most thrilling live broadcast in TV history.