Whats it doing to Hollywood and the TV industry?
Once the laughed-at cheap and cheesy new kid on the block, reality TV now accounts for most successful new shows — so it’s being taken much more seriously in the industry. It’s less expensive than scripted shows to produce and although it doesn’t have the syndication life of a scripted show, several reality programs, such as The Osbournes, have had successful DVD sales. While it’s lucrative for networks, reality TV has had a particular impact on writers. David E. Kelley, creator of Ally McBeal and Boston Public, complained about reality TV last year, saying it deserved no respect. At the time, Joe Millionaire was pounding his The Practice in the ratings. Now, he’s working on his own reality show — about lawyers. Interestingly, the Writers Guild of America is in the middle of negotiating a contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and the union’s position may be weakened because of reality TV. Susan Murray, an editor of the new book Reality TV, says the guil
