There are many reality television programs that are clearly designed solely to make money. Granted it would be naïve to assume that any TV show was created without the purpose of making money, but a great many programs on the box put financial interests before quality.
Here is a selection of reality TV programs that are a cut-above the rest:
The Amazing Race
This aptly named show focuses on 11 teams of two with a preexisting relationship racing around the world in an attempt to win one million dollars.
In each episode the teams must complete a series of challenges including ‘road blocks’ and ‘detours’ with the aim of being the first team across the line. Some of the challenges are frightening, some disgusting while others are simply physically or intellectually demanding. The winning team at each ‘pit stop’ generally wins a travel-related prize and the advantage of being the first team to depart on the next leg of the race. Typically the last team to arrive is eliminated, however this is not always the case.
The series has been running for 19 seasons and the US format has spawned a number of spinoff versions, including ‘The Amazing Race Asia’ and ‘The Amazing Race Australia’.
What is appealing about this program, other than seeing the amazing stunts teams are forced to perform, is the insight into the couples’ relationships and how people function under pressure. The only downside is that with the focus being on speed the teams rarely get the chance to appreciate the beauty and culture of the destinations they visit.
Top Chef
What’s great about this show is that the contestants actually have skills. They are not amateurs, they all either own their own restaurant or catering company or are employed chefs in some fairly prestigious venues, which means that what they concoct is generally impressive.
The pace, mise-en-scene and editing of this show are topnotch and the food produced by the contestants usually leaves your mouth watering. The prizes are geared toward improving the careers of the chefs as well as providing financial benefits.
Finally, the judges are fantastic. Unlike shows such as ‘MasterChef USA’, which features the perennially obnoxious Gordon Ramsey, the judges on ‘Top Chef’ critique the food they receive fairly and honestly but do not feel the need to belittle and degrade the contestants in an effort to boost ratings.
Air Crash Investigation
While not one for the faint of heart, if you can get past the morbidity of watching a show focused on aviation disasters, you will find one of the most fascinating and well-made programs on television.
Each episode concentrates on the recreation and investigation of a particular aircraft incident. The show features interviews with the investigators and, if there are any, survivors including the crew and passengers involved.
A particular strength of this program is that it presents fairly technical elements in an extremely accessible way and although it deals with potentially gruesome matter, manages to avoid descending into sordidness.
Finally, despite the fact that ‘Air Crash Investigation’ focuses on flight failures, through the investigative sections the viewer is reassuringly presented with the changes that have been implemented in the aviation industry in order to ensure that the same disaster is not repeated in the future.
Samantha Wasson - Samantha Wasson is an educator, researcher, writer, blogger, traveller and event planner who feels very awkward writing her own byline.
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