Unreal

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Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

Podcasts

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

The dumbest genre in entertainment, or the one that tells us the most about ourselves?

Journalists Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale explore how reality TV shapes our lives and the ethical questions raised by the format, featuring iconic shows and stars.

The dumbest genre in entertainment, or the one that tells us the most about ourselves? Since its conception, reality TV has divided its viewers. 

Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV is a 10-part audio documentary written and presented by journalists Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale. They've been fans of reality TV since they first watched Big Brother as pre-teens and they've spent a fair amount of time defending reality TV when people are snobby about it, or dismiss its importance in our wider culture. But they've also been troubled by what they've seen in the genre: the exploitation; the lack of aftercare; the impacts of sudden fame. 

Using interviews with the creators, producers and stars of some of the most iconic reality shows of the last two decades, and leading cultural critics of today, Unreal explores how reality TV has shaped entertainment, fashion, beauty, celebrity and even politics - and some of the ethical issues raised by the format. 

Producer: Hannah Hufford 
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes 
Executive Editor: James Cook 
Content Producer: Hannah Robins 
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen

Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV: 5. The Birth of Scripted Reality: Laguna Beach & The Hills

1. The Social Experiment: Big Brother Is Watching You

5. The Birth of Scripted Reality: Laguna Beach & The Hills

BBC Radio 4 - Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV, 5. The Birth of Scripted Reality: Laguna Beach & The Hills

The shows that birthed reality’s first wave of lifestyle influencers.

A nostalgic trip back to teenage years with Laguna Beach and The Hills, which birthed reality’s first wave of lifestyle influencers.

Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale tread a nostalgic path back to their teenage years and The Hills, which birthed reality’s first wave of lifestyle influencers. Featuring interviews with Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, and many more.

Producer: Hannah Hufford
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes
Executive Editor: James Cook
Content Producer: Hannah Robins
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen

Archive credits:
The OC, Wonderland Sound and Vision
Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, Go Go Luckey Productions
The Hills, Done and Done Productions
Nightline, ABC News Productions
Velvet’s Edge with Kelly Henderson, Nashville Podcast Network

BBC Radio 4

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Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

5. The Birth of Scripted Reality: Laguna Beach & The Hills

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