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Cue the Sun!

2024/9/24
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99% Invisible

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Emily Nussbaum discusses her book, "Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV," exploring the genre's history and impact. From its early days as a guilty pleasure to its influence on society and politics, reality TV has become a powerful force.
  • Reality TV's origins can be traced back to radio shows with audience participation.
  • The genre evolved from a combination of documentary techniques and commercial formats.

Shownotes Transcript

What started as Emily Nussbaum’s “guilty pleasure” of watching Big Brother became a deeper dive into the world of reality TV, leading to her book, Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV. From its early, often morally questionable experiments with shows like Candid Microphone, to the strategy and drama of Survivor, Nussbaum traces the history of a genre that’s shaped how we see the world—and even influenced who gets elected. If you think reality TV is all fluff, this episode might just change your mind.

Cue the Sun!)

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