The Logistics of Reality TV

One thing has always bugged me about reality TV shows: How real can someone's reaction to a surprise be if the cameras are set up beforehand?

For example, tonight on Project Runway Tim Gunn was doing his visits to the designers' houses to check up on them. When he knocked on the door, we had a series of shots alternating from outside (behind Tim) and inside (the designer answering the door and acting surprised). Clearly they're faking their shock because those cameras don't just sit around for 2 months.

Though 'American Dreamz' was a mediocre movie at best, it was pretty funny when they made a joke about this very thing when Mandy Moore's character is told she gets to be on the show. "We need you to come out again, we didn't get a good reaction shot." Skip to 46 seconds into the trailer below to see what I'm talking about.*



* Thank you to Katie for reminding me about this scene. I dedicate 5.4% of this post to her.