Candid Camera (1948) introduced the "hidden camera" prank format, while PBS's An American Family (1973) is considered the first true reality family docuseries.

MTV's The Real World (1992) established the modern "fly-on-the-wall" style, using confessionals and edited narratives to create character-driven drama.

In 2000, Survivor revolutionized prime time by combining game show competition with soap opera dramatics, drawing over 57 million viewers for its first season finale. Core Genres and Subcategories

Reality television has evolved from a niche experiment into a dominant global entertainment institution. Once dismissed as a "noxious fad," it now accounts for a significant portion of all television viewing—estimated at . The Evolution of Reality Programming

The genre is diverse, often classified into several distinct subgenres:

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