My theory as to why Reality Television is such a current phenomenon in American culture is based on saturation or desensitization to mainstream forms of entertainment. I think the public seeks entertainment that is fresh and novel as well as non-fake. Hollywood movies are still popular, but many films, TV shows, or programs have become repetitive re-creations. In other words, the entertainment became stale and stagnant for the most part. However, reality shows are appealing due to their continuous novelty; new unknown individuals always emerge with unique personalities and characteristics. I do not personally watch any reality TV shows, but for the purposes of this discussion, I have watched one episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I think that it lacks the intensity of emotional excitation delivered by other forms of entertainment, such as movies or big TV series, but it provides large volumes of content to engage with.
I initially thought that the reality TV show would not ‘stick’ with me, but I became interested in it after a few minutes. Reality TV shows are popular due to a moderate level of novelty combined with some degree of familiarity, and it has significantly more hours of content compared to high-quality forms of entertainment. I understand the appeal because I usually get frustrated when my favorite forms of entertainment, such as movies or big TV series, end. For example, I enjoy watching Stranger Things, Marvel movies, and others. I have to wait for a year or more to watch the next season or part. However, with a reality show, it is practically endless because it is easier to produce, retains novelty, and continuously entertains.