From beloved New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum comes a groundbreaking narrative detailing the fights, egos, drama, and future presidents of reality television. Cue the Sun is a rollicking, deeply reported story about how the early reality TV business metastasized into an industry that now dominates entertainment in the United States. Starting in 1948, Nussbaum pulls back the curtain on the cultural meat grinder that created a generation-defining form of entertainment, examining shows from The Real World to Survivor to The Apprentice. Through extensive interviews, Nussbaum follows the reality TV industry from its inception with shows like Candid Camera to its 90s heyday and 00s aftermath. The book dives into some of the industry's most remarkable stories--for instance, the one where a serial killer on the run once appeared on The Dating Game.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 399-419) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Better write that one fast -- Spaghetti against the wall: 1947-1989 -- The reveal: Queen for a Day and Candid Camera -- The gong: the filthy, farkakte Chuck Barris 1970s -- The betrayal: An American Family -- The clip: America's Funniest Home Videos and Cops -- The rev up: 1990-2000 -- The house: The Real World -- The con: the nihilistic Fox '90s -- The game: the invention of Survivor (and Mark Burnett) -- The island: Survivor: Borneo -- The feed: Big Brother -- Cue the sun: 2001-2007(ish) -- The explosion: reality blows up--and becomes industry -- The rose: The Bachelor and Joe Millionaire -- The wink: Bravo and the gentrification of reality TV -- The job: The Apprentice and the end of reality innocence -- Fake it till you make it.
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