How Ozzy altered 'reality'

摘要

As MTV last week cut a new deal for The Osbournes, in a negotiation apparently as bizarre as the family itself, other broadcast and cable networks are discovering that real life is just another form of reality programming. The Osbournes has spawned its first knockoff, a reality series for E! Entertainment Television spotlighting former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith. Rumors abound of more celebs, such as music mogul P. Diddy, wanting to be subjects. But perhaps strangest of all is that it might be getting easier to feed viewers the concept of reality series than a documentary. Just look at the on-air promotions for upcoming documentary series: ABC's promos for The Hamptons resemble a steamy prime time soap; NBC's promos for its documentary Crime & Punishment have a distinct Law & Order feel.