- Reality television
- A new entertainment phenomenon based on two scenarios
- Ordinary people in extraordinary situations
- MTV's Real World
- Survivor
- MTV's Real World
- Fear Factor
- Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire
- Extraordinary people in ordinary situations
- The Osbournes
- The Surreal Life
- The Simple Life
- American Idol
- Premiered in the summer of 2002 on the Fox Network
- Based on a program that had already succeeded in England:
- Pop Idol
- New style of a very old popular tradition: the talent show
- Star Search was very popular from 1983 to 1995
- How the show works:
- First weeks of the broadcast season focus on separating out the worst competitors
- In 2004, William Hung was acclaimed for being comically bad
- Viewers select twelve finalists
- One contestant is eliminated per week
- The winner gets a recording contract
- Panel of three judges:
- Simon Cowell
- Paula Abdul
- Randy Jackson
- First season winner was Kelly Clarkson
- Has already made two multi-platinum albums
- Nominated for a Grammy award
- The winner and runner-up of the second season also recorded popular albums
- Ruben Studdard
- Clay Aiken
- Two reasons for American Idol success
- Popularity of reality television
- Long-lasting appeal of talent contests
- Producers of the show revived the formulaic approach to developing pop stars
- Singer is chosen for skill and appeal
- Deliver songs created by industry professionals
- Profit is retained by the record company (in this case, the TV network)
- Audience has a part in the star-making apparatus
