Timeline Description: Reality television includes shows that follow people around and competition shows. The shows are unscripted, affordable to produce, and attractive to viewers, whether they're rooting for a favorite on Big Brother or following the lives of the Kardashians.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 1948 | Candid Camera After a successful radio show, Candid Microphone, host Allen Funt takes his show to television. Candid Camera surprises people with unusual situations. |
| January 1956 | Queen for a Day Queen for a Day went national on NBC in January 1956. On this show, four housewives competed to become queen for a day. |
| December 1965 | The Dating Game The Dating Game premiered in December 1965, allowing viewers to watch romances begin. The guest asked several potential dates questions on the show. |
| January 1973 | An American Family PBS's five-part series documents the ordinary life of an American family with five children, the Louds. |
| March 1980 | That's Incredible 1980's That's Incredible let ordinary people share their talents and tricks on national television. The show featured acrobats, people who could catch arrows, and more. |
| March 1989 | COPS COPS debuted in March 1989, following real-life police officers. The show has remained successful through some 20 seasons. |
| 1996 | Before They Were Stars Before They Were Stars shares the lives of celebrities before they became famous. It is the first celebrity reality television program. |
| May 2000 | Survivor: Borneo Survivor: Borneo premiered in May 2000, featuring a group of contestants stranded to compete for limited resources and the opportunity to stay on the island and win the prize. The series was a success and has continued for fifteen years. |
| June 2001 | Fear Factor Fear Factor debuted in June 2001, with the goal of disgusting both contestants and viewers. By the second episode, contestants were forced to eat worms. |
| June 2002 | American Idol A summer season show, American Idol began rather quietly, but went on to make the careers of a number of well-known performers. The show marked its final season some dozen years later. |
| September 2002 | Osbournes won Emmy for Nonfiction Show The Osbournes, a series following musician Ozzy Osbourne and his family, won an emmy for best non-fiction show in September 2002. |
| 2003 | Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition In 2003, the Emmy for outstanding reality competition show was introduced. The Amazing Race was the first Emmy-winning reality competition. |
| December 2003 | Bachelorette Wedding After the success of the Bachelorette, ABC aired the contestant's wedding to her fiancé, in exchange for a generous payment. |
| 2005 | Dancing with the Stars In 2005, the Dancing with the Stars finale secured a massive audience, as viewers cheered for their favorites to win. The show remains successful a decade later. |
| July 2008 | Emmy for Outstanding Reality Host In 2008, The Emmy Awards introduced an Emmy for outstanding reality television host, again acknowledging this successful television genre. |