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RiffRandell

(5,909 posts) Mon Jun 9, 2014, 06:59 PM Jun 2014

It All Began with O. J.

Reality television, that is.

Two decades after America dropped whatever it was doing to watch a white Bronco cruise down the San Diego Freeway, the O. J. Simpson case remains unparalleled as noir mystery, soap opera, and (though no one knew it at the time) TV’s first reality show. Examining how the cast—Kato Kaelin, Marcia Clark, Faye Resnick, et al.—got its hooks into popular culture, Lili Anolik accuses Simpson of a different murder.

Latest Vanity Fair issue: http://www.vanityfair.com/society/2014/06/oj-simpson-trial-reality-tv-pop-culture

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It All Began with O. J. (Original Post) RiffRandell Jun 2014 OP

OJ wasn't the original reality show. That would be a 12 hour documentary lob1 Jun 2014 #1

Take it up with the VF writer. RiffRandell Jun 2014 #2

It's not often PBS has a hit show, but that's what happened. lob1 Jun 2014 #4

Sorry, but I'm sure the trial got more ratings. RiffRandell Jun 2014 #5

You're absolutely right, OJ got much bigger ratings. lob1 Jun 2014 #7

That was possibly the last reality show Mr.Bill Jun 2014 #6

It also killed Soaps as well nt maryellen99 Jun 2014 #3

lob1

(3,820 posts)

1. OJ wasn't the original reality show. That would be a 12 hour documentary

Reply to RiffRandell (Original post)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 07:15 PM

Jun 2014

on PBS in 1973 about the Loud Family.

www.pbs.org/lanceloud/american/

RiffRandell

(5,909 posts)

2. Take it up with the VF writer.

Reply to lob1 (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 07:21 PM

Jun 2014

Just posting what I read; seems legit. I'm a middle-aged white woman, but not old enough to know the series you are referring to, lob.

lob1

(3,820 posts)

4. It's not often PBS has a hit show, but that's what happened.

Reply to RiffRandell (Reply #2)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 07:31 PM

Jun 2014

Everyone was talking about it at the time. One kid came out and said he was gay, and the world freaked out over that. I was working long, late hours back then, and I only saw part of one episode but I thought it was good. BTW I hate reality shows.