Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV By Emily Nussbaum
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In this ambitious cultural history, Pulitzer Prize-winning New Yorker writer Emily Nussbaum delves into the rollicking saga of reality television, America’s most influential and divisive artistic phenomenon. In "Cue the Sun!," Nussbaum combines a storyteller’s verve, a journalist’s skepticism, a critic’s astuteness, and a fan’s loving eye to explore the genre's tumultuous evolution and enduring impact.
Who invented reality television, and why is it so irresistible? Nussbaum traces the rise of “dirty documentary” from its contentious radio roots to its pinnacle with Donald Trump. Through lively voices of those who built the genre, she unveils its origin story and examines the morally charged, funny, and sometimes tragic consequences of the hunt for authenticity in a contrived medium.
In sharp, absorbing prose, Nussbaum follows the genre’s experimental roots, culminating in the explosive debut of "Survivor" at the millennium’s turn. She profiles pioneering tricksters like Allen Funt and Chuck Barris, "Cops" auteur John Langley, "Bachelor" ringmaster Mike Fleiss, and "Real World" creators Jon Murray and Mary-Ellis Bunim, alongside stars from "An American Family," "The Real World," "Big Brother," "Survivor," and "The Bachelor." The book reveals industry secrets like the deceptive “Frankenbite” edit and exposes exploitation tales while celebrating reality TV’s unique emotional impact.
Nussbaum investigates the fate of the first reality stars, the Louds, and their refusal to speak to their filmmakers, uncovers the serial killer who won "The Dating Game," and delves into the queer roots of Bravo and the dark truth behind "The Apprentice." A shrewd observer with a deep love for television, Nussbaum offers the first substantive history of the genre that, for better or worse, has shaped modern America. 📚❤️
Who invented reality television, and why is it so irresistible? Nussbaum traces the rise of “dirty documentary” from its contentious radio roots to its pinnacle with Donald Trump. Through lively voices of those who built the genre, she unveils its origin story and examines the morally charged, funny, and sometimes tragic consequences of the hunt for authenticity in a contrived medium.
In sharp, absorbing prose, Nussbaum follows the genre’s experimental roots, culminating in the explosive debut of "Survivor" at the millennium’s turn. She profiles pioneering tricksters like Allen Funt and Chuck Barris, "Cops" auteur John Langley, "Bachelor" ringmaster Mike Fleiss, and "Real World" creators Jon Murray and Mary-Ellis Bunim, alongside stars from "An American Family," "The Real World," "Big Brother," "Survivor," and "The Bachelor." The book reveals industry secrets like the deceptive “Frankenbite” edit and exposes exploitation tales while celebrating reality TV’s unique emotional impact.
Nussbaum investigates the fate of the first reality stars, the Louds, and their refusal to speak to their filmmakers, uncovers the serial killer who won "The Dating Game," and delves into the queer roots of Bravo and the dark truth behind "The Apprentice." A shrewd observer with a deep love for television, Nussbaum offers the first substantive history of the genre that, for better or worse, has shaped modern America. 📚❤️
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