Think what you may about it, reality television has over the last ten years remade the face of television. Even today, shows like Jersey Shore continue to set network records. Yet whatever the genre’s popularity, the majority of our respondents would not like reality television to become their reality: only 26% would join a reality show if given the choice.
When we asked our panelists what they would give up to not be on a reality television show, however, it appeared that the aversion did not run particularly deep.
- When give a monetary choice, almost two-thirds of our respondents said they would only pay $100 to avoid being on a show. A further 15% said they would pay no higher than $1000.
- Even so, there also appeared a dogged minority who would do anything to avoid reality television. 12% of our panelists would quit their job and 10% would pay $100,000 to escape being on a reality show.
To the minority who wanted to be on reality TV, we posed the opposite question: what would you give up to be on a reality show? A slightly different picture emerged.
- Similar to those who wanted to avoid reality TV, few were interested in parting with their money. 74% would pay no higher than $100 to join a reality show.
- Yet for the willing, a stint on reality television was just as good as time-off. 80% would give up a week’s vacation to be on reality TV.
- 34% would even quit their job, driven perhaps by the allure of full-time work as America’s Next Top Model or Paris Hilton’s My New BFF.
Whether or not they wanted to be on reality television, our respondents apparently understood the difference between reality TV and reality. Only 26% said they wouldn’t enjoy reality television if they knew it had been scripted ahead of time.
