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Where is the line? Some shows like The Only Way Is Essex in the UK was confusing when it first came out, later on we found out it wasn't "reality tv", but a new genre "curated reality".

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I much preferred some of those Gordon Ramsay series UK versions. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares was more akin to a documentary than the US version's on FOX with its awful jumpy editing and constant music in the background. The TV becomes more compelling when game show music isn't blaring and the focus is on how to run a restaurant. Instead of only about family infighting.

The extra 5 or 6 mins helps a lot, nothing feels rushed to a conclusion like US reality TV.

Another good one was Gordon's Great Escape. Documentary style reality tv works so much better IMO.

Indeed, those are different things, the US kitchen nightmares being more about the "people zoo" aspect.

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