the following in rec.food.cooking:
Well, nearly every "reality" show is heavily scripted. They also tend to be edited to within an inch of their lives. For example, if the producers want us to think of Ramsey as arrogant and abusive, they'll edit so as to show him at his worst, shouting at and insulting people, and leave out any footage of him being polite or offering helpful advice.)
SOYLENT GREEN 6150And you don't see the irony in what you just said? Really? If you were starving and they...
There are many other techniques involving lighting, background music, perspective, pace, transitions, etc., which can be employed to manipulate the viewer's impressions of a reality show participant. To say nothing of reaction shots, often of participants in the show who have been coached to give certain visual clues intended to heighten the "drama" of the moment.
I've caught only a few bits and pieces of Hell's Kitchen, so I can't provide a detailed analysis of the various tricks which may be used in this particular show.
SOYLENT GREEN 6151connected the dots and ~We were watching a TV show about food shortages in Africa. ~ ~They showed a woman boiling and mashing tree...
I'm not saying that Gordon Ramsey is the reincarnation of Gandhi, nor that in real life Paris Hilton is a candidate for a Nobel Prize. But I do take what I see on reality tv with a grain of salt the size of the Rock of Gibraltar. -- Michael
