If I recall correctly (IIRC in internet lingo), the question this morning was about reality shows. I pish-posh most of them, believing them, based on what I've read, anti-intellectual, unfunny and, in some cases, mean-spirited.
One exception I would like to cite, however, is "Taxicab Confidential." I only saw it a couple of times a few years ago when I was on business travel, as I never subscribed to HBO at home. It's a variation on "Candid Camera," in which taxicab passengers, unbeknownst to them, are videotaped. The cab driver encourages his/her fares to talk, and talk they do.
I was completely mesmerized by the tales I heard. At first I thought this show absolutely had to be scripted, as the passengers were very articulate and their stories were incredibly engaging and touching and/or sad and/or funny and spoke volumes about the human condition.
But they are real stories. The producers of this show must have gone through lots and lots of passengers to get the stories they put into the programs.
