>3/19/98 3:35 PM [log in to unmask] wrote:
 
>Bethany Ogdon asked
>>Can anybody direct me to an article that discusses
>>this?  I can't remember when exactly the writer's strike occurred, but
>>am thinking maybe shows like The People's Court are more directly linked
>>to the strike than shows like Cops and America's Most Wanted.
>
 
>That would have been in the late 1970s and early 1980s, so that
>would be just prior to the Reagan era.  I wonder, then, why "reality tv" is
>associated with the Reagan era?  Just some thoughts.
>
>Lisa :-)
 
Perhaps it's due more to the influence of "direct cinema" documentary
work which emerged in the late 60's and early 70's...e.g., Craig
Gilbert's "An American Family" came out in 1973 --  it made such a huge
splash on PBS that the Loud family was voted the family of the year.
 
Erika
 
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