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Another popular commentary source is the website
(MRHCD 2TQUHUNQ, which tracks contestant gameplay, editing and
spoilers for future seasons.
The show has avoided repetition and stagnation through
the implementation of themes for seasons, resulting in a
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have touched on class (as seen in the ‘white collar, blue col
lar, no collar’ season) and on individuals’ supposed biggest
gameplay asset (as in the two ‘brains, brawn and beauty’
seasons). Other seasons have divided contestants by age,
gender, or whether they are fans of the show or returning
favourites, while one season saw returning players compete
against their loved ones.2TQUHUNQ "NNJ (RK@MCRwas perhaps
the most controversial season, as it divided contestants by
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Quality and complexity in reality programming
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a list of factors associated with ‘quality television’ (the entirety
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pecially when referring to their own history:
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As such, while television shows develop a working memory
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of this sort tend towards innovation through noncompliance
with standards and expectations.^4 Once the audience has
developed a set of expectations about the form of the show,
these can be challenged through repetition and slight varia
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an adherence to an arthouse cinematic form and narrative
structure, whereas, for reality television, a judgement of quality
would need to concern format and gameplay structure. I am
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to him, the term ‘quality television’
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While the American2TQUHUNQ, along with many other reality
programs, is often denigrated as a product of what Ien Ang
calls ‘bad mass culture’,^6 I argue that it is an example of what
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cant narrative complexity and expectations on audiences’
memories. As with most competitive reality television, the au
dience takes pleasure in hearing Probst’s familiar catchphras
es, such as, ‘The tribe has spoken.’ A similar case is evident in
/QNIDBS1TMV@X, in which televisual branding is invoked when
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