Reality television purports to document the unscripted lives of real-life people or events for the entertainment of the viewer. The genre rose in popularity in the 1990s with shows such as MTV’s The Real World, a show that followed several young adults from different backgrounds as they shared a home. Reality television became a prominent and expansive genre in the 21st century with shows such as The Bachelor, Big Brother, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and The Real Housewives series. Reality television shows vary from portraying the daily lives of celebrities, such as the Kardashian family, or following contestants as they attempt to navigate a particular situation or setting, as on Survivor. Like the show Food Wars in the novel, reality shows often feature contests or challenges, in addition to portraying interpersonal dynamics between participants.

The purpose of reality television is to entertain its viewers by providing an unscripted look into the lives and challenges of non-actors whom the average viewer might relate to. However, reality television has evolved to veer away from relatability through content that focuses on the wealthy—whose daily lives differ drastically from viewers in lower economic classes—or portray events that many would not experience, such as a survivalist or dating game show.