While modern reality TV is often associated with the early 2000s, its roots date back to the late 1940s.

In 2000, Survivor revolutionized prime time by combining game show competition with soap opera dramatics, drawing over 57 million viewers for its first season finale. Core Genres and Subcategories

Candid Camera (1948) introduced the "hidden camera" prank format, while PBS's An American Family (1973) is considered the first true reality family docuseries.