What are the essential elements of a great reality show?

What are the essential elements of a great reality show?

The essential elements of a great reality show are much the same as any great story or entertainment show. It's not ground-breaking information to know that people like a story about characters that they either like or dislike but in some way compel them. Reality shows are about conflict and resolution; characters struggling against something, trying to overcome obstacles, and come out the other side with a success story. People like the classic three act structure. They like being introduced to a problem, and then the problem getting worse in act two, with a big plot twist near the end of act two and a big resolution in act three. It's classic story-telling. The good reality shows follow it exactly the same way, just as good movies, plays and books follow it the same way.