Though reality programming didn’t become popular until the early 1990s, after the launch of Survivor, its history goes back several decades to the late 1940s. Allen Funt’s Candid Camera television series marked the era in which this new concept of television programming was first introduced.  Reality television has slowly gained momentum throughout the years, becoming one of the most viewed genres of television programming today.

The 1980s helped form modern day reality programming with favorite shows such as COPS, Star Search, Rescue 911 and TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes. Though two decades have passed since these shows began airing, similar reality shows can be seen today. Such shows include American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Untold Stories of the E.R. and Punk’d.

COPS

COPS premiered on March 11, 1989, and is still running today, making it one of the longest running television series in the United States.

This documentary type reality show offers the elements of suspense, surprise, and occasionally even comedy, as viewers follow law enforcement agents responding to calls and combating crime on a weekly basis. COPS was created by John Langley and Malcolm Barbourd and currently airs on Fox network.

Star Search

Star Search was a competition type reality show that originally ran from 1983 to 1995, and was later relaunched from 2002 to 2004. Created by Al Masini and hosted by Ed McMahon, the original Star Search focused on contestants competing in the areas of song, modeling, dance and comedy. The overall winner, chosen by members of the audience, went home with a grand prize of $100,000. The remake of Star Search was hosted by Arsenio Hall.

Rescue 911

Rescue 911 was a reality series that ran from early 1989 to 1996 on CBS. Hosted by William Shatner, this show featured reenactments of rescue personnel as they responded to various emergencies, such as car accidents, injuries, crime and natural disasters. Rescue 911 was one of the first shows of its kind and it paved the way for later shows such as Paramedics and Trauma in the ER.

TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes

TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes began airing weekly on NBC on January 9, 1984, and ran until September of 1986. It was hosted by Dick Clark and Ed McMahon and showcased film out-takes, along with practical jokes and celebrity bloopers. This show evolved from a series of specials hosted by Dick Clark titled TV’s Censored Bloopers which debuted in 1981.