ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Sign up to receive our Essential Arts & Culture Newsletter

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Reality TV do's and don'ts

Caption DO: Keep 'em guessing

John Moore / Getty Images

No one likes to be bored. Similarly, no one likes a boring reality TV star. We all know it's staged, people, so now what do you have for us? Enter 6-year-old Falcon Henne, left, the kid who launched the family hot air balloon, then hid in his family's garage while the media went Baby...

No one likes to be bored. Similarly, no one likes a boring reality TV star. We all know it's staged, people, so now what do you have for us? Enter 6-year-old Falcon Henne, left, the kid who launched the family hot air balloon, then hid in his family's garage while the media went Baby... (John Moore / Getty Images)

See more galleries

Caption DON'T: Mess with the money train

Angela Weiss / Getty Images

A successful reality show will open many opportunities for its stars to speak their mind outside the safe and heavily edited confines of the reality show world. But as Jon Gosselin, the resident malcontent of TLC's "Jon and Kate Plus 8," is learning, you can't talk smack about the show withou

A successful reality show will open many opportunities for its stars to speak their mind outside the safe and heavily edited confines of the reality show world. But as Jon Gosselin, the resident malcontent of TLC's "Jon and Kate Plus 8," is learning, you can't talk smack about the show withou (Angela Weiss / Getty Images)

See more galleries

Caption DO: Learn the basic skills to keep you in competition

CBS, The CW

If a show's been on for double-digit seasons, don't pretend you don't know you'll be tested on fire-making on "Survivor" or driving a stick shift on "The Amazing Race." And for the love of Tyra, "America's Next Top Model" wannabes, learn the names of some top designers and working models an

If a show's been on for double-digit seasons, don't pretend you don't know you'll be tested on fire-making on "Survivor" or driving a stick shift on "The Amazing Race." And for the love of Tyra, "America's Next Top Model" wannabes, learn the names of some top designers and working models an (CBS, The CW)

See more galleries

Caption DON'T: Book the florist too soon ... or ever.

MCT

We believe in love and marriage, truly. We're just not going to seek it out on national TV or start a website about our love before we say "I do." Yeah, we're looking at you, DeAnna and Jesse. Haven't all you lovestruck fools on "The Bachelor/ette" learned yet? Trista Rehn was a fluke!! -- Hanh...

We believe in love and marriage, truly. We're just not going to seek it out on national TV or start a website about our love before we say "I do." Yeah, we're looking at you, DeAnna and Jesse. Haven't all you lovestruck fools on "The Bachelor/ette" learned yet? Trista Rehn was a fluke!! -- Hanh... (MCT)

See more galleries

Caption DO: Be a charismatic, slick-talking, lying bad boy

The reality TV world didn't know what hit it when Dr. Will Kirby stepped on the scene in the second season of "Big Brother." His funny and charming personality let him lie, manipulate and scheme his way to half a million dollars. Many have imitated, none have matched. --Andrea Reiher,...

The reality TV world didn't know what hit it when Dr. Will Kirby stepped on the scene in the second season of "Big Brother." His funny and charming personality let him lie, manipulate and scheme his way to half a million dollars. Many have imitated, none have matched. --Andrea Reiher,...

See more galleries

Movies Television Envelope Music

Loading

Member Center Place an Ad

Local
California
Sports
Entertainment
Business
Opinion
Nation
World
Lifestyle
Travel
Autos
Real Estate
Jobs
Photos & Video
CLASSIFIEDS
SHOP
ADVERTISING
CORRECTIONS
PRIVACY:UPDATE
Terms: Update
SITE MAP
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
©2015 LA Times

Local
Breaking News
Obituaries
Weather
Central L.A.
Eastside
Harbor
Northeast L.A.
Pomona Valley
S.F. Valley
S.G. Valley
South Bay
Southeast
South L.A.
Verdugos
Westside
Orange County
Partner Sites
Local+
L.A. Now
Homicide Report
SoCal Moments
Fleeing motorist shot in car by LAPD apparently unarmed, police say
LAPD delays identifying officers in fatal skid row shooting

California
City Hall
Crime
Data & Maps
Education
Obituaries
Politics
Transportation
L.A. Now
Robin Abcarian
Political
Rising temperatures are amplifying drought effects, study finds
L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson comes out on top

Sports
Angels
Clippers
Dodgers
High School
Kings
Lakers
NFL
NHL / Ducks
Scores & Stats
UCLA
USC
More sports
Clippers Now
Dodgers Now
HS Insider
Lakers Now
Sports Now
USC Now
UCLA Now
Varsity Insider
Galaxy has challenges, high expectations going into MLS season
Big Cap tips its hat to Seabiscuit on 75th anniversary of stirring win

Entertainment
Oscars
Arts
Books
Company Town
Critics Picks
Movies
Music
Television
Ent+
Carolina A. Miranda
Culture Monster
The Envelope
Gossip
Hero Complex
Jacket Copy
Movies Now
Pop & Hiss
Show Tracker
ABC's 'American Crime,' USA's 'Dig' up the ante on Thursdays
ABT's 'Sleeping Beauty' at Segerstrom a lush return to tradition

Business
Autos
Company Town
Jobs
Real Estate
Business+
Hot Property
Hiltzik
Lazarus
Technology Now
Federal lawmakers demand answers from FDA on superbug response
AEG to add 755 rooms to Marriott complex at L.A. Live

Opinion
Editorials
Endorsements
Op-Ed
Readers React
Readers Rep
David Horsey
Opinion L.A.
A double standard on government secrets for David Petraeus
How grievance culture undercuts the fight against rape culture

Nation
Obituaries
Politics
Science
Nation Now
Politics Now
Science Now
Modern civil rights movement expands on classic methods
Americans see improved job market but a still-vulnerable economy

World
Afghanistan
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Ebola milestone: Liberia releases last known patient from treatment
Tides of Syrian, African refugees head for Italy despite dangers at sea

Lifestyle
Books
Comics
Crossword
Fashion
Food
Games
Health
Home & Garden
Horoscopes
Recipes
Sudoku
Health+
Lifestyle+
All the Rage
Daily Dish
Jacket Copy

Travel
California
Europe
Hawaii
Las Vegas
Cruises
Mexico
Asia
Theme Parks
Travel+
Deals & News
Daily Detour: Odd spots, strange trips, great moments in travel

Autos
L.A. Auto Show
Reviews
New Car Deals
Used Car Deals
Print Ads
SELL YOUR CAR

Real Estate
Home & Garden
Home Tours
Rentals
Print Ads
SELL YOUR HOME
FORSALEBYOWNER
Hot Property

Hot Property
Hiltzik
Lazarus
Technology Now
Federal lawmakers demand answers from FDA on superbug response
AEG to add 755 rooms to Marriott complex at L.A. Live

Photos & Video
Photos
Video
Framework
Deadly officer-involved shooting on skid row
Selma march

Autos
Jobs
Real Estate
Rentals
Legal Notices
Miscellaneous
Print Ads
Place an Ad

Local Deals
Travel Offers
LATimes Store
Photo Store
Marketplace
Local Listings
Sports Gear
District West

Media Kit
Place an Ad
Services
About our Ads

Portfolio
Executive Team
Masthead
Newsroom
Press
Events
Permissions
Archives
Careers
Media Kit
Terms: Update

News Tips
Site Feedback
Submit Letter
Readers Rep