Dark Side of Reality TV

Episode 2

Kid Nation

When 40 children are chosen from America's best and brightest to form their own society in the middle of the New Mexico desert, it quickly descends into Lord of the Flies 2.0.

Episode 3

Joe Millionaire

It's TV's biggest ever bait and switch - 20 women are deceived into believing their would-be suitor is worth millions, and made to look like gold diggers in front of 70m viewers.

Episode 4

The Surreal Life

Seven celebs spend ten days together in a Hollywood mansion, but what starts as a social experiment gets out of hand after producers cast personalities that explode on contact.

Episode 5

Hell's Kitchen

The meanest man on television runs his contestants through a verbal assault course as they vye for a dream job working under him. But is this a cooking contest, or just a game show?

Episode 6

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Gifting new homes to families in dire straits seems anything but dark; but viewers don't get to see how the houses become money-pits, that lead to family fallout and massive debt.

Episode 7

Survivor - Season One

It kickstarted a TV revolution, and gave rise to reality's first villain. But was the real winner of Survivor's first season Richard Hatch, or the show's creator, Mark Burnett?

Episode 8

The Real Housewives

Over 20 years after it first aired, and with a franchise on almost every continent, how did a show about housewives create some of the most compelling and controversial TV ever?

Episode 9

Toddlers & Tiaras

TLC's tantrum-filled pageant show was controversial from the start, but were these toddlers and their moms organically outrageous, or did producers juice things up for television?

Episode 10

America's Next Top Model

Tyra Banks promises to give aspiring models the tools they needed to succeed in a tough industry; exploring how the show impacted their careers and lives.