In 1948, no one would ever conceive that this would bring the beginning of reality television. .
A substantial break for reality television came in the year 1973 when PBS aired a show called An American Family; it followed the Loud family for seven months in Santa Barbara (Kopp 13). The program followed the family and viewers watched the drama and the unfolding events occurring right before their eyes. The show had marriage troubles, homosexuality, and economic turmoil, topics that hadn't been seen in any other television programming before this time (Kopp 13). American households really became enthralled with this type of reality television because it showed Americans' version of their own reality. More than this set the stage for what reality television was to become or even encompass, An American Family also helped reveal what the viewer truly wanted and that is the drama. .
According to author Megan Kopp, the drama is what lures us as viewers into reality TV and it is what keeps us watching. (Kopp 11). .
The reality TV with big drama, big personalities, and big everything is the show Keeping up with the Kardashians. The show first aired on the E! Network on October 14th, 2007 and the focal point follows the lives of the Kardashian/Jenner Family through their trials and tribulations ("Naked Ambition: Why Are These Women Famous"? p.3). The Kardashian clan is not a typical family as seen in the PBS documentary about the Loud family; the Kardashians have become a household name in and around Los Angeles. The three daughters and son; Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Rob are the offspring of the late Robert Kardashian and Kris Jenner (formally Kardashian). The families became enamored to fame through the late Robert Kardashian when he was on the defense team for O.J. Simpson. After her divorce from Robert Kardashian, Kris married former Olympian winner and athlete Bruce Jenner afterwards they had Kendall and Kylie Jenner who are portrayed on the show as well.
