.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
When it comes to reality TV, it’s pretty obvious that a gratuitous amount that ends up broadcasted is scripted.
The reason producers choose this route is entirely for the viewership and ratings, and although some critics see this method as unauthentic, others would argue that reality TV would be nothing without the unnecessary drama.
However, there’s a rumor that there’s at least one reality TV show that could be almost completely unscripted.
Fans Question Whether 'Below Deck' Is Scripted Or Not
Below Deck is a reality TV show on Bravo that follows around crew members on "superyachts" during charter season. With a preview special airing June 10th and its official premiere airing on July 1st, its initial reception was filled with mixed reviews by newfound fans and critics alike. One Reddit user posted in the r/belowdeck subreddit inquiring about the legitimacy of the show.
“Maybe a silly question. I know no reality TV is real. But between some of the absolutely bonkers guests and some of the crew members, it seems like the entire show is fake.” Other users chimed in and offered their insight. Username starshine1988 was quoted saying, “Based on what I’ve heard and read on this sub and blogs, guests do pay in order to be on the boat…. Which if we believe, it does mean that part is kinda real…The relationship and career oriented fights we see in the crew… I think it’s heightened through editing but not completely fabricated.”
Critical Reception Of 'Below Deck' Started Early
In a Washington Post article published in June 2013, critic Emily Yahr had some not-so-savory things to say about the entire production.
She’s quoted saying, “Certain elements of 'Below Deck,' a listless docu-series that follows the staff of a 164-foot charter boat, seem so scripted — the stereotypical spoiled crew members, the neatly wrapped-up ‘plotlines’ — that it’s hard to take seriously, even in the dubious cable reality show genre. The photogenic 20- and 30-somethings who make up the yacht’s crew might have a nicer view than the typical office worker does, courtesy of the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. But working on a yacht isn’t a literal day at the beach, we’re told. Multiple times.” Ouch.
The Crew Tries To Please An Insatiable Group Of Guests On 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht'
A Guest Documents Her Personal Experience On One Of The Yachts During Filming
However, there are those that have come out in defense of the show and its production, claiming that it’s as real as reality TV can possibly get. One of those people was an actual guest on the Below Deck yacht during season 6.
Linda P. Jones took to her personal blog to document her experience. “People also ask, ‘Is the show real or is it scripted?’ The show is 100 percent real. The producers of the show basically said, we want to create an amazing trip for you. Just have a good time. Don’t worry about the camera, don’t think about it. Just enjoy yourself. And that’s what we did. So, no, it’s definitely not scripted. We did the things we wanted to do. You are aware that you are on camera… We didn’t see any of what you saw on the television show. Other than my friend hearing some of the fighting, we didn’t see them act in a bad way. We certainly didn’t see anyone have an obvious crush on anyone else. We didn’t see any inappropriate behavior. We didn’t see any of that. We saw only professionalism and a service attitude that was really first class.”
To further back up the claim that the show is more authentic than one’s average run of the mill reality TV show, executive producer Mark Cronin explained how the show didn’t necessarily need the extra drama of a script.
In an exclusive interview that he gave with Showbiz Cheat Sheet, he was quoted saying, “You’re being manipulated by the music that helps set your mood,” he remarked. “You’re being manipulated by the interview bites that we’re popping in at the perfect moment where you hear somebody react to what’s inside their head that you would never get in a documentary or a fly on the wall kind of shoot.”
“So we are jazzing it up, but we are telling the true story,” he said. “We don’t tell anybody what to do. It’s not that kind of show. We don’t have to. It’s like charter guests are coming on, and they’re paying a lot of money – go! That’s the premise of the show.”
With guest testimonies and the executive producer coming out and claiming the show’s legitimacy, it seems like it could very well be an authentic experience for everyone involved.