by James Mcconnell

Created on: January 27, 2010

Hidden Origins of Reality Television - What REALITY TV was intended to be!

TRUE STORY . . .

The origins of Reality TV actually started in New York City with a cab driver who became intermittently ill - unable to work in film production he was forced to become a cab driver for a time to keep from becoming homeless. This cab driver had worked with documentary film greats like Albert and David Maysles as well as working in the Music video and Spot Commercial industry - so he knew his craft well.

As it happens this cab driver was cheated twice, once when Jim Jarmusch stole his tv/film concept and produced Night on Earth (1991) which involved five cab drivers and their passengers on rides in five different world cities, beginning at sundown in Los Angeles and ending at sunrise in Helsinki. How is this claim verified. Well Jarmusch first entered this filmmakers cab in the meat district in NYC where he was likely doing a little research for his new cowboy film, nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Later, after the Night on Earth film was produced, Mr. Cabbie picked up Jarmusch again along with his publicist who were both coming out of an interview with Vin Scelsa on Idiot's Delight radio show - a show Mr. Cabbie listened to often on slow Sunday nights. Jarmusch was taken down to his lower East side flat and his publicist went over the bridge. Mr. Cabbie discussed Jarmusch's earlier conceived transvestite cowboy film he was planning to make before he decided to rip off the concept presented to him by Mr. Cabbie Filmmaker. Jarmusch nearly crapped his pants and quickly changed subjects because that cowboy film confirmed to the publicist this was no gag.

The second occurrence happened when Jim Biederman from Broadway Video, producers of Saturday Night Live, entered this Cabbie Filmmakers car and was pitched by Mr. Cabbie Filmmaker to do a TV show called "Hack". The response was most favorable and Mr. Cabbie Filmmaker was invited to Broadway Video to pitch it again. They all agreed and contracts were signed to co-produce the first Reality TV show. The first hidden camera show of its kind to capture the REALITY of what went on in a NYC taxi. The first REALITY TV show, other than candid camera and other shows that paved the way for hidden camera, capturing reality shows.

The REALITY show was intended to be much more of a thoughtful human interest show exploring the publics views on all sorts of relevant and important topics. Much more intelligent than the freak

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