Here's a fascinating peek inside the "reality" TV world -- the
cast contract and
"rule book" agreed to by contestants on CBS' competition-genre granddaddy
Survivor.
Andy Dehnart at RealityBlurred.com also reports this week on a CBS challenge to his posting of this hush-hush material.
A few Survivor contract highlights:
Contestants can't have their own web presence during competition, and preexisting sites must go "under construction." The network can register a web domain in the contestant's name "in perpetuity." Players can never write a book about their experience. (Yes, "never.") All family members have to sign their own agreements.
And you'll be shocked! shocked! to learn Survivor contestants have to allow themselves to be portrayed "with such liberties and modifications as CBS determines necessary," including "fictionalization" and "dramatization" of themselves, perhaps to "humorous or satirical effect" or "an unfavorable light."
Take a look, and see why it's always "reality" TV to me.