Emily Nussbaum's "Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV"

Eric Newman and Medaya Ocher are joined by New Yorker staff writer and former television critic Emily Nussbaum to discuss her book Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV. Nussbaum's overview of the most dominant genre of our time moves from reality TV's origins in radio to its role in forging the public image of a US president. In a sweeping conversation, the hosts and Nussbaum break down some of the unsung heroes and incredible stories behind the creation of our nostalgic reality TV touchstones, the harbingers of a darker genre to come, and its relationship to broad, tectonic social and political changes in American life. Also, Patrick Nathan, author of The Future was Color, returns to recommend Housemates: A Novel by Emma Copley Eisenberg.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 28, 2024

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Emily Nussbaum's "Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV"

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Dragnet Entertainment Radio The Dragnet radio show was a groundbreaking and influential police procedural drama that ran on NBC from 1949 to 1957. Here are some key things to know about it:Main Features:Focus: The show followed the cases of Sergeant Joe Friday and his partners, primarily in the Los Angeles Police Department. It depicted the real-life work of detectives, including the tedious investigation process, interviews, stakeouts, and occasional danger.Realism: Jack Webb, the show's creator and star, aimed for authenticity. Episodes were often based on real cases, with details changed to protect the innocent. The dialogue was direct and unvarnished, mimicking the way police officers actually spoke.Famous Intro: The show's opening sequence is iconic: the announcer's voice declaring "This is the city... Los Angeles... California..." followed by the signature "dun-dun-DUN" theme music.Impact:Pioneering Police Procedural: Dragnet is considered a pioneer of

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