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In a short period of time, reality television has gone from fad to craze, arguably becoming the most popular television show format today. These shows have high ratings, low costs and thus, are extremely profitable. Many of them are innovative and highly entertaining. However, some observers believe that the reality in these shows is not really real, but scripted... and there are critics who say that reality television is responsible for endangering earlier versions of once successful television formats, namely the fictional drama and the sitcom.

Despite the criticism, the popularity of reality television shows no sign of waning and in fact, continues to influence much of television programming. Many questions remain. When did this reality show craze began? Why are these shows so compelling? What goes into producing a successful reality television show? Are these shows harmful to viewers or can they be educational? Who are the winners and losers in this shift toward reality programming? How is this brand of programming affecting our culture? What is the economic effect, if any, on other types of entertainment business models? Where will television programming go next?

Join us for the University of Pennsylvania's third Penn Media Summit, where television talk show host, producer and Penn alumnus Bill Boggs will lead a discussion of the path that led to the reality television phenomenon and its impact on popular culture and society, with several well-known and respected experienced reality show contributors and television industry leaders.

Look for announcements for the upcoming Penn Media Summit event in Los Angeles in Fall, 2005. We are always looking for panelists and volunteers for our events and welcome any suggestions you may have. Email pennmediasummit2005@yahoo.com