Distinctions must be made:

Game Shows: a program where contestants compete for some kind of prize or reward, either performing tasks, enduring tests, displaying knowledge, etc. Examples: Survivor, The Amazing Race, Jeopardy, Fear Factor, Big Brother, the Price is Right.

Talent Shows: a program where contestants compete for a reward and are judged based on their talents or abilities by external parties. Examples: American Idol, Star Search, Top Model.

Dating Shows: a program which seeks to pair couples together in some way, shape, or form, often with one person picking from a group of possible partners. Examples: the Bachelor, Joe Millionaire, the Dating Game, Elimidate.

None of the above are “reality” tv, in fact they are all more correctly “fantasy” tv.

Reality Shows: a program which documents an experience by ordinary people, with little producer interference, no competition or prizes, just observance of (for the most part)… reality? Examples: A Wedding Story, the Osbournes, COPS, 1900 House, and every documentary on PBS, A&E, etc.

I didn’t quite know where to stick “The Real World,” somewhere between reality show and game show, since a bunch of twenty-year-olds sharing a mansion is fairly non-realistic, but they are not eliminating one another for some kind of reward. Other than fame-whoredom.