Most viewers are savvy enough to realize the 鈥渞eality鈥� genre is hardly real. Yet they may not realize the extent to which characters are created, coached, and manipulated to produce the necessary weekly crises that are the hallmark of competition shows, such as Trump鈥檚 鈥淎pprentice鈥� or the iconic 鈥淪urvivor.鈥�
Rather than scripting in advance, the so-called reality genre creates stories through casting the right people.
鈥淎ll these shows have heroes and villains,鈥� says Rob Cesternino, a two-time 鈥淪urvivor鈥� contestant who now runs .
Trump casts himself as the hero on the scene. (鈥淚 can be more presidential than anyone,鈥� 鈥淚 have the best brain,鈥� "Nobody reads the Bible more than me.鈥�) He has also been able to cast those surrounding him through nicknames and taunts such as 鈥渓ittle Marco鈥� Rubio, 鈥渓yin鈥� Ted鈥� Cruz, and 鈥渓ow energy鈥� Jeb Bush. While Senator Cruz remains in the competition, pundits say Trump鈥檚 labeling campaign appears to have had an impact. Senator Rubio and former Governor Bush may have failed at least in part due to Trump鈥檚 manipulations.
