Back to the Reality Shows being 'set-ups'....
I can vouch for that
we were approached b/c the show wanted a 'green' project..... we were it
EXCEPT, we built - didn't buy-
they were going to 'structure' the episode to fit their wants
We made all the way to the advertiser presentation... they have a BIG say in the goings-on
They smelled a rat -- a put-up type of thing -- and nixed the show.
The producer and crew were all in.... we had passed the audition screenings (barely) and were in position to start the shoot
Certainly some , perhaps not all, episodes are shallow (if not false)
I can only speak about my experience