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Trump's reality TV playbook: Seven ways it changed 2016 election

2. Characters and manipulation

Most viewers are savvy enough to realize the “reality” 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’s “Apprentice” or the iconic “Survivor.”

Rather than scripting in advance, the so-called reality genre creates stories through casting the right people. 

“All these shows have heroes and villains,” says Rob Cesternino, a two-time “Survivor” contestant who now runs robhasawebsite.com.

Trump casts himself as the hero on the scene. (“I can be more presidential than anyone,” “I have the best brain,” "Nobody reads the Bible more than me.”) He has also been able to cast those surrounding him through nicknames and taunts such as “little Marco” Rubio, “lyin’ Ted” Cruz, and “low energy” Jeb Bush. While Senator Cruz remains in the competition, pundits say Trump’s labeling campaign appears to have had an impact. Senator Rubio and former Governor Bush may have failed at least in part due to Trump’s manipulations.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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