I agree. I think he replicates the reality format only slightly, and when he does, the comedy comes from a self awareness to that fact.
I seem to think it's not scripted, but much like Curb Your Enthusiasm, he has an idea of what he needs to say and where to take the story, but his exact lines aren't scripted. If they are, maybe they are re-shot.
I think the real people he uses are definitely not scripted. They act too natural and unaware to be "acting". It seems as though he doesn't tell them their actual role or purpose on the show until after it is all shot to achieve these genuine reactions. Example: the stuntman he meets near the metro tracks and pretends to be pushing him toward the edge. I don't think the man was told until after that it was by design.
Very meta show. Love it. My favorite part was the fact that after all the supposed promotion of the petting farm that he tells the woman he decided to keep the success of the pig/goat video to himself and that she was being selfish to try to steal some of the attention.
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blotto-1
11 years ago
It's a lot of crazy social psychology that makes people go so far, and I agree that the people are not actors, it is too raw and they would be some of the best actors anywhere ever if they are and I doubt it since they seem like commoners. Of course parts are staged and certain people are in on it, but for the most part it seems real to me, and I can usually spot the fakes; I've been watching Maury for years and can always tell which are real and which are fake, same with cheaters.
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