TheGrill 2015: 4 Reality Titans Debate the 'Death' of Unscripted TV, Hits and Misses of the Genre (Video)

Reality television may have suffered some devastating blows, but it’s not dead yet. At least according to the four veteran reality producers who discussed the subject at TheGrill, TheWrap’s sixth annual media leadership conference.

“It feels creatively a little derivative,” said Ben Silverman, founder and chairman of Electus. “Once we hit every subsection of American life from trailer to penthouse, we kind of got grossed out about it as a genre because it wasn’t exactly celebrating the best of human kindness.”

Silverman’s production company is behind reality hits such as “Running Wild With Bear Grylls,” “Biggest Loser” as well as scripted series “The Office,” “Ugly Betty” and CW’s critical darling “Jane the Virgin.” He was joined on the panel by Nigel Lythgoe, producer of “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” on Fox; Allison Grodner, executive producer of “Big Brother” on CBS; and David Lyle, president of PactUS, a business association that lobbies on behalf of production companies.

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When asked by moderator and executive editor of TheWrap Joseph Kapsch about the death of reality television, Lythgoe echoed Silverman’s sentiments that the challenges facing the genre stem in part from historical failures on the creative side. The result, he says, has made networks gun-shy.

“We’ve seen some very high-profile failures, he said. “Those failures aren’t because they’re unscripted or reality programs, but because of mistakes in the format.”

Reviewing unscripted disappointments such as Fox’s “Utopia,” “Knock Knock Live” and the decline of “American Idol,” the panel pinpointed causal creative failures for each: Poor casting, misuse of host Ryan Seacrest and the shift of focus from the talent to the judges, respectively.

But the producers were also emphatic that reports of the genre’s death are premature. While networks are having success with scripted series, including the unprecedented sensation that is “Empire,” there is still room for reality to thrive.

Watch 4 reality TV titans on ‘What’s disrupting the cash cow’

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“I think it’s lazy thinking that sees it as a binary situation,” said Lyle. “There are some interesting areas on the digital end where unscripted is alive and well.”

Silverman argued that consolidation of reality producers by companies like Endemol Shine has led to the recycling of the same formats and ideas. “If this consolidation continues to happen, where is the original thought?” he asked, citing Lyle’s PactUS as an important organization for the future of the genre.

“There’s a massive opportunity to make sure that independent voice gets onto the airwaves.”

Grodner said that though producers occasionally get stuck in “comfort zones” when it comes to developing reality series, there has been a change on the buyers’ side of the equation as well.

Also Read: TheGrill 2015: YouTube's Robert Kyncl Isn't Sweating Competition, Touts Site's 'Astounding' Growth (Video)

“Right now there is something that is slowing down on the buyers’ side,” Grodner said, expressing nostalgia for the “Wild West” days when shows would go from conception to broadcast in six weeks. “Projects are getting stuck; they’re taking longer,” she said.

But in the end, Lythgoe doesn’t see the genre fading, suggesting that all unscripted TV needs is another big hit to enjoy a resurgence. He put the burden on networks to back smaller shows and allow them the chance to grow into smash hits, the way “American Ninja Warrior” and “Shark Tank” both did.

“I don’t ever see reality going away,” he said. “It is part of the diet of television viewers now.”

Watch the full reality TV panel here:

The Scene at TheGrill 2015: TheWrap's Media Leadership Conference (Photos)

TheWrap's editor in chief Sharon Waxman kicked off the sixth annual TheGrill Conference Day 1.
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"Empire" co-creator/writer Danny Strong (left) and producer Brian Grazer spoke onstage during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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Producer Brian Grazer spoke onstage during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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"Empire" co-creator/writer Danny Strong and producer Brian Grazer spoke onstage with Sharon Waxman during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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"Empire" co-creator/writer Danny Strong and producer Brian Grazer spoke onstage during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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"Empire" co-creator/writer Danny Strong and producer Brian Grazer spoke onstage with Sharon Waxman during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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Maker Studios CEO Ynon Kreiz spoke onstage during Day 1 of TheGrill 2015.

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Maker Studios CEO Ynon Kreiz (left) spoke onstage with AwesomenessTV founder and CEO Brian Robbins (right) during Day 1 of TheGrill 2015.

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Brian Robbins, founder & CEO of AwesomenessTV, spoke onstage during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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REDEF CEO Jason Hirschhorn spoke onstage with TheWrap's editor in chief Sharon Waxman on Day 1 of TheGrill 2015.
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Edelman president of strategic partnerships and global integration Gail Becker presented results of new consumer study on Day 1 of TheGrill 2015.

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Edelman president of strategic partnerships and global integration Gail Becker presented results of new consumer study on Day 1 of TheGrill 2015.

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Robert Kyncl, chief business officer at YouTube, spoke about the platform's growth rate during Day 1 of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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Robert Kyncl, chief business officer at YouTube, spoke about the platform's growth rate during Day 1 of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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Jason Hirschhorn talked to Kyncl about YouTube's growth and challenges at the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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Andrew Glasgow, SVP at Viacom Scratch, spoke about the declining attention span of Americans during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill conference.

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Nancy Dubuc, president & CEO of A+E Networks, spoke about the disruption of cable TV during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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Nancy Dubuc, president & CEO of A+E Networks, spoke about the disruption of cable TV during the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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Dawn Ostroff, president of Conde Nast Entertainment, attended the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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Van Toffler attended the first day of TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.

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From left to right: TheWrap's executive editor Joseph Kapsch, "So You Think You Can Dance" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, Electus founder and chairman Ben Silverman, PactUS president David Lyle, and "Big Brother" executive producer Allison Grodner.
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PactUS president David Lyle discussed the state of reality TV during Day 2 of TheGrill.

See video: TheGrill 2015: 4 Reality Titans Debate the ‘Death’ of Unscripted TV, Hits and Misses of the Genre
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"Big Brother" executive producer Allison Grodner discussed the state of reality TV during Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Nigel Lythgoe discussed the state of reality TV on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Electus founder and chairman Ben Silverman talked the state of reality TV during Day 2 of TheGrill.
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CNBC reporter Julia Boorstin attended TheWrap's sixth annual TheGrill conference at The Montage Beverly Hills.
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Conde Nast Entertainment president Dawn Ostroff discussed content creation on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Box founder and CEO Aaron Levie discussed content protection with TheWrap's editor in chief Sharon Waxman on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello discusses her life and career during Day 2 of TheGrill
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Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello discusses her life and career during Day 2 of TheGrill
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From left to right: Movio co-founder and chief executive Will Palmer, Fandango president Paul Yanover, Skydance Media CCO Dana Goldberg, IMAX's head of international marketing Roger Pollock, Universal president of worldwide marketing Josh Goldstine, and TheWrap's Deputy Managing Editor Thom Geier discussed the moviegoing experience on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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IMAX's head of international marketing Roger Pollock discussed the moviegoing experience on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Fandango president Paul Yanover discussed the moviegoing experience on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Skydance Media CCO Dana Goldberg discussed the moviegoing experience on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Movio co-founder and chief executive Will Palmer discussed the moviegoing experience on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Universal president of worldwide marketing Josh Goldstine discussed the moviegoing experience on Day 2 of TheGrill.
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Steven Amato, CEO & chief content officer of Contend and Sharon Waxman, founder & CEO of TheWrap spoke onstage during the "Drones and Hollywood" panel at TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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Co-founder and chief executive of Movio Will Palmer held a discussion regarding "What Women Want: Unlocking Box Office Revenue" at TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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Joseph Atkinson, U.S. Advisory Leader for the Entertainment, Media & Communications Practice at PwC, spoke onstage at TheWrap's 6th Annual TheGrill.
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Twitter and Uber investor Chris Sacca talks investing in the tech space during Day 2 of TheGrill
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Evolution Media Group founder and co-managing partner Rick Hess talks about financing media during Day 2 of TheGrill
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Former MTV president Van Toffler talks about his new company during Day 2 of TheGrill
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Lloyd Braun, Founder & CEO of Whalerock Industries during Day 2 of TheGrill
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Mark Terbeek, Partner at Greycroft, Jesse Jacobs, President of The Chernin Group and Brian Weinstein, Head of Corporate Finance Group of CAA during Day 2 of TheGrill
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Steven Haft, SVP Innovation of Time Inc., Sanjay Sharma, President & COO of All Def Digital, Christian Meinberger, SVP Content Programming & Production at Studio 71, and Tobias Bauckhage, CEO and co-founder of Moviepilot during Day 2 of TheGrill
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Steven Haft, SVP Innovation of Time Inc. and Adam Smith, Partner at United Entertainment Group during Day 2 of TheGrill
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