'Real Life'

See, the idea of making real life into art and/or entertainment was not an idea created by reality TV producers.

Actually Albert Brooks' film was a spoof onf the TV show, An American Family, the first reality TV. I've never heard of the show, but I find myself fascinated and Netflixing all I can about it.

The show simple filmed a "typical" American family, the Louds of Santa Barbara, Calif. during 1971. The 12-episode series was released on PBS in 1972.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), the Louds seperate and divorce during the filming. It also stars their eldest son, Lance, who was one of the first if not the first openly gay American TV character. Lance would die at the age of 50 due to liver failure -- a combo of hepatitus C and HIV. He also smoked crystal meth for 20 years. Full throttle.

There were several follow-up documentaries made since and HBO is apparently making a fictionalized series about the making of the show. I'm sure there's tons of fucked up background behind all of this.

My favorite part of Real Life is when Brooks is ranting to the camera man wearing the camera headpiece and he reasons to himself that the best move is to burn the family's house down.