People participate in reality shows just to become famous? yes or no

Thanks for the topic varun. Random House defines "just" as "only." [1] "Reality television" is "a genre of television programming in which "real life" people are followed in a situation, game, etc." [2] ==Burden of proof== My opponent must prove that the desire to become famous it the ONLY motivation for people to go on reality TV shows. I must merely show that there are other motivations out there. ==My case== 1) Money Money is a key motivator other than fame. Competition shows that use former reality show contestants, like Bachelor Pad and Real World: Inferno/Road Rules, offer cash prizes at the end (typically $250,000 for the winner). Cooking competition shows, like Top Chef, Masterchef, Hell's Kitchen, are unlikely to make a chef famous; most competitors want the $250,000 cash prize they receive if they win (and the training associated with the job they win on Hell's Kitchen). The motivation on entering game shows, which are defined as reality programming, is obviously just for the money: shows like Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader, Minute to Win It, Deal or No Deal, Who Wants to Be A Milliionaire. Even shows like American Idol, where fame is one major motivation, FORTUNE is another MAJOR motivation. "The winner receives a record deal with a major label, which may be for up to six albums, and secures a management contract with American Idol-affiliated 19 Management (which has the first option to sign all contestants), as well as various lucrative contracts. All winners prior to Season 9 reportedly earned at least $1 million in their first year as winner." [3] Shows like So You Think You Can Dance potentially could make a dancer famous within the dance community, but the primary motivation is the $250,000 cash prize for the winner AND the dance contract that the winner typically wins to go on tour with So You Think You Can Dance. Even losers in the top 20 typically win a contract to go on tour. Remember, many people give up their lives to be on these shows, since filming often occurs for up to six months. Without a cash prize motivation, the small chance of becoming famous among a select viewership is not enough of a motivation. 2) Reputation Some people go on reality TV shows to build their reputation. For example, chefs enter the competition Iron Chef to prove their muster against some of the world's top chefs. If they can prove their reputation is deserved by winning, they can gain more business or maybe they do it merely for bragging rights. The Millionaire Matchmaker allows her business to be filmed in order to drum up new clients; it's the same with shows like Tanked and Suns of Guns, which are used to promote a fish tank business and an eclectic gun making business. Shows like Top Shot are done for bragging rights; the winner can brag that he is the top marksman in the world. 3) Love There are a lot of reality shows out there focused on love, but one of the most famous is the Bachelor/Bachelorette. While the show does draw the odd person, like Bentley Williams, who are obsessed with fame, the majority of the contestants go on the show because they believe in true love and want their fairy tale ending. If you watch Brad's recent season or Ashley's season of the Bachelorette, that is the clear motivation of most of the contestants and they are truly heartbroken if they are chosen to leave the show. Ben from Ashley's season, for example, seemed to turn his life around for Ashley and recover from his father's death because he fell in love with her and he is SO heartbroken when she chooses to marry JP instead of him. Since the show offers no cash prize, has only a select following, and requires that contestants stay in the Bachelor House for weeks on end (so most people have to quit their jobs to be on the show), someone would have to be truly motivated by the desire to fall in love to be on this show. Even on contest shows like Bachelor Pad, people still want to fall in love. Ames from Ashley's season went on Bachelor Pad to get over Ashley because he said he was still in love with her, in some respects. He ends up falling for Jackie from Brad's season and when she is voted off the show, he decides to leave with her since he is more interested in her than in the $250,000 cash prize. 4) Fans Many people want to go on these shows because they are HUGE fans of the show. Contestants on Minute to Win It are often shown practicing at home for months on end before entering the show. They clearly care deeply about the show and all of its aspects. There was one family with three kids on the show, and each kid had one game that they were especially an expert at. Practicing for the show was what this family did for fun, as "family time." Since I've shown there are clearly other motivations other than merely becoming famous, I urge a Con vote. [1] http://www.definitions.net... [2] http://dictionary.reference.com... [3] http://www.tmz.com... http://www.nytimes.com...