Allen Funt Would Smile `Candid Camera's' Reality Tv Reflected Innocence Now Lost

Summary

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"I'm sorry, ma'am, the state of New Jersey is closed today." It went something like this: A motorist pulled up to a tollbooth at the Jersey state line and was greeted by the polite attendant informing her that the Garden State was shut down for business for the day. The encounter happened in the early 1960s, and it was there for all to see. Was it real? Well, not exactly. It was just another thread woven into the canvas of perhaps the first true reality TV show, "Candid Camera." Its driving force was the affable Allen Funt. Woody Allen shared a writing credit.

"Candid Camera" set up bogus adventures on unsuspecting foils -- but the viewer was always in on it. If Funt, now deceased, could surf the Internet regarding the history of reality TV, he would probably do a double-take if he clicked on the "2004" icon.

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Allen Funt Would Smile `Candid Camera's' Reality Tv Reflected Innocence Now Lost

"Fear Factor," "Extreme Makeover," "The Apprentice," "The Swan" - - and these represent just the tip of a huge iceberg te...

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