Real TV
Extraordinary events caught on video, beyond mainstream news.
Real TV, also known as America's Best Caught on Tape, was an American reality television program that ran in syndication from September 9, 1996, to September 7, 2001. It aired footage of extraordinary events that were not usually covered in mainstream news.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Reality television; Clip show
- Presenter
- John Daly (1996–2000)
- Kristen Eykel (1999–2000)
- Ahmad Rashad (2000–2001)
- Voices
- Beau Weaver (announcer 1996–1999; 2000–2001)
- Mitch Lewis (announcer 1999–2000)
- Jim Pratt (announcer 2000–2001)
- Narrator
- J.J. Johnson (2000–2001)
- Theme music
- Planet One Music Productions
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 5
Facts from the source article.
Hosts
John Daly hosted Real TV from its 1996 debut through 2000, with Beau Weaver serving as announcer until 1999. During Daly's tenure, the series adopted a newsmagazine format, featuring correspondents such as Sibila Vargas, Michael Brownlee, John Johnston, Lisa G., and Ellen K. who reported additional context and profiles beyond the clips. William B. Davis, known for his role as Cigarette Smoking Man on The X-Files, made occasional appearances. In season 4, Kristen Eykel joined as co-host and Mitch Lewis became the announcer. Rashad's version introduced a new set, opening sequence, and announcer, shifting to a straightforward video presentation without correspondents, with off-camera producers handling profiles. The revamped show targeted younger viewers by emphasizing extreme sports footage and reducing human interest and celebrity stories.
Syndication
Following its original run, TNN (later Paramount Network) aired reruns of the final two seasons until 2003, then added the first three seasons that summer before rebranding to Spike TV. The last two seasons were soon dropped, and by 2006 Spike TV had removed all Real TV reruns. Fox Reality Channel broadcast at least the first two seasons from 2005 until early 2008. WGN America (now NewsNation) also carried reruns in the late 2000s.
More in 1990s American Reality Television Series
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