Kara Alloway Interview on Reality TV, Authenticity and Most Hated

In this 2023 interview, Kara Alloway discussed reality television, authenticity, editing, internalized misogyny, and her debut novel Most Hated.

Alloway brought an unusual perspective to the conversation because she had experience inside reality TV and then used that world as the backdrop for fiction.

For another conversation about entertainment and building an audience, read our Steph Mi interview.

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What Is Kara Alloway’s Novel Most Hated About?

Most Hated is a fictional story about six women who become involved in a reality television show.

The reality-TV setting creates the pressure around their relationships, but Alloway also used the book to explore internalized misogyny and the ways women can turn judgment against one another.

Despite the title, she told us the book was not simply about her own experience. After her show aired, an article described her as both the most loved and most hated Toronto housewife.

Asked whether she was actually the “most hated,” Alloway joked, “I think it’s safe to say the jury is hung on that one.”

Does Reality TV Require Acting?

Alloway said reality-TV participants are not necessarily expected to act. Instead, she described the process as improvising inside the circumstances created for the show.

Drama and conflict may be useful for television, but she argued that manufacturing those moments too obviously can backfire. In her view, viewers are good at recognizing when something feels artificial.

That puts pressure on producers to create situations where the cast can respond naturally. Alloway said successful reality television needs something audiences can find both relatable and aspirational.

How Much Does Editing Shape Reality TV?

Alloway emphasized that editing can have enormous influence over the way a reality-TV story is presented.

She said experienced producers can use editing to build a clear and entertaining narrative from hours of footage. However, she also drew a distinction between necessary editing and editing that pushes a participant into a predetermined character.

Alloway pointed to production companies including 32 Flavors, Truly Original, Evolution, and Shed Media when discussing producers she believed could create compelling television without relying on manipulative editing.

Why Kara Alloway Considers Reality TV an Art Form

Despite the criticism that often surrounds the genre, Alloway said she sees reality television as an art form.

From her perspective, good reality TV depends on casting, production, editing, and participants who are willing to reveal something meaningful about themselves.

She also argued that the strongest shows can be both relatable and aspirational. The audience needs to recognize something familiar while still feeling that the people or situations are worth watching.

Authenticity Was the Common Thread

Throughout our conversation, Alloway returned to the idea of authenticity.

She believed audiences can tell when a participant is trying too hard to manufacture a television moment. At the same time, the production still has to shape real interactions into a story that keeps viewers interested.

That tension between reality and construction is part of what interested her about the genre and helped inspire Most Hated.