Seven ways Trump's reality TV playbook has changed the election

When commentators pause to describe presidential candidate Donald Trump, they often mention his background in reality TV. Yet for all the puzzling over his ascendency in the Republican presidential race, little attention has been paid to the playbook of a reality show and how that might influence a man who hosted a series that ran for more than a decade. It’s ripe for a closer look. The elements of this artificially “real” form of televised drama are actually ubiquitous in Trump’s campaign. 1) Conflict, 2) Characters and manipulation, 3) News as entertainment, 4) 'True' confessions, social media, and authenticity, 5) Money, 6) Unforeseen plot twists, and 7) Authenticity without apology or backing down is more important than good behavior.