Why is reality tv not called "documentary tv"?

Because I'm pretty sure Real Housewives isn't a documentary.

If it documents reality, it's a documentary. So, you're saying Real Housewives is scripted and falsely marketed?

Are you saying it's not?

I don't watch reality tv, apart from Making Monsters. ::big grin::

well there you go :P

I would label it "documentary".

Netflix has its own documentary section as well as HBO.

AS FAR AS "REALITY" TV...I WOULD LABEL THAT "SHIT"

Bar Rescue is like my show though.

In the common vernacular, I would consider "a documentary" to be a movie.

Because you've used the singular, I ascribe the trait of once-and-done, which is typically a movie -- which would then be displayed in various formats: DVD, theatres, TV shows, online, etc.

If you're looking for a more than a spontaneous impression, then I can't really add more than Vill, Met and V did... which is, of course, I know docs can be both a movie or TV show. More than ever before, docs are created for the TV format, rather than being adapted/edited for TV shows, which is/was the norm.

Same for me.