Characterization in RTV

We've had a productive week of conferencing and with many of you I had a conversation about characterization. It's important to introduce your readers to characters, to really represent your characters in a relatable way, and this isn't easy to accomplish. I want you to think about characterization in RTV shows. I think part of the reason we get attached to these shows or to any show for that matter is the characters. Think about the different tactics RTV shows employ to let us "get to know" the characters. Many shows use interviews/confessionals during which one particular character give his or her commentary on the events of a particular episode or event. What is the purpose of these interviews dispersed throughout the episodes? Can you think of specific shows that rely on strong characterization? Shows likes Jersey Shore, but also shows like Swamp People or Pawn Stars? Brainstorm some of your own here. How do shows that have different characters every episode get the audience to care about the present characters in such a short amount of time?