"Steve B" wrote in message
...
...
Apparently, someone in the production staff agreed, and although
interested in drama levels, apparently would like to maximize the
gold in the poke at the end of the show.
Steve

This has a little discussion of conflict and drama in reality shows.
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/soc4...Realitytv.html

I've read several articles that commented on the two participant and
target audience models. The gist was that optimists like to watch
honest people succeed by their own efforts, for example Dancing With
the Stars where they rarely reveal conflict between the contestants.
Sports, quiz shows (and usually Star Trek) fit that model. Pessimists
prefer to feel superior to scheming, dysfunctional losers.

jsw