真人实境节目（又称真人秀或真人骚）是一种强调实时现场直播，没有剧本，不是角色扮演，声称是百分百反映真实的电视节目。节目通常记录普通人或明星名人在看似脱稿的环境里的真实生活。它与电视纪录片的不同在于，真人骚往往将关注重点放在戏剧冲突及个人矛盾上，其娱乐价值远远大于教育意义。

例子如金凯瑞主演的美国电影《真人Show》（The Truman Show）中的小人物，他的生活24小时直播给当地观众收看，毫无私隐可言。真人秀节目迎合了普通人求知欲、好奇心、八卦、偷窥他人私隐的心理。

由于真人秀的节目形式受欢迎，所以一些不是24小时全纪录的电视节目也被制作人封为「真人秀」，企图提升收视率，例如《一笔OUT消》、《美国偶像》等。时移世易，真人秀的定义愈趋含糊。YouTube上的短片也常自称是「真人秀」。

Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents supposedly unscripted real-life situations, and often features an otherwise unknown cast of individuals who are typically not professional actors, although in some shows celebrities may participate. It differs from documentary television in that the focus tends to be on drama, personal conflict, and entertainment rather than educating viewers. Reality TV programs also often bring participants into situations and environments that they would otherwise never be a part of. The genre has various standard tropes, including "confessionals" used by cast members to express their thoughts, which often double as the shows' narration and competitive elements. Reality TV shows often have a host who asks questions to the participants or comments on the participants. In competition-based reality shows, a notable subset, there are other common elements such as one participant being eliminated per episode, a panel of judges, and the concept of "immunity from elimination."