Factual Faux Pas

If you want some candid insights on the factual entertainment business, look no further than David Lyle, coo and general manager of Fox Reality; Jonathan Murray, chairman and president of Bunim/Murray Productions; and Robert Sharenow, vp of non-fiction and alternative programming at A&E Television Networks. Their spirited discussion reveals the dangers of resting on your laurels once you've had a hit reality show, versus the risk of trying to duplicate it; the balance of familiarity and surprises that viewers crave; and why some spin-offs die and others flourish. It's a fine line, but somebody's bound to cross it