Sports

Included mainly as an example of television show. These are more often than not nonfictional: the action happens, and whatever happens happens. Imagine reality TV, but with more respect.

Since sport does provide so much drama, however, other shows try to capture that drama, with the addition of some scripting to make sure events provide maximum drama and satisfaction. After all, while anything can happen in sports, we're pretty sure what would happen were the Chicago Bears to get to the Super Bowl and find themselves facing the New York Yankees.^note

The most obvious example of a scripted sporting event is Professional Wrestling. Still, it's possible for a show to feature some sort of athletic competition and try to add drama, whether naturally or artificially. If you're lucky, it will be a tasteful dramatization of competition. If you're watching it on TV, it'll likely borrow from pro wrestling, but catering to a lower denominator.

Many shows feature some sort of sporting event; this is a popular climax to a storyline, regardless of the original genre.

Another method used to add entertainment to an event is to let it flow as is, but provide entertaining commentary. A good commentator can inject drama into a dramatic moment, suspense in a suspenseful moment ... and sarcasm when the action turns into bot-fodder. This method can range from fans cheering Michael Buffer announcing fighters, John Madden illustrating plays, or at its furthest the repackaging of classic NFL moments into their Football Follies films, heading into Gag Dub (or, depending on your opinion of the team, Take That!) territory.

Announcers aren't the only ones who get in on that, either. Players are infamous for their ability (or lack thereof) to add entertainment, and even officials can get in on the act, such as an auto racing flagman waving a black 'report to the pits' flag at a tyre bouncing down the straightaway after falling off its car, still parked in the far corner.

For works that focuses on this, see Sports Stories. For the tropes, see Sports Tropes. If a game is still physical, but belongs on a tabletop, see Dexterity Game.