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A hidden camera is a still or video camera used to film people without their knowledge. The camera is "hidden" because it is either not visible to the subject being filmed, or is disguised as another object. Hidden cameras have become popular for household surveillance, and can be built into common household objects such as smoke detectors, clock radios, motion detectors, ball caps, plants, and cellphones. Hidden cameras may also be used commercially or industrially as security cameras.

Description[link]

A hidden spy camera can be wired or wireless. The former will be connected to a TV, VCR, or Digital video recorder (DVR), whereas a wireless hidden camera can be used to transmit a video signal to a receiver within a small radius (up to a few hundred feet). Consequent to the wide proliferation and lower costs of electronics devices, hidden cameras are increasingly finding wider applications.

Nanny cam[link]

Hidden cameras secretly installed within a common household object to monitor and record the activities of caregivers are commonly referred to as Nanny cams. Legality of using hidden cameras are usually a subject of controversy. For example, a case involving a nanny that was allegedly caught violently shaking a baby was thrown out as worthless evidence.^[1] Some hidden camera television shows have also led to lawsuits or being denied to air by the people who were trapped in set-ups that they found unpleasant. In the United States nanny cams are legal although most are sold without audio capabilities since it is prohibited to intercept audio communications by a surreptitious manner (US Code Title 18, Chapter 119, Section 2512)

Lipstick and miniturized cams[link]

Ultraminiature still cameras have long been used for surreptitious photography, using film as small as 8×11 mm. In particular, Minox cameras were used for clandestinely photographing documents close up for espionage. Today, spy cameras can be bought by anyone for as low as $6 USD, and these modern cameras can be as small as a keychain and take high resolution video.^[2]

Hidden camera shows[link]

Hidden cameras are also sometimes used in reality television to catch participants in unusual or absurd situations. Participants will either know they will be filmed, but not always exactly when or where, or do not know they have been filmed until later, at which point they may sign a release or give consent to the footage being produced for a show. This latter sub-genre of unwitting participants began in the 1940s with Allen Funt's Candid Microphone theatrical short films . In 1996 the genre was given an overhaul by Travis Draft who introduced the glasses cam with his show Buzzkill. The show took hidden camera to a whole new level where the performer (Draft Himself and Cronies) were the focal point.

Hidden camera pilot episodes or unaired shows[link]

Shows with hidden camera skits[link]

• Anything for Love
• Dateline
• David Letterman
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show
• Howie Do It
• Jackass
• Jay Leno
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Kenny vs. Spenny
• Noel's House Party
• Primetime
• The Man Show
• Sunday Sunday Night
• The Chasers War on Everything
• Yes We Canberra

See also[link]

• Exposé (journalism)
• Lipstick camera
• Nanny cam
• Secret photography
• Surveillance

References[link]

Silvio Santos
Silvio Santos
Born	Senor Abravanel (1930-12-12)December 12, 1930 Rio de Janeiro,  Brazil
Nationality	Brazilian
Occupation	TV host, businessman
Known for	Brazilian media personality
Net worth	US$ 2.3 Billion (2011)[citation needed]

Silvio Santos (real name Senor Abravanel, born on December 12, 1930) is a Brazilian TV show host and entrepreneur.^[1] He is the owner of SBT, the third largest television network in the country.

Biography[link]

Santos was born in Rio de Janeiro, in the Lapa region. He is of Sephardi Jewish descent and was born to a Turkish mother and a Greek father.^[2] Despite his humble beginnings, working as a street vendor, he had a strong affinity for artistic endeavors and took up jobs on the radio, circus and television.

He became the major TV host in Brazil. His greatest achievement was founding SBT in 1981, where he still hosts various programs. His business, Grupo Sílvio Santos (GSS), also owns agribusiness ventures and hotels. He is the single biggest taxpayer natural person in Brazil.^[3] Additionally, Santos is known as a benefactor of the Jewish community.

He has influenced Brazilian television in many ways, particularly by producing local versions of popular international formats such as Celebrity Big Brother, Candid Camera, The Biggest Loser, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, Deal or No Deal, the RTL Idols franchise, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He also was the host of Show do Milhão, a game show also broadcast by ITV in England. The show received was later ported to some videogames, as SEGA Mega Drive 3, with the game built-in, manufactured by Brazilian SEGA's distributor Tectoy, and for Microsoft Windows (with his original dubbing).

See also[link]

• Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão

Notes[link]

1. ^ In reais.
2. ^ http://www.colegiosaofrancisco.com.br/alfa/silvio-santos/silvio-santos-5.php
3. ^ Página do Silvio Santos (Portuguese)

References[link]

• Grinberg, Keila (2005). Os judeus no Brasil. Editora Record. ISBN 85-200-0699-X. 

Further reading[link]

• Silva, Arlindo (2002). A fantástica história de Sílvio Santos. Editora do Brasil. ISBN 85-10-03063-4. 

External links[link]

• Sílvio Santos at the Internet Movie Database
• Official SBT site