Reality T.V....

I am a reality T.V. show junkie. When it comes to reality shows; I am hooked! Especially when it comes to those reality dating shows. They never seem to cease to entertain me! In all seriousness though, I must admit that reality T.V. shows are like the caffeine in my daily cup of coffee and I am jouncing without them. In my eyes, without them there really isn't any better shows on television. I probably wouldn't even watch television anymore if it weren't for reality t.v.

Reality T.V. shows weren't anything like they are now. I remember as a kid my mom always had to watch her daily talk show "Geraldo" or "Oprah." Talk shows were the craze back then, and as I matured in adolescence I was the next generation so loving "Jerry Springer" and "Jenny Jones." I really don't think there were too many reality shows back then aside from talks shows, the news and funny shows like "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Candid Camera." There were some dating shows like "Love Connection," but to me they seemed scripted and weren't filmed "in the moment." I do however remember when "The Geraldo Rivera" talk show changed talk show history. One of the first physical fights aired on national T.V. and some guy broke Geraldo Rivera's nose with a chair. That was definitely classic!!! After that, fights seemed to be the norm for talk shows like "Jerry Springer."

With the ever changing world, T.V. as a whole has definitely come a long way. It seems now a days there's more "reality T.V." than ever. I'm all for a good reality show, but sometimes I question the "realness" of it. Good T.V. should never hurt anybody, but one also must not take any reality show so literal. For someone to have the courage and air their "dirty laundry" and tape their life on national television despite the repercussions of societies' criticism is beyond me. Most of the stuff aired on the reality shows usually is edited, so it can either make or break the person being taped. Who's to say or judge if we aren't seeing the "big picture" and everything that really happens? Its all for ratings... the more we love to hate these reality T.V. stars, the more we love to watch them at their "finest."

I think everybody in some way is addicted or at least interested in reality T.V. The news alone is somewhat reality, and that's been on T.V. for decades. I guess what it boils down is forte. Where would America be without the 1000's of paternity tests, fights, revenge, hookups and watching someone else's humiliation? There's a reality show for everybody. Even for devoted religious people... God is on every Sunday. Regardless of people's criticism of reality show stars' lives, it can be a teaching tool of how not to live or to show others there is another way of living. Either way, it's just television.