by Anna Casey

Created on: April 26, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Most addicts will tell you that their relationship with their vice began as an innocuous sampling, without ever a thought of overindulgence to the point of addiction. Similarly, my relationship with reality television began innocently, during the early years of MTV's "Real World." The idea of snooping on people's lives was irresistible, and so I began watching people love and fight, work and play, eat and sleep on national television.

At that point addiction was impossible. Reality television was new and limited to this one show. So while I enjoyed it and looked forward to watching the show, there was no real risk in it for me.

Then came Survivor. I remember the first season well. It was the summer after I had graduated law school and I was studying for the bar exam. My routine was monotonous classes and studying. Television was not a distraction because it was summertime and the schedule consisted primarily of reruns. But, there was one new show on. It was pitched as a social experiment putting real people on an isolated island where they would compete for $1 million. How exciting! So I would come out of my study cave once a week to watch this new show.

And so my addiction began. First it was just about Survivor. I waited anxiously all week for the next episode. But then it became about every other show where we were watching real people. I started watching reality show after reality show. I could not stop. The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Road Rules. I even watched the "B-list" reality shows like Celebrity Fit Club, the Surreal Life, Paradise Hotel, and the Simple Life. The list goes on and on. I flip channels during commercials and watch two shows at once. I record reality shows and refuse to let my coworkers talk about them until I have seen them. I talk about the people in these show as if they are friends and neighbors. My husband will not watch television with me any more.

So, as I plan my American Idol season finale party, I take solace in the fact that I have taken the first step in curing my illness I have admitted that I have a problem. Now I need to go The Hills is about to start.

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