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Being a fan of human nature would qualify anyone as being a fan of reality TV. Proud may not be the right word but I don't deny it to my friends and then go home that night and watch. I would like to clarify, however, that I feel there are many different types of reality TV and the type I am proud to be a watcher of are those shows that produce talent rather than humiliation. Some say that only a show that is unscripted (are any really unscripted?) or that use non professionals instead of actors are the real reality show. There are reality shows that make fools of their contestants, and there are reality shows that make fools of themselves, i.e. the Osbornes or the Hogans hanging out their dirty laundry for all to see. There is a difference between this type of reality and something like The Biggest Loser where these people change their lives for the better and inspire millions to do the same. Also, there are the adventurous shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Mole. We see the conflicts and personality clashes but for the most part not the humiliation of those involved. There is The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Apprentice. They are somewhat harmless in their own right and not voyeuristic like Big Brother, Flavor of Love and that new show with the lie detector.

We think that reality television is something new. Granted we see more in the 21st century than in all decades past. Do you remember This Is Your Life? That was in 1952. Candid Camera? The first show started in 1948. Reality TV is not new. The Original Amateur Hour was televised in 1948 and Star Search was in the 1980's. Maybe it's because our attention span has lessened or that our curiosity is heightened that the age of reality TV has seemed to hit its peak right now.

Yes, I am a proud reality TV watcher. I am a proud viewer of American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, Dancing With The Stars, et al. I love the talent reality genre and the inspirational like Extreme Makeover Home Edition, not Extreme Makeover where you watch the gal get a face lift right there in your living room. I can live without watching someone be humiliated in front of millions of viewers. I am also not a fan of the same show morphing and morphing into another same old show. I would like to see some new and adventurous reality hit the airwaves. Who knows what's next. America's favorite cat?

The beauty of this article is that it is just my opinion. I know that there are others who can't stand American Idol and Dancing With The Stars. I suppose there are enough of us out here to keep all the reality shows going for decades to come.

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Learn more about this author, Marilyn Dunn.
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