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Ironically, Reality TV is anything but reality. The genre of television programming which has taken over our evening veiwing schedule has proved to be rehearsed time and again. Ranging from totally bizarre to hilarious, these shows have bombarded our senses with mindless viewing options. Gone are almost all family oriented televisions shows with any shred of morality.

A few of the television shows that fall in the genre of Reality TV are actually enjoyable, but they are largely outnumbered. Programs like "So You Think You Can Dance" have brought extremely talented young people to the stage to perform breathtakingly beautiful dance numbers.

"Fear Factor" and similar programming played on our senses with the shock factor. Along with the shock waves of the program, it has gradually brought about vomiting in almost every television show and movie. No longer is it such a great idea to sit down in front of the television with your dinner for a little relaxation, at least not for those of us with a weak stomach.

Women have made complete groveling fools of themselves for a chance to marry a millionaire. Many children growing up today have enough self esteem issues without television programming promoting such behavior.

"Hell's Kitchen" contestant chefs are ridiculed, tortured, screamed at, and brought to tears by the mean spirited world famous chef, Gordon Ramsey. Following suit with the other programs for gross factor, Ramsey forced the female team to dine on the unedible portions of cattle while the male team jetted off to dine on steaks and champagne this year. This type of demeaning treatment of contestants seems to delight a portion of the adult viewing audience. However, it is extremely detrimental to our youth.

Food Network has a much milder version of a chef contest with "Chopped". This television show focuses on the talent of the young chefs and allows them to pit their culinary skills against three other contestants. The three courses they prepare are then put before a panel of three judges. If a chef leaves the stage in humiliation, it is of his or her own making.

"Big Brother" has brought us year after year of cat fights, fist fights, screaming matches, and the like as a dozen contestants lie to, plot against, and form alliances with each other. At stake is a large monetary prize which requires the contestants to take up residence in a studio house for three months. The show cannot be fully appreciated without watching the three hour after dark programming of what takes place in the house. Video cameras and microphones everywhere in the house and yard, and microphones on the contestants allow the viewing audience to listen in on the coniving schemes, plotting, and paranoia of the household. There is no privacy in the house for the contestants during the contest.

"American Idol" has been wildly popular, but the insane behavior of the judges has become more of the entertainment with this program than the contestants are. "Lost" and "Survivor" have brought us programs meant to depict to what physical lengths a few greedy persons would go for money.

There seems to be one common thread among television shows today. Sadly, that thread is "anything goes".

For parents who believed it was safe to allow their young children to watch cartoons, Cartoon Network has now brought Reality TV to the youngest in the household with "Total Drama Island".

Quality does not and cannot come into play when the driving force of a television show is greed. Demeaning treatment, base behavior, and total loss of morals in programming has stripped us of any wholesome family evening viewing.

Learn more about this author, Ty Fillers.
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