Reality TV not wholesome entertainment

As this decade reaches its end, I reflected on what trends will mark the decade of our youth as unique. Social networking sites serve as the obvious answer. But then, much to my chagrin, I conceded to the sad fact that one of the most prominent movements our generation helped perpetuate was reality television. In an era when access to almost all great minds are only a click away, we choose instead to worship the most mediocre and pathetic people television producers could find.

How did these shows infiltrate our pop culture? Did no one find the irony from the phrase “Reality TV”? It started out innocently enough with networks borrowing quaint shows from Europe like Survivor and Big Brother. Sensing a ratings gold mine, the networks began churning out an endless array of reality shows.

Like the Riley County Police to a house party, we flocked toward these shows that put real people in extraordinary circumstances. While our minds were comfortably sedated, network executives giggled at their ability to manipulate our tranquilized intellect. Amidst this reality boom, VH1 and MTV decided to devote themselves entirely to these shows.

VH1 inserted the term “Celebreality” into our vernacular, which constantly reminds us being a D-list celebrity is still better than being a nobody. We relished the explosive scenes when asinine individuals converged to argue about whose cleavage Flavor Flav looked at longer. While Flav, New York and Bret Michaels cling to notoriety, witty and creative shows like “Arrested Development” and “Boston Legal” were canceled due to their inability to garner enough viewers.

What about reality television is so real? Is it the lack of script? Yes, a handful of memorable scenes weren’t scripted. However, somehow I find it plausible that directors and producers slightly nudge participants to actions the camera will devour. Is it the “real” characters? Yet, most Americans seem to associate themselves much more with fictional characters like Jim and Pam from “The Office” than the Kardashians.

This rise of reality television mirrors the dawn of desperate fame seekers scrambling to get on television. The White House gatecrashers represent this trend. Recently, a socialite couple crashed a White House state dinner and proceeded to post pictures of their feat on Facebook.com. The story alone is quite hilarious. The initial humor started to fade however, when reports surfaced that the couple pulled off the stunt to cater to the Bravo TV show, “The Real Housewives of D.C.” Apparently, the real life of most D.C. housewives includes unplanned trips to the White House.

Stunts like the balloon boy and people like “Octomom” only show that media can and will drive ordinary people to prominent positions in the pop culture stratosphere. Because of the media’s insatiable thirst for exhibitionists, people more than ever believe they too could be famous without possessing any extraordinary talent. Robert Thompson, a pop culture expert at Syracuse University, said to the Wall Street Journal, “The media business is the new Ellis Island: Give me your talentless, give me your hoaxes and I will put anything on my air.”

Maybe the reason Americans love Celebreality and reality TV is simply for the reassurance that celebrities and exhibitionists are mere mortals as well. At least I can take reassurance that there is a resistance movement to reality television with shows like “30 Rock” and “Lost” still being aired. But please, try to ignore the talentless and the mindless as the decade comes to its twilight.