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Dinner is prepared, homework is completed and millions of Americans are seated as the anticipation in the room heightens.
His familiar voice begins to waft from the television set as Ryan Seacrest finally appears. With new episodes from hit shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Heroes in short supply, a record number of viewers have tuned into the next best thing: reality television.
With more than 30 million watching each week, American Idol attracts more viewers than all other networks combined. But that isn't all.
In the past two weeks, reality programming has dominated Top 20 listings. American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, Deal or No Deal, Moment of Truth, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Oprah's Big Give, The Biggest Loser - the list goes on and on. Seemingly forgotten are the days of paid actors entertaining the masses.
Now, every Bob, Joe and Debbie seems to be looking for his or her 15 minutes of fame and finding it. Is it proof that our country is sliding deeper into idiocy and nonchalance?
Or is it simply easier and more entertaining to watch game shows, talent competitions and contestants who inevitably will make fools of themselves?
Whatever happened to the good old days when the Brady clan was living happily and carelessly, or Gilligan, with his never-ending endeavors to get off the island.
I'm sure Gilligan would have been into his sixth season by now. Divided into tribes, Gilligan, Ginger and the Skipper are pitted against Mary-Ann and the Howells in order to win cash and prizes.
The Professor's torch was extinguished after an intense tribal council, and he consequently was thrown off the island.
Because there was no way to get off the island in the first place, he is swimming and now is the star of his very own spinoff.
Seriously, do we exact some strange pleasure out of watching Bret Michaels or Tila Tequila search for love? Or in such an increasingly complex society, do we just enjoy viewing some mindless entertainment every now and then?
Either way, the audience has decided. Reality television is here to stay -the good, the bad, the ugly, the very ugly and everything in between.
Sarah Lewis a Ranger reporter. she can be reached at selewis@my.actx.edu.
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