Is the Reality TV Show "Curse" Real?

Over the past 10 years, we all have witnessed a massive increase in reality television shows. Even though most of us hate to admit it, these shows are often addicting, and there are a wide variety of shows for us to consider watching spread out among numerous television networks. But, one of the most popular formats is that of following a specific couple or family around, and monitoring their everyday lives. Even though it may a good thing for viewers to have such a wide array of programming, that is not always the case for those couples and/or families that are actually the subject(s) in the reality show. This is where the "reality TV show curse" comes into play. Patterns show that reality TV is not such a good thing for celebrity couples, because after one or two seasons of being followed around by a camera, the couples' relationship either ends in a break up or divorce.

There are many couples who have been affected by the "reality TV show curse", and some of the best known examples include: Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey from the show Newlyweds; Travis Barker and Shannon Moakler from the show Meet the Barkers; Kathy Griffin and Matt Moline from the show My Life on the D-List; and Britney Spears and Kevin Federline from the show Chaotic. These are just a few examples of relationships that went downhill soon after their taped their season(s). This is a trend that has been occurring for about the past five years now, but still many couples and families take the chance. I guess a few extra minutes in the spotlight, and some extra cash is worth the risk of ruining a relationship and/or destroying a family. The Hogans, Hulk and Linda, from the show Hogan Knows Best are the latest casualties of the "reality TV show curse"; Hulk Hogan and Linda Bollea filed for divorce shortly after ending their second season. There are many reasons for why this curse may affect a majority of the relationships, but the biggest reason would probably be that the couple has no private time to spend together. Television cameras are constantly around 24 hours a day, not allowing for any intimate and personal time for the couples. This poses a serious problem, especially for couples that have not been together for very long. This personal/intimate time is crucial for newly formed couples, because they need that time to build a more solid relationship, which is vital for preserving the future of any relationship.

So, the lesson to be learned here is that if you are a celebrity, who is thinking about filming a reality TV show, you should think twice. You definitely need to consider which is more important to you, money and more fame or your relationship/family? The tragic thing is that a lot of reality show celebrities pay the price and lose the most important things in their life. The "reality TV show curse" is something that should be taken serious, there is plenty of evidence to help support this theory, and anyone considering the idea of starring in a reality TV show should seriously take into account past examples of reality TV shows and the consequences that many reality show stars have suffered.