New Reality Shows: The Academy

No matter how many people scoff at reality shows as an indication of cultural decline, the fact of the matter is that, good or bad, they are here to stay. The challenge for networks is to come up with new reality shows that are distinct from the rest.

A relatively new program on the scene is The Academy, which airs on Fox Reality on Thursdays at 8:00 pm. Originally created and produced by the network, The Academy takes a look at what goes on at the Los Angeles Sheriff's Academy during their 18 arduous weeks of training. The focus is on one particular class of recruits, class 355. Training to become a cop is surely no picnic and this brutally honest depiction of what it takes to be in law enforcement will give you a whole new respect for the police officers we sometimes neglect to give the proper respect they are due.

Everything is run similarly to a military boot camp, with tough drill instructors barking orders, making sure everybody toes the line and making their lives miserable when they fall short of the mark. Some trainees are on targets, some buck the rules and still others seem ready to buckle under the pressure.

The drill instructors are a tough bunch, with little sympathy for ineptitude and weakness. The reason for their being so hard on these recruits, however, is because, once graduated, they are going to be released as cops in one of the most dangerous areas of the country. How they handle matters could well determine whether someone else lives or dies and can even determine their own survival. It's important for them to learn how to listen, follow orders, be disciplined and learn how to work as a team.

My favorite person on The Academy is Deputy Dwight Miley, a 17-year veteran of law enforcement, who runs a tight ship and takes no mess. You get the feeling sometimes that underneath that harsh exterior is a soft heart, but you are not going to see it here. He is intimidating and strict, but this is what he needs to be in order to prepare this class of inexperienced recruits.

Other instructors include Deputy Raymond Jones, Deputy Shidra Sherrrod- the only woman on staff, Deputy Pete Enciso, Deputy Rene Garcia, Captain Sue Kopperud, Officer Jeremiah Hart, Sargeant Mark Wilkins and Lieutenant Steve McLean. Their job, which they all take seriously, is to impart their knowledge to these raw recruits and turn them into competent officers of the law, ready to protect the public.

Not all trainees will make it to the end. Some are clearly not cut out to be a cop and, even at this stage of the series, some recruits have been released or quit, so it's interesting to see exactly who is going to brave it out and last to the end. All-in-all, The Academy is an intriguing reality show that shows you about what is really required to be a top cop.