What's so Addicting About Reality T.V.?

As I am sitting here watching a reality TV show, I couldn't help but think that reality TV is everywhere. On every channel whether it be CBS or CMT there is at least one reality television show each season. There are shows about finding love, losing weight, surviving the elements, getting past your fears; you name it, there is a show for it.

The most popular is perhaps Survivor, but I think the most rewarding and emotional provoking reality show is Extreme Makeover: Home Edition because it shows the story behind each family in their quest for a better life be it for themselves or others. Dr.Phil is also a rewarding reality TV show because he helps people through problems and follows up afterwards. Even though these shows are edited you still see the true selves to an extent of people and the good men and women that are behind their stories.

Why is this so addicting? Perhaps the reason is because we as people like to watch others feel emotions such as; love, pain, fear, anger and deceit. You can't help but feel a sense of encouragement for some reality show 'stars' or anger at others. You watch people grow on these shows and that is why it is so intriguing and addicting. You start innocently watching a show and then you find yourself making plans around these shows. It might sound bad but we as Americans are just a bunch of couch potatoes and the ratings for television prove that.

Reality TV can be compared to Soap Operas, they have the same storyline, yet a little different each season, over and over and over again. For example, Survivor has used games that are similar each season and although they move from one place to another in each season the castaways are still isolated and working towards winning the million dollars and not getting voted off. Spin offs of reality shows are even worse, like the spin off of The Biggest Loser called The Fat March. It is about losing weight and excersizing. The group can vote people off whenever they complete a goal. The same basic principles, losing weight and eating right are the main components. There has only been one season of The Fat March so far but that doesn't mean there won't be more.

Millions of Americans watch television each day and millions of shows are attracting these people. Americans get glued to their TV sets, for example, the finale of the first season of Survivor brought in more than one million viewers, and I'm sure that the numbers have only skyrocketed with each season. Reality TV is not going to die easily, when people watch the networks only produce it more. So if you are an addicted reality TV couch potato than I hope that you enjoyed this article, to everyone else, watch just one episode of some reality show and see how much you'll want to watch how the next episode ends!