What do Omarosa, Kelly Clarkson, and Spencer Pratt have in common? They have all starred on some type of reality television program. Whether it’s watching people in a competition, someone trying to find love, or how a family under unusual circumstances lives, almost everyone is fascinated with reality television. Since the writer’s strike and the poor economy, it seems some television networks are shifting more towards reality television. With no need for scripts or paying huge sums for professional actors, reality television seems like a cheap source of entertainment and easy way for producers to make money. I hadn’t really noticed this till the unexpected start of the latest season of “The Amazing Race”, which started late last year. This made me more aware of the vast number of reality television shows there really are and what stations are dominated by them.

Till this realization, it seems I was numb to the growing number of reality television shows on air now and have subconsciously just accepted it as something that was on. Although I do enjoy watching certain reality television shows, there are too many that make me feel like my brain is slowly rotting away. Many of these shows seem to be on stations like MTV and VHI which is probably why I’ve stopped watching these stations as the years progressed. With shows like “Rock of Love” and “The Real World,” regular people are able to gain their fifteen minutes of fame and will do so through any means possible. Many of the people on these shows will get drunk, fight, or lie on national television which is probably why I’ve stopped finding a lot of these shows entertaining. Even shows that involve competition like “Survivor,” or “Hell’s Kitchen” show how underhanded people can be in order to come out on top. These types of reality television shows make me question what intermediate and high school kids are taking away from those they see on T.V.

In an article by Andy Dehnart (2008) called, “Reality TV Presents Plenty of Moral Dilemmas,” he talks about lessons in morality that can be taken away from reality television shows. Dehnart (2008) cites Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Bernard Gert’s ten rules for moral behavior: don’t kill; don’t cause pain; don’t disable; don’t cause loss of freedom; don’t deprive of pleasure; don’t deceive; don’t cheat; keep your promises; obey the law; and do your duty. The last five are more social morals that society holds and is what many in reality television are always pushing to the limits or breaking. One way to test if a situation is moral according to Gert is by asking “Would you be willing for everyone to know that they can break the rules in the same circumstances?” (Dehnart, 2008) It seems that some do reflect on their behaviors during filming and learn from their mistakes while on the show. Some shows have this goal in mind, like Oxygen’s “The Bad Girls Club” which throws seven self-proclaimed “bad girls” in a house together. One of the cast members from season three of the show named Ailea wanted to learn from the mistakes of the other girls in order to help herself overcome her own issues. (Dehnart, 2008) Yet it’s sometime hard to believe that people who have been on reality television shows, especially dating shows, have any moral epiphanies. This is evident from many of the reunion shows where viewers still see girls or guys getting into fights with each other or using profanity toward others.

However, I don’t believe all reality television is bad. In an article by Linda Holmes (2004) called, “Gentler Side of Reality Television,” she points out that many stations have found success though a “geek factor” and not so much through scandal and misery. One example of dominantly “geeky” reality television can be found on TLC. Holmes (2004) comments that TLC was the first to hit it big with the reality television show “Trading Spaces”. Now TLC has expanded with shows like “Jon & Kate plus Eight,” and “Little People, Big World,” which give people insight to the everyday lives of those under extraordinary or interesting circumstances. Although these shows are more “wholesome” there can still be moral questions brought up like exploitation in the case of “Jon & Kate plus Eight” or “18 and Counting”.

No matter what, there seems to be no escaping reality television. Many stations have come to adopt various kinds of reality shows and it seems it up to the viewer to figure out which one’s suit them best. Although there are many shows out there that don’t raise too many moral questions, it’s also up to the view to take away what they can from those who that raise many moral issues.