Everyone thinks that MTV (1992)“The Real World” or “Survivor” ( 2000) were the first TV reality shows. Although, both shows have been on television for over ten seasons,”TV Guide” names the first reality TV show as “An American Family,” a 12-episode ( PBS -1973). The show chronicled the everyday lives of the Loud family over a seven-month period.

Today reality television has become the norm. When I was growing up there were only a few reality television programs to watch. ”TGIF” (Thank God It’s Friday) and “Living Color” were sitcoms that viewers enjoyed watching. Families centered their evening activities around the weekly shows. In the show “Family Matters”, Urkle was a colorful and popular character that everyone looked forward to watching his weekly adventures. Today, there is at least one reality show on every network — we are over run with reality television shows. Some of these shows are sometimes humiliating, painful and embarrassing situations of a person’s life. And, then there are others that showcase the everyday lives of raising large families, beauty and fashion make-over’s, and the lives of sports figures, hip hop stars and other Hollywood celebrities. Reality television is entertaining; but it can also become a fixated/obsession into the lives of others that can cloud reality.