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January 31, 2003

Reality TV, Take 2

So, here we are in the midst of the "reality television" wave. The network people say it isn't going away any time soon, though everyone said the same thing about the prime time game show resurgence not even two years ago.

CBS reported on the whole thing, noting that the age of summer re-runs and traditional network scheduling is almost over, thanks to the success of the "month-log blitz" approach of these shows. You can see the networks screwing with each other by staggering the nights some of their "event" shows appear to induce audiences to migrate away from regular favorites, which has the net effect of making television for anyone without a Tivo and an iron will to consume network offerings a chaotic mess that's best avoided unless chronic back pain and heavy muscle relaxants force extended periods of downtime.

Meanwhile, over at Fox's Joe Millionaire, which features the universally loved theme of "money makes you stupid, greedy, deceitful, and self-deluded," it turns out that one of the finalists was a kink film actress for a time. (There are some not-quite-safe-for-work photos on that link).

No comment on that, except to note that The Smoking Gun's writeup is simultaneously leering and prudish, speaking of a sort of repression that can't be very healthy.