It is safe to say that a good majority of television viewers are fond of at least one reality TV show.  Whether it’s the guilty pleasure of American Idol that floats our boat or the train wreck of spying on the Surreal Life house, most of us have trouble skipping past “reality” while flipping channels.  What is it with our fascination for these shows?

Talent (or lack thereof)

I became hooked on American Idol during a brief residence in Colorado during the second season.  Upon my return to Canada, I put Canadian Idol on my regular viewing schedule as well.  When it comes to the talent show variety of reality series (Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent) it is really all about cheering on your favourites while maliciously making fun of the ones who think they can sing (or dance or juggle or what have you).  Inevitably, the voting public gets it wrong and the most talented person goes home.  At this point, you can act shocked and appalled, as if you personally knew Greg Neufeld and can’t believe he’s going home when he is clearly the only one with any chance of a lasting music career.

Often, the most fun episodes of these shows are the audition rounds where people whose cruel friends and family actually make them believe they can sing like Kelly Clarkson or dance like Benji Schwimmer end up making incredible fools of themselves.  There is more than a bit of a sense of superiority gained from watching these shows.  Even if you can’t sing, at least you had the good sense to stay off the audition stage.

There are also other genuine contests of skill.  Top Chef is the only reality show my fiancé will concede to watch with me because it is a competition between incredibly gifted chefs who cook up culinary masterpieces while simultaneously keeping us entertained with feuds, drunken fights and name-calling.

Voyeurism

This is the same motivation that leads me to glance into people’s open windows when I’m out for an evening walk.  I’m not talking about creepy Peeping Tom behaviour, but if your blinds are up and I’m walking by, I’ll take a look at how big your TV is, what kind of stuff is laying around your living room floor or if you’re making out on the couch. 

The same drive that makes us want to peek in on our neighbours private lives is the one that makes it nearly impossible to resist Big Brother, Real World, Survivor or even Wife Swap.  What will the crazy white hillbilly do when the smack-talking black mom from the projects moves in with his family?  Will there be love among the palm fronds and endless pots of rice on the island?  Who is going to end up crying before the big house meeting?