I hate reality TV

I don't think I'm breaking new ground with this one, but it's something that has to be said.

For over a decade now, we have been inundated with so-called reality TV shows. In the beginning, it was fun. Cops started it all and continues today with new episodes of "real" people in "real" situations. Then there was The Real World which took "real" people and put them in contrived situations. Survivor took it one step further by taking "real" people and putting them in contrived situations with the possibility of winning lots of money. And that's when the walls came crashing down.

Look at the television spectrum today. Just off the top of my head: American Idol, Rock Star, America's Next Top Model, Project Runway, The Apprentice, So You Think You Can Dance, Last Comic Standing, The Ultimate Fighter, Hell's Kitchen...all of these are nothing more than talent competitions in different respective fields.

Then there's Beauty and the Geek, The Bachelor(ette), Fear Factor, Amish in the City, My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss, Road Rules, The Amazing Race, Big Brother, Unanimous, The Biggest Loser, Nanny 911, Trading Spouses, The Restaurant, Road Rules...the list goes on. All are (or were) considered some form of "reality" show and the only "real" thing about them is that they are "really" taking jobs away from actors.

Believe it or not, there are actors out in this great world who have studied (and continue to study) the art of acting. They desire little more than to inject themselves into a character and bring about all the finer points of humanity through their performance. These actors, many of them, spend a lot of money on training, headshots, and ramen noodles and endure loads of rejection just for one chance of making it big. And in today's "reality" fixated world, it's harder than ever.

The worst of these offenders would have to be the "Celebrity Reality" shows. These shows dig up has-been, pseudo-celebrities and drag out their near dead (and rightfully so) careers. Tucker Carlson can't dance, and neither can my dad, so why is it that of the two, Tucker Carlson has been in a televised dancing competition? If Christopher Knight was such a good actor, why don't they cast him in a role rather than exploit the fact that he was on a TV show nearly forty years ago? And why on earth does anyone want to follow the love life of Flavor Flav, whose star had faded long ago?

Reality TV has cheapened a once "fine art". Acting has become secondary to celebrity. Tertiary, perhaps, behind entertainment. As viewers, we seem to love it. But as an actor, I assure you, it's not good. You're being sold lard and told it's butter! Perhaps it's all a fad and will soon die out, but as an actor and a human being who only has so much time on this earth, I'm begging you to STOP with all the reality!

Wanna see some fresh faces? There is plenty of non-working talent in this business. Want to see a celebrity? Why not let them do what they're famous for! Turn on to some TV dramas and support what few sitcoms there are left. My God, there's over 200 channels and I'm not on one of them. Help a brother out!!