When Reality Shows first appeared on television they were a breath of fresh air from the same old formulaic programming that many of the networks had fallen into. Sitcoms had reaching the end of a creative cycle with the conclusion of Seinfeld, Friends, and Everybody Loves Raymond. Dramas were stagnating. The field was open for the new kid on the block.

Shows like Survivor, Amazing Race, The Bachelor and eventually The Apprentice grabbed viewers interest at an astonishing pace. The Reality Show format was so successful that not only were new ones coming out almost weekly but actors and producers of fictional shows were getting worried. As with all good things, excess spawned contempt and it wasn’t long before all reality shows were painted with the same brush.

Quality programs endured the backlash and are still going strong. They help to inform as well as entertain millions of viewers weekly. Reality Shows give us a rare glimpse into the human psyche. We see people with their guard down, openly confessing their motives, inner thoughts and feelings. More than simply catering to the voyeuristic tendencies in us all, they help enlighten us.

Survivor is the grand daddy of Reality Shows. Who will ever forget the first season when Richard Hatch played the game brilliantly and showed us how manipulation and deviousness does get rewarded? For the na