Surfing through the channels this evening I started to think about reality TV. I almost always end up on a non-fiction show when I don’t have something already in mind. There’s something for every mood. The cooking shows, home decorating and designing on a budget, fashion, ghosts, true crime, survival, and of course drama. And that’s just to name a few. Whatever your interest, there’s a reality TV show to match. When did this genre become the norm? I’ve had the debate over which show broke the barrier and I maintain that it was the Real World.

It’s hard to remember a time when we were not spying into the lives of real people doing real things. I guess as a whole the most prominent types of television has changed significantly. Prime time used to consist of half hour segments of sitcoms. Light-hearted comedy with subtle messages meant to instill family and moral values. Now I get my sarcastic genius fix with House and Fringe and trump the drama of my life with The Hills and Rachel Zoe Project. I guess it makes sense; foregoing the cost of scripting and direction for the rubber-necking effect of the torment of true life. It’s ridiculous and stupid but you can’t help but watch. It’s so dumb it’s good.

This has been a growing trend for more than ten years now, before which I could never have imagined that a spectacle such as this would be so captivating. So what’s the next big media trend and when will it hit? Whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll be addicted.

Tags: prime time, rachel zoe, reality tv, the hills