Many shows then followed suit. From Survivor to The Bachelor to American Idol. They added in contest and prizes to make things a bit different and more exciting. The reality part of reality TV was all there. There was nothing real about a bunch of strangers plunked down on an island and forced to boot one person of the island each week. There was no reality when a man that claimed to be a millionaire had dozens of beautiful women fighting for his attention. But the phenomena caught on and people started watching. The ratings went through the roof and television studios loved it. They spent very little money on these shows and got huge returns in advertising in return. 

Because of the incredible return on investment from reality television shows, other fictional shows became much less appealing from a monetary perspective. Action adventure television shows like 24 and Lost were hugely expensive in comparison and brought in similar or lower ratings. I can't blame TV studios for not continuing these TV shows when they can spend that money on something more profitable but I don't like reality TV. I don't want to watch Jersey Shore. I watched it for about 10 minutes and I felt my IQ dropping with every minute I watched it till I couldn't stand it anymore. 

Television is supposed to be entertaining. It's supposed to take you to another world or place. It's not supposed to take you to a night club in Jersey City with a bunch of idiots on the verge of steroid rage. It's not supposed to take you to Orange County to be part of a social event with housewives with nothing to do but criticize their neighbors plastic surgery. Television is supposed to involve my mind and not force me to shut it off. 

For God's sake TV executives, please spend the money on television shows that are compelling to watch and make me want to tune in each and every week. I want to see shows that have actual substance. There is more to television than just making money, isn't there?