I was watching a show that comes on the ID channel that was created by the guy who wrote "LA Confidential" and "The Black Dahlia". This particular episode contained a segment about the origins of tabloid and the apparent obession with celebrity gossip. One of the people that was interviewed was a host of one of the many celebrity access shows. He had mentioned that back in the days, stars were stars (actors and musicians) and nowadays anyone can be a star due to reality tv; that reality and star are two words that shouldn't even go together.

So, this thread to discuss your love or hate for reality television. Anything form of it is fair game.

My opinion....

I can do without it, but it's like the car-wreak that you can't help but look at as you're passing it.

I don't necessarily have a problem with the VH1 varieties, at the end of the day, most of those are nothing more than a gameshow due to the money factor.

There are a lot of people who need to thank whomever they thank (God, the stars above, Satan) that there was that writer's strike some years ago, because had that not occurred would we care about random housewives. But I will say that because of the Brandy and Ray J show, I have a new appreciation for Brandy. She seems pretty cool and the same for Kandi from RHOA.

I don't equate reality celebrities with actual "stars". I like a lot of the reality shows that are centered on women and fashion and lifestyle (I think they refer to them as docu-soaps), and I like fashion competitions like The Fashion Show, but never would I mistake the likes of Kim Zolzic (or however it's spelled) for Barbra Streisand or Meryl Streep .

I have mostly grown out of reality shows, although there are a few that I'll watch if nothing else is on. Watching tv shows like the Middle, Modern Family and Cougar Town made me realize how much I've missed the good old American sitcom.