I’m beginning to believe that reality TV is not a matter of schadenfreude, it’s a matter of masochism.

At first, I thought people watched reality TV because they liked watching people humiliate themselves.  You know, jumping through hoops, eating grotesque things, that sort of thing.  But as the genre has evolved… that kind of reality TV has given way to shows like Supernanny and Extreme Makeover.  And, like the vast amounts of E!’s programming… it’s all about stuff we’d love to have happen to us but never will.  Who wouldn’t love to have a bunch of people come to your house, demolish it and rebuild it into this gorgeous place?  You know it’ll never happen to you… but you watch anyways.  What parent wouldn’t love to have Supernanny come by and tame their kids?  You know it’ll never happen to you… but you watch anyways.

Why tantalize me with plausible entertainment that seems so close yet is still out of my reach?  Instead of watching other people get swanky new pads that I could never afford, I’d rather watch some show on TV that has little basis in reality.  Unfortunately, the networks keep cancelling all the good ones.