Lifting the Skirt on Reality TV

I think Dave Pell makes an excellent point about, [GASP!], a possible upside to reality television…

The irony here is that reality programming is

essentially driving Americans back to their

dinner table conversations and away (at least

momentarily) from the tube. Unlike the average

sitcom, reality TV almost demands conversation.

Slowly but surely, average Joes and Janes may find

that they enjoy the sound of their own voices even

more than the ones pouring out of their digital

surround sound systems. By getting us talking once

again, reality television may ultimately squeeze

itself right out of the primetime lineup.

I find this somehow both encouraging and disturbing.