There is, decidedly, a giant flood of reality shows hitting the shores of our television sets nowadays. Shows like America’s Next Top Model, American Idol and Amazing Race have become household names. People actually have the times of their showings all neatly remembered so that they will not miss the episodes.

Revolution of the reality television shows. Sounds like a Sci-Fi movie, does it not?

Jokes aside, what is the attraction of such shows? Newspapers and magazines alike have slammed reality shows, labeling them as ridiculous and a poor attempt at trying to gain ratings for the networks broadcasting them. Some such shows like America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway are brutal when it comes to the shooting of the participants. Emotions tend to run high and most of the time you will see ugly feelings like jealousy, greed and silent anger. Those eliminated often break down into tears on-screen.

It is not pretty; it is mean and occasionally embarrassing. Yet we still watch it anyway. Why?

The only way for me to find out was to watch one myself. Now, to be frank, I do not watch television often. So yes, I was clueless about what exactly to watch and the time of said chosen show, whichever it may be. Finally, I settled down to America’s Next Top Model which happened to be on at that time. Yours truly armed herself with the remote control at her side, lest the show be so terrible I would be forced to switch channels. It was not too awful, for there were some amusing parts, but all in all, I was not impressed. The plot was…was there even one? The judges did not hold back their acidic comments and sarcastic remarks. There were some who cried, worn out from the emotional beating. I sat there, thinking, I am spending time watching something like this? Assuredly I did not check the Astro guide for the times of the showings or continue watching the show for the sneak preview of the next episode.

Reality television shows hold no appeal for me whatsoever. Personally I found the one I watched a tad too shallow and superficial for my taste (no offense to any fans out there). Nevertheless they are here to stay, it seems, for there are many running well into their third or fourth season. Reality shows: worth the time? It is, of course, entirely up to you.