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Health & Fitness

Are you a Drama Momma?

Reality TV is taking over our television programming. How do you feel about what you're seeing?

Have you ever noticed that when people talk about watching reality TV, it’s like they’re confessing a sin? Usually, their voice drops to some inaudible level, their hands come to their faces, usually covering their mouths to protect from unknown lip-readers, and they will blush or grin like the proverbial cat that swallowed the canary.

Why are we, as a society, so enthralled with reality TV? The wilder the better! Flipping tables? We love it! Hair pulling? We eat it up like candy. 

Yes, I confess, I am a Drama Momma … to a point. I only REALLY watch two of the million Real Housewives shows, and I also watch Mob Wives, which really takes the cake in the head-bob, finger-waving competition. And, yes, I watch the Bachelor/Bachelorette series. 

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However, reality TV has taken over our television programming to the point my favorite soap opera, All My Children, has been canceled. It’s a sin! Erica Kane is unemployed!

ABC’s cancellation of AMC and One Life to Live has opened up the debate on several online message boards, chats and Facebook walls as to whether the networks are selling out good programming to promote what is usually considered bad behavior. 

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People like Snookie and her friends become iconic examples of what appears to be “the norm” on Jersey Shore. 

We watch as people audition and generally make fools of themselves to pursue a dream on countless “talent” shows.

Sitcoms are becoming an endangered species and the plethora of crime/ER/lawyer shows is slowly taking over any time slot that isn’t occupied by the afore-mentioned reality shows. Although I suppose it could be said that some of the so-called reality shows could be classified as comedies.

I miss the days when we had Happy Days (before Fonzi "jumped the shark") and Laverne & Shirley. Shows like Eight is Enough, Welcome Back, Kotter and Star Trek were favorites, as were M*A*S*H and Charlie's Angels.

Where did our TV go and when did voyeurism become family time?

What favorite shows did you have fall to the cancelation executioner? Where would you like to see television programming go?

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