Lights, camera, action! These three words bring dollar signs to the eyes of many. The call of fame and fortune can be found when you hear the words that the cameras are rolling and it’s your time to shine.
In recent days, there has been an overflow of individuals seeking exposure through our entertainment venue. Many have found exactly what they are looking for. They have found their calling within the prestigious outlet of reality television.
Once upon a time, cable television was dominated by sitcoms, news reports and talk shows. While employing actual professional actors, they provided entertainment to the common man on a daily basis.
The dramas, comedies and always-entertaining science fiction shows captivated audiences for years. But one day, the talent of professional actors was not enough to hold our attention. This was the dawn of a new day, the day of reality television.
We have now turned our attention to the lives of average or close to average individuals who have agreed to let their lives be filmed for the world to see. Some of the first reality shows came about in the form of fixer-uppers.
I can remember watching “What Not To Wear” with my mother every day after school.
She was captivated by the raw reality of those in their everyday lives that were given the opportunity of a lifetime; to remake their wardrobe at no expense to themselves. From these shows spurred the true heart of reality TV. 
There is probably not a college student in the world that has not watched or at least heard of MTV’s hit reality show “The Real World.” 
This reality show jump-started a boom that shook the cable network as we know it. We now have dozens of stars “looking for love,” a hit series regarding something about “mounds” in Los Angeles and even more average Joes starring in their own shows, such as the recent hit “Jersey Shore.”
So why is reality TV such a hit with consumers and producers alike?
The New York Times reported that a half-hour segment of a reality show, opposed to scripted, can cost as little as $200,000 dollars.
When this is compared to the almost $1 million dollars that can be spent on a scripted show you begin to see why producers are veering more towards reality versus script.
You could assume that these are cutting down costs for many reasons.
There are less people to pay to write a screen play. The characters are not actual actors, so the pay is less than an established person.
Furthermore, the actual production crew is nowhere near as elaborate as one for a show that must be manipulated constantly behind the scenes.
To be in the entertainment industry and find a huge success within a reality show is an accomplishment worth bragging about, but could these shows become victim to their own successes?
Due to the unbelievable amount of recognition these shows’ stars are getting, they have established a place in the industry in which they can charge more for their untalented selves.
So could this mean trouble for certain reality shows? If the producers’ plan was to save money and still produce decent TV, the more success a show gets the more it will cost them to continue to produce.           
On the flip side, reality has become an obsession for many who watch the shows. It is affecting our current culture in many ways. 
Slang terms such as “grenades” are showing up in day-to-day speech. How about black fingernail polish? Does anyone remember that phase? We can all thank Lauren Conrad of “The Hills” for that one.
Reality TV is becoming a part of our everyday lives because our culture is so awestruck with watching the good, the bad and the ugly of other people’s lives. Why do we find so much excitement in watching mainly the dramatic moments of other people?
Is it slightly sadistic that we find entertainment when bad things happen to the people acting on reality shows?
Admit it, your favorite episodes of “The Real World” are probably not the ones where everything is peachy keen.
This strange shift in our choices of TV shows is rocking the upcoming generation.
Whether you are the producer or consumer, everyone is drawn to the current excitement of regular people on TV.
Once, you had to have drive, ambition and talent to make it in the television industry. The dream of fame and fortune may finally be accessible for those with no actual talent. What a fantastic thought that may be.
Sarah Ulmer is a sophomore majoring in communication. She can be contacted at [email protected].