A few years ago a show called “Survivor” graced our TV screens. It became a huge hit. People loved watching other normal people. From then on, we saw a boom of reality shows from “The Littlest Groom” to “Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire”. Now there are reality shows based on people who starred in other reality shows.

What has happened to the nice scripted story? What is America’s obsession with seeing idiots act like idiots with other idiots?

Reality shows are a very unhealthy way to get our comedy and drama fix. Fortunately the hour long drama is really starting to come back. With shows like the O.C. and Nip/Tuck, we’re at least getting the sophistication and story back into our programs. But where is our beloved sitcom?

Growing up there were more situational comedies then I could shake a stick at. There was one for every age and every kind of person. We had “Married with Children”, “Full House”, “Seinfeld”, “Coach”, “Fresh Prince”, “Home Improvement”, and if nothing else was on, “Rosanne”. It was a wonderful time with a great show for each night of the week. When I was a kid I couldn’t wait for ABC’s TGI Friday lineup. And each show came complete with a fully structured story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. You could actually sit down and watch most of these shows with your parents. You came away laughing, talking about the funny dialogue and saying things like, “I can’t believe that ending.” With shows such as Full House, kids got a good message and lesson. You had characters you could fall in love with and relate to.

With the reality shows we see today, however, you come away with nothing, absolutely nothing except feeling more stupid then before you started watching them. What kind of a example is this setting for people? With shows like “The Simple Life”, we’re showing girls how you can get away with anything as long as you’re pretty and cool. These shows are exposing us to the very worst of human behavior and promoting it as entertainment.

The saddest part is that it doesn’t even seem like the networks are trying to make good shows. It seems a new sitcom is introduced about every six months. Fox has tried several different shows, but they never stick with one. They show five episodes and if it’s not a hit by then, it’s canned. I was a big fan of the “Quintuplets”, but it was canceled after half a season.

The sitcoms that are still around today such as “That 70s Show” and “Will and Grace” are still good but they are getting stale from running so long. Thankfully we still have “Malcolm in the Middle”, “The Simpsons”, and “Family Guy” to provide us with much need laughter. Though if you ask me, “Family Guy” is about two minutes of story and twenty minutes of cheap gag flashbacks.

When it all comes down to it, it’s really up to the viewers. So, I beg all of you, please, please, turn off the “My Super Sweet Sixteen” and the “Bachelor”, and turn on “Seinfeld” and “3rd Rock from the Sun” reruns. Enjoy and embrace the art of the situational comedy and laugh.

Hadley Hudson can be reached at hadman65@hotmail.com