I have always been a big TV watcher, but when reality TV hit the scene I was addicted right away. Those darn writers messed up when they went on strike, cause it seemed like it opened the flood gates for reality shows. As I started to list all of the shows that I watch, I realized that I don't look at scripted TV much anymore. Of course some people have tried to convince me that even reality TV is scripted and for some of the shows it may be true. I hold another opinion about that. I think a lot of footage is left on the cutting room floor and that the people on the shows get painted a certain way because there is enough footage of them to justify it. I like the idea of getting totally involved with the cast in the same way that people do with the soap operas. Come on, everybody has Erica of All My Children pegged and she is a fictional character. Why can't I talk about NeNe of the Real Housewives Of Atlanta like I know her? I'm not stupid enough to think I really know these people, but its crazy when I have to defend their actions like they are my best friends. I don't think I fall into many of the shows targeted demographics, but I don't think anybody knows reality like I know reality. I'm not much for the shows like Survivor or The Biggest Loser shows, but overall I like everything else.  I guess to really understand the nature of reality TV you have to realize that there are several sub-genres within the genre.  First you have your dating competition shows like The Bachelor, Flava of Love, I Love New York and one of the newest ones, More To Love.  The next type is your talent competition shows like American Idol, Making The Band, and So, You Think You Can Dance.  My personal favorites are your lifestyle shows that give you a peek into peoples everyday lives like Run's House, The Real Housewives, Gotti's Way, Tiny & Toya, Nanny 911.  There are as many types of reality shows as there are scripted shows.  Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Westerns and you get my jest.   Call me what you will, but as long as I have the time to watch TV, I will be watching reality shows.  I'm not giving up completely on scripted shows because I will watch Monk, House and Grey's Anatomy any day of the week.  I have a very full life with plenty of friends and family, but they all know I'm a reality TV nut. If they aren't into a show, I don't force conversation about the show on them, but have started many of them on the road to reality addiction. You know how junkies are, they can't stop so they want to get somebody else hooked...haha. I must not be alone in this addition because the shows websites blogs are filed with comments and people are really into the shows. Let me know how much you love reality TV.

MTV has a winner with this one. I have watched Run's House since the first season. It really is a wholesome show for the whole family without being boring. I think Justine is the perfect wife for Rev Run because I would have choked that man by now if he was my husband. I love him to death, but he cuts her off too much. She has a very submissive demeanor and I strive to tone it down a little in my own life and Jus in my role model. I love the way the older kids treat her like a mother minus the step and the younger ones challenge her like little kids often do. There family is not perfect, but they are the closest thing to the Huxtables that I've ever seen.

16 and Pregnant is a good show.  I hope that teenagers are watching this show and MTV keeps it in heavy rotation.  If you have never stopped to look at this show you are missing some for real reality.  These kids had no idea what they were in for when they decided to have unprotected sex.  I love that they were brave enough to show the good, bad and down right ugly of getting pregnant so early.  It's just the nature of kids to believe that they are above anything that threatens to change their future.  This show was a head shaker for me because I was 20 and married when my daughter was born and things were OK, but probably would have been even better if I had waited a few more years.  I can't imagine being a 16 year old single parent, no matter how much I loved the baby's father.  The stand out cast member was Catelyn and her boyfriend from episode 6, because they made the decision to give their daughter up for adoption.  This was such a wise decision for two kids to make, but they understood the level of responsibility that came with having a baby.  Even though their parents didn't agree with the decision and tried to change their minds, they found the courage to do the hardest thing they will ever have to do in life.  I wanted to criticize Catelyn's mother for not supporting their decision, but I don't know how I would respond if it were my child so I had to give the lady a pass. I really hope that they have another season of this show.

Brooke Knows Best is a spin off from Hogan Knows Best, but Brook is holding her own and is on her second season.  This show is a real coming of age kind of show and I just like it.  I know that I was not the shows target audience, but too bad because I am watching.  This season Brook is having to deal with some heavy situations.  From her bother going to jail, her parents getting a divorce and her mother dating a young man (boy) who is Brooke's age.  Dang the girl hardly has any time for focusing on her own life.  I like the relationship that she has with her roommates, but I'm not sure how they can afford to live in that hooked up condo.  When does anybody go to work? Lord, can Hulk Hogan get a life? I know that Brooke doesn't mind his constant visit and phone calls but it's bugging the hell out of me.  It's also a little crazy looking at his new girlfriend, because she looks like an older version of Brooke and it's only slightly older.  I hope that her family works through all of their issues because I fell in love with them on Hogan Knows Best.

Gotti's Way is in it's second season and not a whole lot has changed with Gotti, but his wife Deb is making progress.  Gotti is such a pig, but society helps him to be one.  Hoochies don't respect real women so men who can't be faithful have many options.  It's gotta be hard on Deb because she has two young sons and a teenage daughter who are looking at her relationship with Gotti and forming their own views, whether they know it or not.  In this second season Deb is taking steps to put some functionality into this dysfunctional relationship.  Gotti doesn't seem to think that Deb will be able to find a relationship unless she has one with an older man, but I don't think that a relationship is her biggest priority right now.  She needs to put the brakes on Gotti so that he doesn't think that he can just come over on the weekend, play house and then go on with his shabby life.  I'm proud that Deb is finding the strength to put him in his proper place in her life.  Two thumbs up for this show because it's like looking through the windows of their house.  You don't have to wish that you were a fly on the wall because I think they are keeping it real.

Patti Stanger a self-proclaimed 3rd generation matchmaker has remained on Bravo for a second season. She runs a matchmaking company and I don't know if she matches non-millionaires or not, but the show only highlights her millionaire clients, They are members of "The Millionaire's Club". Patti is really harsh on some of her clients, especially if there are some things about them that she wants them to change in order to get the right person into their lives. Things like cutting their hair, redecorating their homes and in one case she told a man that he needed to move, because he lived in "the ghetto". I guess that if I were paying someone to find me a man, I would want them to give me their expert opinions and I wouldn't want them to be a yes man or in this case a yes woman. She says that she knows what she is doing and most of the time they comply. It's usually pretty obvious why some of the clients need help, but sometimes it's a mystery. I have one question about the process of finding a match for these millionaires. Where do they get the daters from, because they are not millionaires, but they will make themselves available for one. Do they do a casting call or are these non-millionaire clients? Whenever they do the open call for potential matches, Patti lines them up and gives them all the complete look over. If the millionaire wants a blond she weeds through the blonds and sometimes she may ask one or two of them if they would consider dying their hair. She will choose in a few non-blonde's for the meet and greet mixer just in case. A few times she has matched a woman millionaire client and this season she had her first gay match. You have to watch the show to understand how she chooses her potential matches, but I think anybody could do what she does. It could be that she does it so well that it just looks easy, I really don't know. Her assistants consist of a goth looking man named Destin, a Lady named Chelsea and Destin's girlfriend Rachel was hired in the second season (I think). They have their hands filled having to deal with Patti. It's an entertaining show and I like it because no matter what episode you watch you are able to comment about show. There is no ongoing story line or anything so if you've seen one show you could fake being an avid watcher. It's a different kind of reality show, but it made my list as one of my favorites of the Bravo TV line-up.