Reality TV

I have never been much of a fan of the television genre of reality TV.  I will confess to investing in one season of America Idol, to which, to this day I regret.  Some how, this has become the way most Americans pass time and conversation.  Which brings us to sports.  I never felt I needed reality TV, when all I had to do was tune in to whatever sporting event, that happened to be playing each night, and weekend.

This Sunday is Super Bowl XLV, and it got me to wondering why 150 million Americans will spend millions of dollars, devote as many hours of their time, and generally, just stop their lives for several hours on Sunday.  Not every one who gets so excited about the Super Bowl are football fans.  In fact, most probably didn't even know who was playing until this week.  Now they are experts on every thing, from Ben Roethlisberger's off the field problems, to Troy Polamalu's hair.

Maybe the Super Bowl is not just about football.  Maybe there is more to this Sunday that we just don't get.  I hear more people say they watch it for the commericals, but yet those same commericals will be aired for weeks to follow, and don't ever forget YouTube.  Others say, the half time show is the best spectacle in entertainment.  Remember the wardrobe malfunction?  You always hear, "its about the party and the food," it is the second biggest day of eating next to Thanksgiving.  What is it about the Super Bowl that makes it one of the biggest days of the year?

So, this got me to thinking about what it is about America that makes us watch.  I have concluded, it's our thirst for reality TV.  The Super Bowl is all about that.  Two great fan bases are as excited as any kid at Christmas, and after the game some are going to be heart broken.  Many are going to ride a high that will last, at least into next week.  After all it is the middle of winter, and spring seems like a dream.  Yep, the Super Bowl is a huge dose of reality TV, at least for America

As for the nearly billion people that will watch it around the world, well, that's a whole different story.  Maybe many of them hate America, but you just can't deny, they sure do like to watch us.