Some of the things that are being passed off as entertainment these days are starting to make Chatty cranky. Between reality shows and game shows, a large portion of the viewing public barely noticed the Writer’s Strike, because that strike only involved scripted shows. Chatty is all for escapism, but she is frankly puzzled by some of the shows that are getting blockbuster ratings. While she has no quarrel with people who enjoy all these shows, Chatty feels the need to write about a few whose appeal she doesn’t really understand.

    Chatty freely admits that she only likes game shows requiring a bit of intelligence on the part of the contestant. For instance, she has always loved "Jeopardy", and thinks "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" – even "The Price Is Right" - are really fun. But "Deal or No Deal" (or, as the Wiz has re-named it, "Briefcase or no Briefcase")? Not fun. At least, not to Chatty. Please don’t misunderstand – Chatty is a HUGE fan of luck, but unless we're talking slot machines or lotteries…she prefers that some skill also be involved if you want to entertain her. And sheer greed is NOT a skill, although it seems to provide fun viewing for many people…

    Let it also be noted that since childhood, Chatty has felt deep distress whenever she sees other people being embarrassed – or embarrassing themselves - even if they ask for it. So, she is not enthusiastic about shows where people come out and air their dirty laundry, get in fights with fellow guests, and generally debase themselves.

    She is certainly not a fan of shows where judges are mean just for the sake of a good sound bite, even though many contestants seem to beg for it.

    But if the incredibly popular "American Idol" is any example, there is a large section of the viewing public that enjoys seeing other people humiliated by the judges, and apparently, there are lots of contestants out there eager to be humiliated. However, Chatty doesn’t believe that any of these contestants set out to sing badly, so the fact that any of those who do not sing well are picked to be televised in the first place just smacks of nastiness and a quest for higher ratings on the part of the producers and networks involved.

    To be fair, Chatty must also note that this sort of show does EVENTUALLY showcase some excellent talent, and that these talented people then have a chance to get seen, heard, and known by a large audience. This is a good thing. It’s the hoops the unfortunate and non-talented have to jump through in the name of entertainment that make Chatty uncomfortable.

    Chatty remembers her grandmother talking about Arthur Godfrey, and his show. He showcased new talent as well, and many of his contestants went on to become professionals. The difference is that he brought only the best onto his show, and then let the audience choose the winner. He did NOT bring untalented people onto his stage and then humiliate and berate them for being untalented.

    There can be no denying that reality shows are hugely popular. For some, it’s a guilty pleasure. Chatty understands this. She is hooked on "Dancing with the Stars" (because Chatty can’t dance – AT ALL), and applauds the celebrities who step out of their comfort zone to try something different – and very, very difficult. Does anyone out there remember those occasional specials way back when called "Circus of the Stars"? Chatty adored those. It was fascinating to watch ordinary people (who just happened to be entertainers) working theirs buns off trying to master a tiny bit of the skill and expertise needed to pull off a circus act – ANY circus act.

    Basically, although Chatty does not enjoy watching them, most reality shows deserving of the name challenge ordinary people to reach for extraordinary goals – shows like "Survivor", "Amazing Race", "Fear Factor", "The Biggest Loser"…and the list goes on. It’s the backbiting and treachery that seems to be encouraged by many of these shows that depresses Chatty.

    Then, there’s the stuff that is just plain stupid. A case in point: apparently, there’s a new MTV reality show in the works in which people will compete to become Paris Hilton’s new "BFF"! Puleeze…Chatty is not even going there, because by now every late-night comic and entertainment news pundit around will have already gone to town on this one. Hey – somebody’s got to shoot those fish in the barrels! While Chatty finds the idea of having people audition to become one’s best friend both tasteless and pathetic, she figures if that’s the only way Paris can get someone to hang out with her, then good luck to both of them.

    But, this new "Moment of Truth" (well, new to the US – versions of it are already seen in 24 other countries worldwide) is shaping up to be the worst so far. All a contestant has to do is get hooked up to a lie detector, answer a series of questions, then go onstage and "prove" they are telling the truth by re-answering some of the ever-more-personal questions about whether they have done a rotten thing, believed a rotten thing, been a bigot, an adulterer…whatever. If successful, he or she gets WADS OF CASH! The most recent promo to air has the host asking some guy if he had ever slept with his wife’s sisters. This show panders to the lowest of common denominators, plunges execrable taste to even lower depths, and rewards bad behavior. What fun!

    There are times when, in Chatty’s opinion, America bears a striking resemblance to the Roman Empire in its declining years.

    We’re being lulled into a stupor by bread and circuses.