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"Reality TV is 'New Low' in Entertainment, Most Adults Think"
"NEW YORK -- Do reality TV shows pander to our worst nature by taking pleasure in seeing others frightened or humiliated? Yes, 81% of adults proclaimed in a recent Family Circle magazine poll. Still, 48% of viewers think people can learn valuable lessons about life, love and how to get ahead by watching these types of shows. Fully 56% of adults with kids under 18 at home say they almost always watch reality TV, the survey found. They're also less critical of it; fewer think it's a new low in TV entertainment (48% vs. 61% of those without kids at home), and more think it's a welcome change from the sex and violence on other programs (67% vs. 52%).American viewers rated Trading Spaces (64%), American Idol (64%) and The Amazing Race (44%) as television appropriate for the entire family. Conversely, The Swan (24%), Fear Factor (19%) and Extreme Makeover (15%) were deemed truly offensive and tasteless.A whopping 71% of adults do worry, though, about what shows such as Extreme Makeover and The Swan teach young people about how to judge human worth. Despite these concerns, however, 52% of women would like to have a makeover.And, 57% of viewers think programs such as Fear Factor encourage young people to engage in risky and dangerous behaviors -- but only 25% say kids under 18 should not be allowed to view them. A full 83% of viewers think the producers of reality contest shows sometimes cast less talented contestants to appeal to viewers or just make a show more interesting and 64% of viewers don't think the judges always rule fairly. In fact, 78% think the producers and judges sometimes arrange to keep certain contestants in the running and that they sometimes also decide who wins.Specifically, 43% of viewers think Omerosa Manigault-Stallworth from The Apprentice -- who hails from the Youngstown area -- was told to behave badly."