The reality of reality... by David Graham. Hundreds of thousands audition... Millions tune in... but what is a reality star. If reality television is just what it says, then its real... walking your dog, drinking from the fountain, shopping at the mall... are all potentials of being "reality tv worthy." If the American public realized reality television is in an essence about money. The networks figured out they could deliver a similar product to a sitcom or drama for about 1/4 the price. An episode of Survivor costs about $500,000 and an episode of ER costs about $12 million, see the savings... if both shows score in the top 10... then they can both charge $250,000 a 30-second commercial spot. Now on the flipside... your average reality star makes $300 per episode or week, however you want to figure it... Your average television star makes from $15,000 on the WB to $2-million if you're Ray Romano. After the show ends a Reality Star has to get a job and return to their normal life... a television star goes on vacation or shoots a movie. Reality TV is a trend. Trends generally last 3-5 years at their height and then taper off. This trend is about 4-years old and its only growing stronger... Reality stars have replaced the boy bands and will never replace real tv stars... No one will prefer Survivor to Will & Grace... cause fantasy is what drives us to the movies... the abilities to watch others live a way we don't and to get accustomed to that. Anyway... I think the "reality" of the situation is... A reality star gets a unique opportunity in life to live for a small period of time a unique way, aside from their normal means... but if someone wants to use this as a means of gaining a career, good luck, the average reality star does not go on to great fame and fortune... very few examples of success can be found. Eric Nies (Real World) Kyle Brandt (Real World), Colby (Survivor) and others have found fame and fortune... but honestly about 5% actually make it. Just another point of view of the reality of reality. That's all for now.