56% Of Adults Think Reality TV Is a New Low In Entertainment.

Eighty one percent of adults think reality TV shows pander to our worst nature: taking pleasure in seeing others frightened or humiliated. Yet, according to a national poll conducted by Family Circle magazine, 48% of viewers think people can learn valuable lessons about life, love and how to get ahead by watching reality TV programs.

According to the November 9 issue of Family Circle (on newsstands October 19 — November 9) more than half (56%) of adults with kids under 18 at home say they almost always watch reality TV. They’re also less critical of it.

Fewer think it’s a new low in TV entertainment (48 vs. 61%), 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. While The Swan (24%), Fear Factor (19%) and Extreme Makeover (15%) were deemed truly offensive and tasteless.

How Low Will They Go? Seventy-one percent of adults worry about what shows such as Extreme Makeover and The Swan teach young people about how to judge human worth. Yet, despite these concerns, 52% of women would like to have a makeover.

Fifty-seven percent 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.

They Call It Reality TV, But Is It? 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 was told to behave badly. Family Circle’s “What America Thinks of Reality TV” survey is based on findings from 1,203 adults conducted in June 2004.