This is a follow up to the whole Jon and Kate Gosselin drama. Solid piece by Wilfred Langmaid at The Daily Gleaner: 

By contrast, much of reality TV – or “non-fiction improvised drama”, if you prefer – is driven by real people who are getting exploited and hurt.

As I see it, this is not far down the slippery slope from peering at a crash scene.

We peer at their joy and their hope, but we also see the deceit and we witness the very real pain.

The fact that it is real makes it visceral and rather transfixing.

That is the secret – and the danger.   

There was an old adage in the newspaper business that went something like “bad news sells and good news is no news.” Reality TV in many ways is carrying on the tradition. 

What I’m struck by is how many people enthusiastically jump into the arena and let the camera expose every facet of their relationship. Then find out that it can be relentless, sometimes unforgiving and a bit of a troublemaker.  For that go read Rob Sheffield’s Ruined By Reality TV and Rob chronicled this before the Jon and Kate explosion.  

I think reality tv is here to stay and the fact that  documenting (and in some ways causing) the Gosselins marriage woes has led to a ratings bonanza will probably embolden it for a long time to come.