Have you got "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!" fever? This is one of the latest reality TV offerings on ABC. This one has ten has-been "celebrities" camping out in the Australian forest. I think the first episode of all these reality shows should be unedited hidden video of the pitch meetings where the executives bought into these ideas. "It's Celebrity Fear Factor meets Survivor meets American Idol." Oh, pleeasee. The "celebrities" are having to survive a 15 day campout while the producers pour bugs and rats in their pants, make them swim with the crocodiles and close them in coffins for (gasp) ten minutes in the dark. I think perhaps the hardest part for the "celebrity" was not being seen by America for ten whole minutes (She went four and a half minutes.) The best part has to be the psychological effects on the "celebrities." Being used to some measure of creature comforts; they are forced to deal with things like washing dishes, cleaning the latrine, sweeping the campsite, etc. Stress leads to cat fights. It's fascinating stuff. I think the final episode should be a viewing party where the "celebrities" are forced to watch themselves freak out on camera and then mourn the final death of their careers.

One serious interesting thing about the show is the interactive portion. Borrowed from American Idol the audience is encouraged to call in and vote on which "celebrity" should participate in the next challenge for food. Evidently, they're getting 100,000s of votes. American Idol has received millions of votes. Does this mean that interactive television is finally with us? Surely, there are higher and better uses for such caller voting determined programming.

What's Next

Eventually, America will grow tired of reality programming. Right now our huge hunger for celebrity minutia and our love for reality TV are escapes from a world perched on the brink of war. People are so frightened and bewildered by the coming clash of civilizations that they'd rather bury their heads in the sands of escapist TV. Everyone is wondering what comes next for TV. When the shooting starts I think America will drop reality TV like a stone. Who can possibly care about the exploits of people looking for relationships when there are the atrocities of large-scale war in the world. First, TV will carry live coverage of the war 24/7. Second, people will look to TV for meaning in life. They will look for information, drama and stories that make sense out of such a conflicted world. Who will bring us creative and compelling programming that helps us understand how to live in the new reality of our fractured world. One thing is for sure; communications technology (i.e. telephones, Internet, wireless communications, etc.) is changing the way the world operates. It will change the way we fight a war and it will change the face of television.

If you haven't read Howard Rheingoldís book Smart Mobs I recommend it highly. Click the Amazon.com link at left and check it out.