Television has hit a new low, and reality TV is the culprit. I have never liked reality TV. I don’t like the idea of millions of Americans vicariously living their lives through contestants who are put in very un-realistic situations.
This downward spiral of television has gotten worse in the last few seasons, and Bravo and A&E are two of the networks to blame.
It seems they are in some kind of sick race to see who can exploit the most people for the biggest profit. The thought of watching Intervention (A&E’s exploits of drug addicts) makes me vomit a little bit.
I wondered what our society had come to when Bravo premiered The Desperate Housewives of Orange County (exploits of the rich … made even sadder because it is reality TV based off of two hit fiction television shows). There are countless other programs that aren’t even good enough for me to know that they exist.
All of these shows are sad, but tolerable. Until now.
This Easter A&E will premier their latest Frankenstein, a reality show called God or the Girl. According to www.aetv.com, this show “follows four young men through the emotionally wrenching final weeks that lead up to the most important decisions of their lives – whether to become Catholic priests or not.”
Is this what our society has come to? Television executives get paid large amounts of money to give the public what they want, so this reflects very badly on us.
We have put a price on spirituality, and that price is entertainment.
The four men of this show, Joe Adair of Cleveland, Ohio; Dan DeMatte of Columbus, Ohio; Steve Horvath of Lincoln, Neb.; and Mike Lechniak of Scranton, Pa., are struggling through the decision of choosing a life of a celibate priest or a life with their girl. According to Fox News, viewers will get to see, “Adair go on a pilgrimage with no money or food, relying completely on the kindness of strangers to help him get to his destination … DeMatte builds an 80-pound cross and carries it 22 miles. Horvath travels to a mission in Guatemala to work with people living in extreme poverty. Lechniak goes on a retreat and stays with nuns.”
What are the potential viewers of this show thinking? Do they believe that by watching these men sell themselves in the name of God, it will somehow make them more spiritual?
Here’s an idea. Instead of watching this blasphemous show and boosting A&E’s ratings, go on your own search for spirituality. Go for a walk. Read a book. Read the Book.
If the Catholic Church won’t even support this show, why should I?

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