This may seem mean, since everyone seems to love the old guy in the "American Idol" competition this year, prematurely gray 29-year-old Alabaman Taylor Hicks. Still, we laughed aloud last night when he held out his hand for Stevie Wonder to shake, and told him, "Good to see you, man." Nice way to treat the most famous blind man in America, Hicks! It might not be as great as the story that had George W. Bush excitedly waving at Wonder at a White House event -- but that turned out to be wrong, anyway.
"Big Brother," meet "Survivor"; "Survivor," meet "The Real World"
A throwback to a time when six hours of reality television a week was considered a lot.
By Andy Dehnart, Salon
Three cheers for reality TV
Pundits can tut-tut all they want, but reality shows rule television for a simple reason: The best of them are far more compelling than the worn-out sitcoms and crime dramas the networks keep churning out.
By Heather Havrilesky, Salon
How I learned to love (and hate) "American Idol"
For seven years I ignored the world's biggest pop culture spectacle. But thanks to my daughter -- and the stunningly original Adam Lambert -- I finally caved.
By Gary Kamiya, Salon
I actually was 16 and pregnant
And while TV often bungles what it's like to be a teen mother, MTV's reality series got it (mostly, movingly) right.
By Amy Benfer, Salon
The reality of reality television
n+1 waxes philosophical about the least philosophical medium known to man: reality TV.
By Mark Grief, n+1
Reality TV: what it is, who watches it, and why it exists
A comprehensive history of reality TV, with clips.
There’s Never a Steven Segal Around When You Need One
Fry It Up: Top Chef Las Vegas Episode 13 -- Final Four
The Salahis: Symbol of a Decade?
The Grown Ups: Mad Men, Season 3, Episode 12