Last night's "Survivor" finale was relatively uneventful, save for the patchouli-scented bile spewed by Courtney, the snake-headed fire dancer who lost friends and alienated people throughout her stay in Panama. There's nothing quite as entertaining as bitter, defensive comments thinly disguised as loving, open-hearted hippie philosophy. Even though the usually-discerning Jeff Probst seems to buy into her incoherent faux-positivity ("My life is to learn!"), it's easy to see why Courtney was voted "Most Annoying" by her fellow survivors.
"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.
Going Back to the Future on Dancing With the Stars
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The Eternal Urgency of War Hawks
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