Each fall, the television industry hits a peak of strenuous activity. Tensions are high, teeth chatter and beads of sweat form on every TV executive’s forehead as they bare it all to the audience in hopes of getting that No. 1 spot.

But all the work depends on one thing — getting an audience that will put down the XBox controller and pick up a remote. Even though the four major networks — NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX — are putting time and money into appealing to the coveted 18-34 demographic, reaction is mixed about the fall lineup.

Melissa Johnson, senior in pre-business, says one of the few shows she looks forward to is “Joey,” NBC’s spinoff of its popular series “Friends.” She is not putting much hope into it yet, however.

“[Spinoffs] are usually never as good as the original show, but I’ll see what happens,” she says.

As the first slot on Thursday, “Joey” should be considered especially important for NBC to grab an audience for the rest of night, says Thomas Beell, professor of journalism and communication.

“Networks are having a problem holding an audience because they’re losing to everything else — cable, video games, things that are interactive,” Beell says. “In the last couple of years, the number of shows that survive has been growing smaller.”

This has caused networks to take fewer chances with expensive or experimental shows and to rely on reality shows to fill time slots.

“Everything is much more expensive than it used to be,” Beell says. “Networks pick up these reality shows because they are relatively inexpensive. These are easier to change or they can just drop it with minimal loss.”

Magda Torres, freshman in pre-journalism and mass communication, says that networks have gone too far with reality shows that have little or no originality.

“There’s just too many reality shows on the air already,” Torres says. “They bother me because they all feel like they’re the same thing.”

Beell admitted that some reality shows intrigue him, as they do millions of other viewers. He says the concept behind “The Apprentice,” the Donald Trump reality show, was a winning formula.

“I found it really interesting how they set up the contestants to compete, and how they interact,” he says. “It’s a fascinating concept, and I look forward to the new season.”