Reality bites. Lately, it seems like reality television has invaded every national television network.

A couple of weeks ago, I turned on the television to be faced with reality Sunday. The whole night was nothing but reality show after reality show.

All I wanted to watch was a sitcom.

But sitcoms are few and far between in today’s television world. Quality sitcoms such as “Cheers,” “The Cosby Show” and “Seinfeld” seem to be a thing of the past.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve given reality television a chance, but I’m still not convinced.

I viewed every original Survivor episode and was very upset when Richard won. I still think he’s a slime ball. (I am a Sue fan).

After that was all said and done, I decided reality shows are not for me.

And the true junk of reality shows is “Fear Factor.”

During the 60-minute show, contestants are forced to face their fears.

In one episode, contestants had to jump from one 18-wheeler to another traveling 40 miles per hour and then had the pleasure of lying in a bed of biting worms while finally shooting each other with paintball guns as they were hanging from a bungee cord.

So while I am watching these shows saying they are stupid, thousands of other TV viewers are tuning in weekly.

The networks are responding to the demand by continuing to produce more and more reality shows.

Reality viewers can look forward to “The Amazing Race,” “Lost,” “Love Cruise” (the latest “Temptation Island”), “Combat Missions,” “The Mole 2” and “Survivor: Africa” as the latest and greatest of reality television.

And why shouldn’t television producers happily make reality television a nightly event? These shows are very cheap to produce. Very, very cheap.

Think about it from the producers’ point of view. By creating reality TV, they don’t have to deal with snotty actors and their agents. There is no whining from underappreciated and underpaid writers.

MTV has been the leader in cheap reality television for the last ten years.

Through the “Real World,” MTV has had developed a culture of putting seven ordinary people in an elaborately decorated house and having thousands of music fans watch how these twenty-somethings react to each other. Each cast member is unique and different and will soon become a celebrity.

I confess, I’m addicted. watching for the slaps and the skinny dipping that happens in between hours of nothing. It’s the mother of reality television. And for some strange reason I like it.

So the question is why do I hate all reality television shows, except the “Real World?”

I think I like it because I can relate to the “Real World” cast members. Like them I’m a confused twenty-something attempting to figure out what I want to do with life. Like them I have to deal with people from different backgrounds daily. Like them I have lived with bad roommates.

But as the “Real World” people work their problems out, I watch and learn from their mistakes. I can see myself in some of them.

And maybe that’s why reality shows are so popular. Any average Joe or Jane can see themselves on a reality television show. They think about how far they can push themselves to face their fears. They wonder which “Survivor” they would vote off the island.

It’s simply human nature.

But my plea is to have your own reality. I’m not encouraging to dare your friends to eat worms on the weekend for fun. But you might want to dare each other to eat the mystery meat at food service.

I want you to live your life to the fullest. If you want to bungee jump or sky dive, go for it. Instead of watching “Survivor: Australia”, start saving for your own “down under” adventure.

Then you can live reality, instead of watching it.

Michelle Kann is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Garnavillo. She is the newsroom managing editor for the Daily.