Reality TV: good or bad?

Reality television has become a genre in and of itself, sporting hundreds of network and cable shows. While students' opinions may vary on whether reality television is distorted or canned, there is no escaping reality television.

"I don't watch reality television," said Cameron Leishman, Weber State University freshman.

Leishman said Flavor Flav from "Flavor of Love" is its most influential star.

"There's a guy who always knows what time it is," Leishman said.

Flavor Flav has been the star of three reality television shows documenting his search for true love. He is known for wearing big clocks around his neck.

This begs the question: Do stars make good examples for the students who watch them? Can students learn how to get a date from "Flavor or Love" or "The Bachelor?"

WSU student Kortney Nipko defended reality television.

"I'll admit it," she said. "I'm addicted."

But she didn't know if real love could come from reality television.

"I think it would be hard with all the cameras," she said. "But Trista and Ryan did it, so I guess you can."

Trista and Ryan Sutter got married and had a baby after being featured on "The Bachelorette."

Nipko said that if she could meet any celebrity, it would be any of the girls from "The Hills."

The Hills follows three girls around and captures the drama of their high-class life.

What draws Nipko to watching reality television is its assortment of lifestyles.

"Their lives are totally different from mine," Nipko said. "When they go on dates, they go on extreme dates. It's fun to watch the drama I guess. Spencer and Heidi are out of control."

Nipko said they probably don't act like themselves on television.

"They probably just say and do what they think the show wants to see," she said. "Most people want their 15 minutes of fame and will do anything they can to get it. If they throw a fit, they know people will watch."

WSU sophomore Melanie Walker said reality television stars aren't trying to be good examples because they want to win their respective reality contests.

"They have different goals: to be the next top model, or American idol," she said.

Jesse Hogshire, a WSU sophomore, is another student who doesn't watch reality television. He said he doesn't think its stars are good examples.

"They're good examples of jerks," he said.

Students seem to think reality television is rigged. The shows cast certain personality types to fill certain roles.

"I had a friend who tried out for American Idol," said Michelle Johnson, WSU political science major. "She is always saying that the tryouts are rigged."

Johnson doesn't think it matters how people act on these shows.

"It's not a big deal," she said. "It's just another show. I don't think it has any cultural impact."