Social construction of Reality...TV

My feelings towards Jennifer Aniston definitely changed just a little bit when I read that comment I posted about the other day, but I do have to agree that what began as a phenomenon with a small, cult following has grown into the new norm. In society we develop social constructions of reality. In our minds within this individualized version of "reality," we establish norms for ourselves and then come to see them as fact. Over the years we pass these norms down and we lose sight of the fact that we were the ones who created them to begin with.

Okay, I know I'm being hard to follow, but what I'm trying to get at is that at the rate we're going, sitcoms will die out and reality TV will be all there is to watch. And with that amazing segue, here are some new reality shows you should keep your eyes out for.

*"Little People, Big World" is a dream come true. For anyone who's ever seen "True Life: I'm a Little Person," and wished they would replay it more often, TLC has kicked it up a notch and added some serious drama to the mix. Matt and Amy Roloff are both little people but are the parents of four children-only one of whom is a little person. Like it's not tough enough having little people parents and normal sized siblings, 15-year-old Zach is a TWIN! I can imagine being a twin is hard by itself, but if you're little and your twin brother is picking up chicks after basketball practice that has got to bring sibling rivalry to a whole different level. (Just so you know I don't know if Jeremy plays basketball it was just an example) In the end, I think it's a sad show. The Roloffs see themselves as changing the way our society looks at little people. They, most likely, want to be the poster family for the healthy, normal lives of little people, but when push comes to shove we watch it because we want to be able to stare at people who are different without feeling badly about it. We want to watch them do big people things and every once and a while tell some munchkin or lollipop kids joke and get a good chuckle out of it. Besides, why didn't they cast that awesome little person singer from that episode of "True Life." That chick was off the heezy.

*Okay so I feel like I've told you guys about this before, but I couldn't find mention of it so it might have just been in passing conversation, but the production company "Media Headquarters" is in pre-production of a new show called "The In-Laws." They're looking for Canadian families, which I don't really get because they've got to be less dysfunctional than we are in America, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Details are still pretty vague but from what I can tell it's the flavor of "Dr. Phil" with a little more spice. The news release likened it to "Supernanny" so that's a step in the right direction there, but the word "mediation" makes me nervous. Could be a snoozefest.

*Let the panic commence for the WB Network. Newsflash you unhip (made up word?) suits, "Get This Party Started" sucked. Kristin killed that pretty fast so what can you do? "Dawson's Creek" ended like a million years ago and other classics like "7th Heaven" and "Gilmore Girls" are getting more attention in syndication on ABC Family than you're rinky dink network has seen in years. How will you ever redeem yourselves?!!?!?

Someone over there is realllly thinking. Someone who is smart, talented and clearly ahead of his or her time. Ladies and gents, I present to you: "Survival of the Richest." I really want you all to do your homework on this one. Read up on it a bit and definitely tune in, so I won't give away too many details but I will tell you this- it involves trust fund kids scrubbing toilets. I know. Genius is at work. Check it out at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 31.

*Last, but certainly not least, my roommate Kyle will be pleased to know that HBO is in the works of recreating their "Sex and the City" magic with a reality show that is entirely hush, hush. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will be "an attempt to capture the vivacity, sexuality and friendship of women in a big city under the banner of a reality show." Well played, HBO, well played.