"...You Don't Need A High Pixel Resolution To See The Light At The End Of This Tunnel...."

The kids like to "keep it real".

And, if you believe the blather from the various and sundry applicable television producers, so, too, do the audiences of reality shows.

Evidence, however, in the form of the latest Nielsen ratings to the contrary.

Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for March 26-April 1. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership.

1. "NCIS," CBS, 18.62 million.

2. "Dancing With the Stars (Monday)," ABC, 17.96 million.

3. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 17.87 million.

4. NCAA Basketball (Saturday), CBS, 16.6 million.

5. "American Idol" (Thursday), Fox, 15.88 million.

6. "Dancing With the Stars (Tuesday), ABC, 15.7 million.

7. "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 14.75 million.

8. "Person of Interest," CBS, 14.59 million.

9. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 13.96 million.

10. "The Mentalist," CBS, 13.62 million.

11. NCAA Basketball special (Saturday), CBS, 13.61 million.

12. Academy of Country Music Awards, CBS, 13.1 million.

13. "The Voice," NBC, 11.99 million.

14. "Castle," ABC 11.87 million.

15. "Blue Bloods," CBS, 10.72 million.

16. "Dancing With the Stars (special)," ABC, 10.7 million.

17. "Unforgettable," CBS, 10.51 million.

18. "60 Minutes," CBS, 10.09 million.

19. "Survivor: One World," CBS, 9.99 million.

20. "Body of Proof," ABC, 9.72 million.


Worth noting, of course, is that out of the top twenty shows in this week, the only "reality" TV making a dent are the "contest" shows like DWTS and Idol.

And there is a strong case to be made that these are neither, technically, reality shows nor anything new on the TV scene.

Talent contests, such as they are, have been a staple of American television since the 1940's.

The point here?

That, apparently and thankfully, the viewing public is sending the message to television production companies that they will always prefer well written, well acted drama and/or comedy as well as good old fashioned "dreams come true" talent contests to any mindless, low rent talentless sister/bitching bridesmaid/in bred swamp family/blah blah "reality" blather spread across our flat screens like so much manure.

One need not be a Rhodes scholar to realize that the primary reason they continue to crank out that crap is the no production cost/all profit nature of what is nothing more than voyeurism doled out in twelve minute segments between commercials (or promos for next hour's crap).

That said, and the current ratings taken into consideration, though, the powers that be in the industry might be well advised to focus less on the fast bucks fast lane and maybe take a look down the road.

Because, at some point, just as the Ipod freed us from the audio blather than conventional radio cranked (cranks) out, so, too, will the technology bring us video alternatives, as well.

Come to think of it, the first wave of those alternatives is already available.

Hulu. Spreety. FreeTvonline.

Etc.

In many cases, commercial free.

Not to mention crap free.

How's that for keepin it real?