Would You Let Your Kid become a Reality Show?

Recently, I had a producer from a well known, daily, nationally syndicated talk show contact me about doing an episode on teenagers with bad manners based on my blog (on the very same topic). My daughter and her friends were the driving force behind the blog and the producers wanted me to basically... produce my daughter for the episode. I turned them down immediately for many reasons - the main one being that I don't want her experiencing that 15 minutes of fame based on her bad behavior, nor do I want her being exposed in the mass media because of it.

However, their request did give me pause. Firstly, I was thrilled that a producer from a well-known television show is reading my blog however, the sad realization is that my malcontent daughter and her misadventures are striking a chord with readers and show producers looking for content!

The show's segment was going to be shot reality-style and then a therapist was going to be called in to give us both 'feedback' on my daughter's lack of manners. I guess the episode was going to be on etiquette or the lack thereof in teens today.

I'm all for the 'collective learning' experience in our global society, but not at the expense of children... nor at mine. OMG how humiliating would it be for me to be the mother-of-the-worst-behaved-teen-in-America?? 

Believe me, it was a huge compliment to receive an email of interest from a network show but the reality is, it wouldn't do my daughter much good to be on a reality show. Reality shows aren't much about learning these days.

Take for example my most favorite one (yes, I'm guilty), The Real Housewives of New York or New Jersey (or wherever they find these broads) and you'll see, the episodes are chock full of adults behaving badly and deliciously humiliating experiences. They're fun to watch but would you want your child to be the focus of one? I don't think so. Would you want your daughter to be ridiculed by the Millionaire Matchmaker? Would you want your son to be rejected on Top Chef or by said Millionaire Matchmaker?

Needless to say, I didn't mention to my teenager that a national TV show was interested in having her on as a guest because, despite their reasons, she probably would have acquiessed...which many years from now would build a lovely summer home for her therapist.

This whole experience has brought reality shows into sharper focus for me. The reality is that everyone on these shows is a member of someone's family, someone's son or daughter, father or mother.

I don't mean to all of a sudden be so preachy because I usually try to find the funny in most situations but I find myself searching for the funny and deeper meaning of it all now when it comes to these shows. When will they end? When will we tire as a society of watching people at their worst? When will embarrassing experiences become private yet again? Are reality shows the modern equivalent of the Roman Coliseum?

Maybe I'm just tired of summer replacement series or contest shows like American Idol. Give me an original series with real actors any day. Now I see why Glee is so popular.

What's your favorite television show? Which reality show would you like to appear on...or which one would you run from if a producer knocked on your door? Especially if they wanted your children to appear on it?