AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

In recent years television has spawned a plethora of "reality shows." Once the province of game shows ("Queen for a Day" "The Price is Right" etc.), this has been expanded into thing like "Survivor" "The Apprentice" "The Bachelor" "The Biggest Loser" "Extreme Home Makeover" MTV's "Real Life" and some pretty obnoxious things like "Tila Tequila's Shot at Love" and "Iron Chef."

Where as the previous reality shows were based on giving away home appliances and meeting someone's materialistic dreams, many of the contemporary reality shows ("Extreme Home Makeover" not among them) are based on a contrived reality. They place real people into surreal situations and watch the madness that emerges. And Americans have a real talent for going public with their dark sides, giving vent to the madness that can be found within. It's not generally a pretty sight, but it sure generates an audience and pumps up the ratings (thus increasing the advertising dollars.)

Many of us have our "reality" shows - just like my grandmother had her soaps and others have their favorite version of the CSI's (Crime Scene Investigation shows).
Mine is one called "America's Got Talent." I have now watched it through four seasons.

Like "American Idol" it has its bizarre opening rounds where everyone who thinks they have an artistic talent, or an artistic delusion, or simply a streak of exhibitionism takes the stage to "perform" and receive reviews (and generally rejection) from judges who are trying to discover genuine talent that will ultimately grace the entertainment world -- giving us our next Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Pavaracci, or Jay Leno. When you get to the final rounds you begin to hear the stories of people who have made great sacrifices to pursue their dreams or to share their gift or to achieve the success that they desire. Those human interest stories often tell you about the incredible resiliency and hope in the human spirit that simply wants to be who they have been created to be and share their gifts to the benefit of others. Some of the "acts" are an acquired taste, but all have obviously received some wonderful gifts by God.

For me -- that's entertainment. And right now I'm rooting for Lawrence Beamer and Barbara Padilla and Kevin Skinner.