why are these shows still on tv?

1. the real world. we all know it's not real, and the cast becomes increasingly annoying, so why are people still watching? it's a dead horse, folks.
2. american idol. nothing ever happens to the kids who win, so who gives a fuck?
3. ER. oh wait, i hear that one is going away. about time.
   
4. america's next top model. again, the winner never actually becomes famous, and we have the added torture of hearing tyra banks talk out loud, so what the hell?

i watched entirely too much mtv last night. the show true life is odddly compelling. a bit over-glossy, but usually pretty interesting. then they had this special on called "fat camp" which was all about overweight high school kids who do in fact, actually go to a fat camp. i lost two hours of my life to that show. it made me so glad i'm not in high school anymore. it's bad enough on it's own, but to also be kid struggling with your weight, it's got to be torture.