Life's enough. I don't need any more reality, thankyouverymuch.

Is it just me or is tv getting stupider? And no, I don't think that all tv is stupid. I think that people who believe that television is some how to blame for all the problems in our culture are stupid. Let's not blame everything on entertainment.

That being said, I think that the reason I can never find anything decent on the tele is mostly because of reality tv. "Outback Jack," "Extreme Makeover," "Big Brother," "The Simple Life"? Uck. I'm even getting tired of the redecorating shows that I used to love. I cannot take "Trading Spaces" any more. I just want the before and after shots. Spare me Paige.

Of course, my disdain for these shows only deepens since my father, for some reason, as taken an interest in a good many of them. And with only two tvs connected to the satellite, my mother watches all the CBS dramatic programming on one and my father views all of his stuff on the other. Thankfully, I spared from all the stupid rich girl, marrying a midget, dad dating since we can't get Fox or NBC (that is, for the time being). And from all the dating/marrying shows since my father has no interest about hearing women and men talk about their soulmates. Unfortunately, it does include the following: idiots in a house, idiots cooking, idiots fixing hair, idiots in a race.

And what is with the series sequels? I like "Law & Order" as much as the next girl, but come on! Do we really need Criminal Intent, the new trial thing and Special Victims Unit (and this comes from a serious fan of "Homicide" and crossover character Munch). And now there's going to be three CSIs! And I'll admit to watching them from time to time, but only because they're on not because I have some deep desire to see them.

Then you've got all the rip-off shows. Well, they might not be completely be rip-offs, but they pop up shortly after similar shows become successful. And they're names all sound like each other. Like with "The OC." Now there's "Summerland" and "North Beach." Or, as mentioned before, the millions of shows that have come from "Trading Spaces" (which was itself a rip-off of "Changing Rooms"). Maybe the reason I can't watch the show any more is because all I see is the crap that's on tv because of it. I am super-crafty and love making cool stuff, but enough already! Can no one come up with original ideas any more? So many dramatic and comedic shows are either inspired by or spring from other shows on tv. I'm totally cool with spin-offs. Sometimes from spin-offs come great tv. I'm more talking about when "The Sopranos" became successful on HBO how NBC just had to do their own mob story.

Or shows taken from British television. Unlike other countries, America can't just bring in successful, inventive programming from other countries. Oh no, we have to make our version. Our attempt at bettering it for the States. Why do we have to make our own version of "Coupling" or "The Office"? Can't we just leave well enough alone?

And while I understand that some of the shows I watch are probably equally repulsive to some people (though, I can't understand why anyone could hate "Scrubs" or "Arrested Development" if they've ever watched it)-- how can anyone not find "The Swan" vomitious?

And I'm still angry about the sting left behind when networks cancel viewer-supported shows with decent ratings because they think that they can bring in cheaper shows that might make them more money on. Or when networks more around the time of a show you like to watch so much that it makes you think that they don't want you to see it; they just want to take it off the air. ABC (the Absolute Bastard Company as I like to call them) is the worst offender. They canceled some truly fabulous shows- "Sports Night." "Gideon's Crossing," and "My So-Called Life." But they could still afford to keep crap like "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place on. If they could keep that on for years than they could have kept "Clerks: the Animated Series" on for six weeks. Fox and NBC have also canceled some of my favorites, especially recently. Let's see there was "Ned and Stacy," "Freaks and Geeks," "Undeclared," " Cracking Up," "Deadline," and (I know my friend would kill me for not mentioning) "Miss Match." All these gone to make room for the likes of "The Simple Life," "Average Joe," "For Love or Money," and more news magazine shows. And don't get me started on the cliffhangers that will always be unresolved. Would Angela have ever given Brian a chance? Would Dana and Casey ever get together? And, worst of all, would Betty have chosen Scott or Victor (in case you're wondering this is from AMC's "Remember WENN"- never to be out on DVD)? Couldn't they afford one more episode for clarification purposes? A this-is-what-would-have-happened-if-we-weren't-jackasses-and-canceled-the-show episode?

I'm sure that I am coming off as a television snob. But I'm not. I'll give anything with a brain (and some with only part of a brain) with a try. I'm not too good to admit that I'm glued to "The OC," addicted to "As the World Turns," and can't get enough of "Degrassi: the Next Generation" (and the original Degrassi, too, if the reruns ever air). And I hate to be one of those people who say they only watch HBO... But like it or not that's the way I'm beginning to feel. This summer the only shows I'm looking forward to, with the exception of "Monk" and the aforementioned "Degrassi," are on HBO. I can't wait until I get to see "Entourage" and new episodes of "Da Ali G Show" and "The Wire" (which technically doesn't start until September). And that's about it.

And I get the feeling from all the "coming this fall" hoopla, that next year is not going to be much better. Can someone please deliver me some intelligent shows? Or at least some where I don't feel like I am seriously lowering my IQ or seeing the same thing over and over again by watching them?