We thought reality television had reached the pinnacle of its dizzying, doltish heights when that production crew really infected an Amazonian village with the flu, thus killing three children. But we should have known to never underestimate Hollywood, where it seems the only unbreakable law is gravity. Now, rather than simply feeding the zeitgeist poison, the entertainment business will also be awarding those whose efforts best shrivel culture.
A category recognizing "outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition program" was created by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and will be presented at the 60th annual Emmys in September.
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Besides Seacrest of "American Idol," Mandel of "Deal or No Deal" and Banks of "America's Next Top Model," other potential nominees identified by the academy include Ty Pennington of "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," Jeff Foxworthy of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" and Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris of "Dancing With the Stars."
Because where would our country be without Jeff Foxworthy and his show about how American adults are so goshdang stupid?
Celebrities make too much money. Subjective, sure, but probably true. Truer still is that very often those fortunes are wasted in inglorious, ill-planned blazes.
But sometimes the millions serve a higher purpose; sixth homes declined in favor of the public that makes a celebrity a celebrity. Yet where are those figures in Star and the National Enquirer?
Screw Birkin bags, time for money that counts: political donations.
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