By JORDAN MARSHALL

Staff Writer

Reality check.

America has had its dose of reality television since Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray started a little show called the "Real World."

Fourteen seasons later, MTV's audience cannot get enough of the seven strangers picked to live together and have their lives taped.

Some students across campus cannot get enough of the phenomenon either.

Stephany Bendeck, a freshman graphic design major, said she watches reality shows whenever she turns on the TV.

"As long as they show drama and are interesting, I [will] keep on watching," Bendeck said.

She also said she thinks there is a reality craze because it is different from the same ol' sitcoms that everyone is use to, and viewers can actually learn something from other's mistakes.

"On some of them, you can actually learn something good because they make mistakes, and you are there analyzing their situations and being critical about it," Bendeck said.

Allison Cloud, a freshman chemical engineering major, said she thinks millions of viewers tune in to watch the various reality shows because for some reason people like to watch other people be humiliated.

She said she prefers to watch shows such as NBC's "The Apprentice" and "Last Comic Standing."

"I liked watching those shows because they were original in their nature, and I didn't have to watch two chicks fight over whose man Bob [from ABC's 'The Bachelor'] was," Cloud said.

There have been more than 200 reality shows on television since the early 1990s, and more are coming out every year.

After the "Real World" success, CBS decided to dive into the reality pool with their hit "Survivor," and ever since then networks have been following in the footsteps.

It seems the grosser things contestants do, the more audiences like to revel in their victory.

NBC's "Fear Factor" is a popular show that test contestants limits when put into scary and disgusting situations.

The show is known for its stunts that usually require the consumption of different forms of bugs or animal parts.

Bendeck said she gets grossed out by the stunts, but she is impressed how some people can do it.

Cloud said she does not enjoy watching shows such as "Fear Factor."

"I do not like watching people eat worms or cow tongues, yuck," Cloud said.

"I think people like to watch reality TV because they crave others' failures."

Ross Middleton, a sophomore radiology technology major, said he prefers to watch the reality shows on MTV.

"My favorite shows are 'The Inferno' and 'Real World' because they are entertaining and I like the people on them," Middleton said.

One trend among the reality shows is to tape a celebrity or two and call it a reality show.

Bendeck said she likes to watch MTV's "Newlyweds," starring pop stars Nick Lachey and Jessica SimpsonŒ.

"I like to watch it because it's fun to see how celebrities act whenever they don't have a real audience in front of them," Bendeck said.

In the future will reality shows replace the sitcoms we know and love?

Cloud said she does not think they will take over completely, but they will be around for a while.

Cloud said, "They are cheaper than sitcoms so production companies will definitely keep pumping them out."