By Casey Jones, Astoria High School, Astoria, Illinois

Recent studies show, according to Teen.com, the top ten television shows that were aired on television in 2011 that teens like the most were Glee, Gossip Girl, Hellcats, Jersey Shore, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Pretty Little Liars, Secret Life of the American Teenager, Teen Mom, and The Vampire Diaries. Teens were able to get online to this website and vote on “What’s Hot and What’s Not.” These shows seem to follow into two categories: reality and serial dramas. Teen Mom, for example, is a reality show. The series focuses on the challenges and struggles of teenage parenthood and changing relationships, specifically the family, friends, and the couples themselves. Another show that has a huge teen following is Glee. This show is a series based on a high school glee club that competes on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality, and social issues. Glee inspired its own reality show, The Gleek Project. The winning finalists were chosen to appear on the current season of Glee.

Many of these shows are reality shows, but why do teens like reality shows so much? It’s because reality shows allow teenagers to “fantasize” about being famous. These teens can see people like themselves and imagine that they too could become celebrities by being on television. The main message according to Steven Reiss, Ph. D, who is a professor at Ohio State University, is that “ordinary people can become so important that millions will watch them. And the secret thrill of many of those viewers is the thought that perhaps next time, the new celebrities might be them.”

In a poll at Astoria High School, students chose Jersey Shore and That 70’s Show for the top reality show and television series. Jersey Shore follows eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in New Jersey. Most recently the group traveled to Italy. That 70’s Show is centered on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in a fictional suburban town. Jersey Shore started broadcasting in 2009 and That 70’s Show started in 1998 and is now shown only in reruns.