Do you think that watching "reality" shows might perpetuate vicarious living through others?

Americans have declined in health on a steady scale since the advent of the television. Kids watch it more than playing outside, or they "sit" and play video games that might promote hand eye coordination, but nothing more. (I do think the Wii looks like a great idea, too pricey though). Adults have watched television in the evenings replacing sitting and talking or reading a good book. If you watch TV shows they are for the most part very unrealistic, and always have been. When I was growing up I really believed there were families like the Brady's. There had to be families that had no "real" problems, no struggles outside of will Marsha's nose keep her from going to the dance, and who didn't seem to have to even work to make ends meet. Maybe we have pushed so much of those lifestyles into our televisions and our homes that we think our families, as dysfunctional as they may be, are not normal. I believe dysfunction is normal. What do you think?