Television. It's something most Americans own and watch in some fashion.

The summer months seem an odd time to start a blog discussing television because there seems to be an unspoken rule, especially in Minnesota, that thou shalt not linger indoors on summer evenings because Minnesota has only about three and a half useable months of "tolerable" weather.

Unfortunately, some of our "tolerable" weather is slightly less than tolerable. Suffocating humidity seems to be my excuse to push the power button on the widescreen Sony in our household. Lately, though, turning on the TV has been an exercise in futility.

Television is supposed to be an escape from reality but during the summer months on those few evenings when it sin't fit for most humans to venture outdoors, television is nothing but reality. That is where I have a problem. "Reality" programming seems to be the crutch of all television networks and channels. You can watch everything from D-List celebs to Playboy bunnies cavorting in their supposed everyday lives.

My question is this: If reality TV is so compelling, when will I get to cash a huge check for having a camera and sound crew follow me through my oh-so-exciting daily escapades? In the age where "reality" television has taken over entire channels on overpriced cable packages from coast to coast, my show can't be too far away.