How to save Reality TV. Or destroy it.

Whether you like Reality TV or not, fact is it's here to stay. But that doesn't mean it can't be improved, adjusted and pushed. Hard.

Here are some examples of shows that might kick start things in a new direction.
Just maybe the networks should start working on these right away.

All in good fun, mind you.

Sniper

Ordinary people run an obstacle course and try to evade being taken out by professional snipers.
To make it fan friendly, I'd borrow from Stephen King and allow the audience to choose the sniper. And each killer would have a specialty: Knives, guns, hand to hand, whatever.
Since death comes to the loser, every single contestant would win money. In the case of the dead, the members of his/her family would inherit the prize.
The winners or survivors would cash in big time or if they manage to kill the sniper, would take his or her place.

Hunger Strike

13 brave contestants eat nothing and drink only water.
Then they try to see who can go hungry, the longest.

Watching it is pure agony. But so much fun!

Real World, Iraq

10 strangers live in a house in Baghdad and try not to get killed or held hostage as they rebuild a bar or disco in the city.
"If you're 18-22 years of age, send us your videos on why you should be on this show today!"

Hacker Compound

8 of the world's smartest computer people come together to hack stuff.
Fueled by a host of corporate sponsors (Doritos, Mountain Dew, Burger King, Clearasil), they are given tasks: code breaking, security breaches, virus creation, etc.
The hackers who are least successful or fail at a task would have their connections cut and be forced to log off the compound.
Perhaps the host would shame each loser by making them hand in their keyboard.

The Next American President

This is a nationwide search for America's next great politician. And leader.
This show would run 51 weeks. One show in each state plus the finale on the steps of the White House.
And an immediate swearing in ceremony.
Of the 10-20 contestants, one American would be chosen by the country to lead us in 2012. (Must be an American citizen, over 35 to qualify.)
This show would replace our current election structure but be less costly and require no tax payer money to fund. MSNBC, FOX, CNN and CBS could take turns airing each episode. CSPAN could air reruns.

The follow up to this show would be something like America's Best Pundit. With pundits from both sides of the political spectrum competing for who can sell the most BS and talking points.
No matter how ridiculous the issue.

American Beat Down

This is a reality show featuring cast offs from other reality shows.
Semi-Semi memorable contestants from such shows as Amazing Race, Pros Vs. Joes, Survivor, Fear Factor, The Contender, etc would be brought together each week to see who could survive a beat down by some of LA's fiercest gang members.
Those tough enough each week would have their bruises tended to, be initiated into the gang. And win money, plus a cool, honorary gang tattoo.

It's a family show. I think.

Bug World

Bug World. It's Big Brother with insects.
It would be pretty gross and unnerving to watch people live in a confined space filled with millions of bugs. No real poisonous ones mind you, just lots of gross looking, weird, strange insects. (Think Temple of Doom.)
That's the show, nothing more.

Twitter feeds from contestants would be fun to read I imagine. The web cam would be great to watch as well.

Trailer Trash

I've seen shows where the goal is to take street thugs, hustlers, and white trash folks and turn them into upstanding citizens. Teach them etiquette, manors and shit like that.
Well, this show is that in reverse.
Find some of the most proper, conforming, respectful 30-50 year-olds on the planet and turn their world inside out.
They would pair with "coaches" (hustlers, drunks, cons, low-lifes, etc.) and be thrown into scenarios which would force them to become disrespectful, uncaring, foul-mouthed disasters.
A good host for this show might be Steve-O. Probably would fit great on FOX.

If these shows sound interesting to you, I want a Executive Producer credit.

And if you'd like to be a contestant on one of these TBD shows, there's something important you need to know. Finally,