The Family Matters in the Reality Game: How Family Reality Has Topped the Rating System Above Couple Shows

Ever since Jessica's ill-fated "Chicken or Fish" fiasco, celebrities have been investing their money on, big surprise, themselves and revealing their personal lives to the world, as if anybody really just asked them to. Yet, ever since the accidental success of the former newlyweds, "celebreality," like high quality sitcoms, have triumphantly steered toward the "family love" part of their lives rather than couple love because, frankly, PDA is too much of real reality already.

In 2003, American television was blessed with the lovable, yet hectic lives of Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, two born again pop stars from the time of boy bands that used their last ounce of fame to get married and throw themselves in front of millions of opinionated viewers. Who knew it would be a complete and utter success, Jessica and that big, sexy brain of hers that's who. The combination of the ever so humble Lachey with the Domestically, verbally and personally challenged Simpson struck a cord with intelligent viewers tired of watching Fraiser, Gilmore Girls and Will and Grace. 

The show was a hit, but as the old saying goes: It's take more than a hit show and a man that was desperately willing to spend the rest of his natural life with you, forget the fame and start a family to make a marriage work. The aftermath: more "just married" celebs dipping their big toe in the reality soup. In 2004, professional sex idol Carmen Electra televised her nuptials to rocker Dave Navarro in a offbeat and neurotic ceremony fitting the alternative guitarist' interests to the Ex Mrs.Tommy Lee Rodman eccentric love life. 

Their show was death and to this day, I believe, aided in their parting. Then lastly, we have the infamous Mr. and Mrs. Britney Spears, trailer parks platinum paupers, trailing in 2005. Although arguable entertaining to the media, not so much to television viewers who got a big wiff of the pop idol's real passion: sex with Kevin. It would follow the couple pattern if this dynaminc duo called it quits, but I have an in cling that their in it for the long haul.