One thing many people can agree on is that TV is a great escapist mechanism to indulge in those ideal parts of life that we haven't achieved. I love Chopped, yet I don't cook. I enjoy House Hunters and Fixer Upper but will never own anything, apartment or house.

Like all media, it's dependent on selling the dream of successful people who love their hard-working lives, or couples who have $1 million to spend on a home in paradise. It's the lottery philosophy as well, yet I wonder about the reality behind the "reality shows" since they rarely follow what happens afterward. Do the chefs follow through and open restaurants from Chopped money? Do those who move into new places from HGTV keep the house, make a family, or otherwise make it work for them in a real world way?

 I don't know, and doubt the networks do either in most cases. I'll just have to settle with vicarious living and go with the assumption that these experiences were a net positive in the end for them. At least I hope so, and maybe one day it'll be my turn to have that kind of positive result in my life.