2009-10-24 07:33:16 - Many people find the new genre of reality television unacceptable.

After a 6 year old boy appeared to go missing, the rise of the ‘reality entrepreneurs’ has come under a blistering attack and sever scrutiny.

When the storm-chasing, wife-swapping, publicity-loving and amateur scientists, Richard and Mayumi Heene, notified the police their six year old son was missing. This created a three county search for the child. However, the police believe that the entire incident was an elaborate, very well planned hoax.

Investigators now say the tarp and aluminum foil UFO would not have had insufficient strength to support the weight of a six-year old. Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters, in a remarkably straight speaking press conference, that even the account of Falcon's hiding place probably wasn't the truth. "For

all we know he may have been two blocks down the road playing on the swing in the city park."

The couple have attempted to gain fame through their storm chasing hobby and have appeared twice on the reality show ‘Wife Swap’. The larger-than-life stunt was motivated by the family’s desire to get their own reality TV show.

The most serious of the charges that may be brought against the Heenes, may carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 (U.S.) fine. They include conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant.

The police say all three Heene’ boys knew about the hoax, though none is old enough to face charges, the oldest being 10 years of age and the youngest 3 years old. Police have expressed concern for the safety of the children and Mrs Heene. They didn’t have enough evidence however, to physically remove the children from their environment.

Prof. Cowen of George Mason University in Virginia said police have no choice but to crack down in order to deter other fame-seekers from attempting copycat stunts themselves. It should make people take a long hard look at the motivation behind reality entertainment.

Reality television can pay anywhere between $5000 per performance, up to the ability to earn $250,000 over three years, while costing a fraction of the traditional scripted entertainment.

The point however, of reality television, is to push, harass and emotionally abuse contestants to the point where they react in entertaining ways. Some contestants are manipulated to the point of despair, unable to deal with the sudden fame and public scrutiny.

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