Reality television to be thankful for

Family, friends, a roof over our heads, clothes to keep us warm – these are all things to be thankful for this holiday season that many of us often take for granted.

In addition to life’s necessities and little pleasures, I have much more to be thankful for. I have reality TV. Not only does it provide seemingly endless hours of entertainment, it also gives me a reason to write (with added bonus of a paycheck each week), and allows me to share the wonderful world of reality television with all of you.

With my belly full of turkey and pumpkin pie, let’s reflect for a moment on the programming that entertains us all year long. Here are some of the shows I am particularly thankful for this year:

I thank WE TV for WE Go Bridal night. For “Bridezillas,” which provides me with a reality check of what I strive not to become as the Man on the Couch and I approach our September 2009 nuptials. And for David Tutera’s magical ways of making the worst wedding plans into an affair-to-remember on “My Fair Wedding.”

I thank Bravo for the drama of all the “Housewives” in America, particularly the Orange County ladies that have entertained me so often with reruns of California moments in the country club. I also thank the network for the culinary creations of “Top Chef” that inspire me in the kitchen, even after a long day of work despite the fact that my dishes would never stand up to the test of Tom Colicchio.

I thank ABC for sweeping me off my feet with “Dancing With the Stars,” and for bringing me down to earth with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

I thank NBC for the inspiration of “The Biggest Loser,” and for the hope that the American Dream is alive and well in “America’s Got Talent” and “Deal or No Deal.”

The list of reality TV to be thankful for is far longer than I have room to list here, but most importantly, I thank all of the networks for providing me with previews of their latest shows – for giving me high-quality (and sometimes not-so-high quality) television to watch with the Man on the Couch.

Because after all, the best part of being thankful for what you have is sharing it with the ones you care the most about.