America's Got Talent- or do they?

 As I sit here this evening, watching the fourth season of America's Got Talent, I am wondering - does America really have talent?  Or has this social phenomenon encouraged people to have their dreams smashed?

When America's Got talent got started, it was unique and a true stepping stone for people who felt they have talent to get their work showcased on a national level; a new aged version of the local talent show.  But as I sit here watching this man stick a giant hook through his sinuses and out his mouth, I am truly wondering - where did the talent go?  This is a talent?  And I agree with Hasselhoff - you want to leave your job for this?

The first season of AGT was filled with singers, dancers, acrobats - all the folk you would expect to see in a talent show, and they were truly talented. Sure, you'll always get the guy with the trained dogs, and the accordian act is obligatory.  But as we get season after season, it seems that every person who's ever made an animal noise and gotten a laugh, every drunken party trick is worth a million dollars.

Sorry folks, but it's not.

It makes me ask - what are we acheiving as a nation, what is NBC acheiving, by showing the acts that are the least talented as well as those that are the most talented?  Are we gaining something socially by seeing people be allowed to make fools of themselves in front of millions of watchers, or are we losing something socially.  To me, it has shades of "Videodrome" and "The Running Man", where nothing is too bizarre, too extreme for the jaded viewing audience. Not only are we getting joy out of watching truly great acts, but we're getting even more joy out of watching people fail miserably and be booed off the stage. How is this enhancing our lives? Or are we stuck in Traffic Accident Syndrome - we can't help but look.

Just like in Ancient Rome, this kind of display says something about us as people. Maybe it IS time to turn off our TVs and say enough with the "reality" shows, let the Jon and Kates of the world get on with their divorces out of the spotlight, stop glorifying the families who have enough kids for five families, stop teaching the next generation that the backstabbing, greed and rudeness on many of these "reality" shows is the way to be.  If we stop watching, maybe other, better programs will emerge. Or maybe not.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go back to watching this guy hit himself in the crotch with a hammer that he's got hanging from his eyelids by chains.