Thank goodness the writer’s strike has ended.  (For the record, I was part of the 90% that voted to end the strike.)  In the absence of traditional Hollywood fare, a slew of reality shows developed in their place.  Many of these had a surprisingly high drug and alcohol content.  In case you missed them, here are some scenarios:

Liar, Liar - The West Wing meets Sports Center in this political drama that pits rivals battling it out in Congress.  Only in this drama the rivals aren’t Republicans and Democrats, but a legendary athlete and the trainer who claims to have supplied him with Performance Enhancing Drugs. 

Full (Wine) House - This popular awards show features a star with a drug problem severe enough that the US Department of State won’t allow her a visa to enter the country.  Therefore she has to accept her awards on a closed circuit television.  Amazingly, one of the awards she wins is for a song called Rehab.  (That, children is what we call irony.) 

American Idle - Like the similarly named talent show, this series features an attractive young woman with a good if not great singing voice who, with the help of high production value, big-time packaging and hype, is turned into a superstar.  Only during this series, she doesn’t sing.  She is just a pawn as others move her in and out of therapy and medical care. 

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  Posted by: James Ponti