It's hard to keep a straight face when discussing the decline of reality television, as if it were a pure and dignified thing sullied by the powers that be. But, if you compare the first season of The Real World to The Flavor of Love, you can't help but wonder: what is happening to our real world? Julie would have never shat on the stairs.

The phrase I Love New York used to conjure up images of the famous logo by Milton Glaser; carriage rides in Central Park; Broadway; The Empire State Building… Now people just think of fake swollen breasts and a foul mouth.