We all roll our eyes at the Kardashians, "The Bachelor," and pretty much every program on MTV, VH1 and E!, the common question being, "Do people actually buy this sh*t?" While I'm sure there are those special people out there who actually do buy into the antics of a reality show, the other half of us are actually watching reality television because of how unrealistic it actually is. And now with Lifetime Network's first critically acclaimed show "UnReal," which peeks into the behind-the-scenes of a reality dating show successfully in its second season, the reality TV culture continues to grow.

For a long time the extent of my reality television viewership was very small. I watched VH1's "Flavor of Love," "Rock of Love," "Daisy of Love," "I Love New York," and all of those other spinoffs in high school, mostly because it was on TV at my best friend's house all the time. I pretty much had not watched any reality television outside of that up until last fall when I fell deep into a shameful show hole of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." I had watched about two episodes at most throughout the 11-year lifespan of the highly successful reality show, yet somehow I knew all of this information about each and every one of the family members. They dominate pop culture, and as a result it seems like I cannot escape them on the internet and in real-life conversations. Even my intellectual father in his 60s knows who they are. And that is when I decided to turn on the pilot episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and see what all the hype was about.

I am not here to tell you how much I love the Kardashians and how you should too. I'll admit that I think its very entertaining, but mostly because it is the ultimate mindless television. Trust me, I need stimulation as much as the next person, and not only do I need it, I crave it. However, more times than not I feel like I am overdoing it. I'm sure my generation can relate. In a world where technology has taken on a life of its own, it feels like no matter how hard we try, we are consumed by hatred.

So where do we go when we need an escape with a stimulating balance? Enter Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, a former associate and field producer on "The Bachelor" turned co-executive producer and co-creator of Lifetime's newest hit "UnReal." A feminist after my own heart, Shapiro took her experience during her time on "The Bachelor" and brought it into her own show to expose the manipulative, misogynist world of reality television. The show follows antagonist Rachel, who is modeled after Shapiro, a producer on the fictional reality show "Everlasting," which is a dead ringer for "The Bachelor." Rachel's job is to befriend the contestants and use their personal details and emotions to create drama between the show's contestants for great ratings, which she is exceedingly good at. Her manipulative efforts make her something of a likable antihero as she struggles between what is humane, and her manipulative personal aim to "make great TV," a common phrase on the show. "UnReal" serves as a way to exercise your want for reality television and your need to escape real life. While giving its viewers a glimpse into the reality behind reality TV, "UnReal" also clues us in on the realities of the fascination with reality TV. "UnReal" makes us beg for the answers to the questions of why we love reality TV. Is it because we're watching drama that is "real?" And why do we find entertainment in other people's problems?