Reality TV has become a cultural powerhouse. There’s no stopping it

I grew up watching early reality TV on MTV in the ‘90s and early 2000s, like “Real World” and “Road Rules.” Being the youngest of four kids, I ended up seeing shows that now seem pretty mature for my age, but they really stuck with me. I vividly remember moments like when Irene McGee on “Real World: Seattle” got slapped by her roommate, which was shocking at the time. Genesis Moss from the Boston season was one of the first openly gay people I saw on television. And Melissa Howard from New Orleans showed me that you don’t have to be tall to be strong and confident – something I really connected with, being a similarly sized and spirited person.

Commentary: From Trump to Dr. Oz: 10 personalities who went from reality TV to politics

Think about some truly memorable moments in political history captured on television. There was the first presidential debate, where a visibly uncomfortable Richard Nixon faced a poised John F. Kennedy. Or Anita Hill’s powerful testimony against Clarence Thomas during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 1991. And who could forget President George W. Bush declaring “mission accomplished” in 2003, just weeks into the long and difficult Iraq War?

Nick Lowe explains why his biggest hit was almost never recorded

I’ve always been struck by Nick Lowe’s style – he just always looked so sharp! But beyond that, what really makes him a legend, for me, is his incredible songwriting. He wrote some truly special songs, like the classic “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” – which Elvis Costello later made famous – and his own big hit, “Cruel to Be Kind.” Then there are all those other fantastic tracks, like “I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock ‘N’ Roll).” And let’s not forget his work with Dave Edmunds in Rockpile – that 1980 album is a gem! He was also a hugely influential producer, especially during his time with Stiff Records, helping launch albums by bands like The Damned, Elvis Costello, and The Pretenders. He really had a knack for finding and nurturing great talent.