Skin deep

I usually get hooked on one reality show a year. I watched Idol the year Bo Bice was on. I watched Top Chef just to boo and hiss the year the little guy who looked like an animé troll doll was being such a jerk, and I watched Project Runway to see how many times Victor could screw up and still not be kicked off.

There was a great reality program that was more like an exended "Newlyweds" show, which I loved because the right couple won and there wasn't nearly as much meanness as you see on on other shows; and this fall my kids got me hooked on Total Drama Island, which is hilarious.

Now it's True Beauty, the Ashton Kucher project where 10 allegedly beautiful people are put together and told they are in competition for a modeling contract. In fact, hidden cameras record set up situations that expose their true personalities. Will she open the door for the stagehand who has his hands full of coffee cups? Willl he peek at the medical files of his co-competitors?

The winner will be the one whose inner beauty matches their outer beauty, (I'm rooting for the Texas pageant queen. When the waiter fell down and spilled water and melted chocolate over everyone, she was the only one who asked the waiter if he was okay.)

How much better we would all behave if we thought there were hidden cameras everywhere, and someone was going to hold us accountable. (of course, those of us who believe in God know this is exactly the case ....)

But I had one problem with the show -- for 10 minutes, the message is that inner beauty and goodness are more important; then for 5 minutes, the commercials push cosmetics, hair care and diet plans. Heavily.

Wouldn't it be nice if the producers of the show displayed some inner beauty and dedicated some airtime to public service announcements for groups such as Operation Smile, which helps disfigured children look normal -- not Hollywood gorgeous, just normal.

Like the rest of us.