Television shows like "Temptation Island," "The Real World" and "Survivor" that scintillated audiences prior to Sept. 11th are not quite as popular anymore. What were once shocking images of people demeaning themselves by eating cow brains, performing daredevil aerial stunts, and improvising life often in bazaar ways to meet contrived challenges for financial prizes and TV fame, have taken a back seat to some of the most unimaginable scenes ever to be shown on television. And while TV producers have been scratching their heads trying to figure out what they have to do to get their ratings to rebound, real-reality TV covering terrorist acts against the United States has garnered the biggest viewing audience shares.

"We have been shaken out of our complacency," said Matt Roush, senior television critic for TV Guide. "We had fallen asleep at the wheel." Yet during the terrorist attacks and the subsequent U.S. retaliation, "TV lived up to it highest purpose," says Roush. "People have woken up to a new and uncertain world out there." And, instead of being completely involved in who is seducing whom on "Temptation Island," we are now asking ourselves questions like, ‘What is Islam?’ and ‘Why do these people hate us so much?’

Roush gave high marks to the networks, which he believes have handled the shocking and traumatic news well. While the images of planes flying through the World Trade Towers may be forever in embedded our heads, the news media has not chosen to exploit these images on television. There weren’t any insensitive or intrusive interviews conducted with people who lost loved ones. Instead the "television news seemed to provide these families with a catharsis and kind of closure" Roush said, that for many couldn’t be otherwise achieved.

The public’s new emotional state and fear, however, has left many producers scrambling to rearrange their fall lineups. Certain scenes and scripts won’t play well to today’s new audience, and this has prompted major changes in what is considered appropriate material. Many shows have been revised and modified in order to avoid images that might relate in any way to the terrorist attacks. Roush commented on the hit comedy series, "Friends", saying, "Trivializing travel connections are not funny anymore." An entire scene in an airport where Monica and Chandler’s flight was delayed was completely taken out of the script. Concerned about insulting a public or fueling fears, broadcasters are very careful to make sure that they watch what they say and do - so as to prevent creating any further panic or confusion in an extremely difficult time in the United States.

While everyone is feeling their way through the enormity of our current situation, Roush said, "It’s important to balance our appetite for news with the need to laugh. People need TV in their lives, especially now, to help heal." Roush believes that it’s important to get "back to normal," a statement that echoes President Bush and others. Getting back to normal in this case means watching TV again. Roush recommends shows like "Seventh Heaven," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Malcolm in the Middle," "The Gilmore Girls" and other family-oriented comedies, which, he believes serve as healing types of shows. Said Roush, "It’s important for people to laugh again."