There have been several words used to describe much of reality television. Revolutionary. Controversial. Provocative. Tasteless. Exploitive. Entertaining and just plain stupid.

But one word that can’t be used to describe reality TV is “unsuccessful” as it continues to become a prominent presence on almost every television network.

The genre’s roots can be traced back as far as the 1940s with shows like “Candid Camera” or the 1973 PBS series “An American Family,” about a nuclear family going through a divorce. But it’s been in the past two decades that reality TV found its legs.

Early groundbreakers in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s like Fox’s “COPS” and MTV’s “The Real World” paved the way for reality programming’s first major network hits in the late ‘90s into the early part of the new millennium with “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” “Survivor” and “American Idol.”

Since then, that silly “American Idol” show on Fox, where contestants compete (and frequently fail), to become music superstars has become a ratings juggernaut, and the other major networks constantly draw from the reality TV well to generate ratings of their own. If you look at the primetime schedules of NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox, about one-third to one-half of their programming are reality shows.

But some people haven’t warmed up to the genre, like Dylan McCrea, 17, from King City, Mo. He thinks that many of the reality shows are too fake and set up. Others just can’t get enough of it, like 17-year-old Taylor Nassen and her 44-year-old mother, Stacie. The two of them frequently sit around together watching “American Idol” and “Dancing With The Stars.” Stacie would even send texts from St. Joe to her daughter, Chelsea, 20, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City telling her which “Dancing With The Stars” contestant to vote for. Taylor and Stacie also got into “Idol” last season, texting votes frantically to ensure that contestant and KC native David Cook would eventually go on to win the show.

“It entertains me,” Taylor says. “It amuses me and it keeps me wanting to watch.”

Older sister Chelsea still watches some reality television, but isn’t as intrigued by it as she used to be.

“It’s kind of old,” she says. “I feel like there’s a reality show about everything.”

Actually, thanks to basic cable networks jumping on the reality TV bandwagon, there is a reality show about everything. Whether it’s mixed martial arts (Spike’s “The Ultimate Fighter”), fashion designers (Bravo’s “Project Runway”) or hanging with a rapper’s family (“Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood” on E!), dating a bi-sexual MySpace icon (MTV’s “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila”) or a ‘80s rock star (VH1’s “Rock of Love” featuring Poison frontman Bret Michaels), numerous networks see dollar signs in reality television and have designed their schedule accordingly. Hiawatha, Kan., resident Mike Huckaby, 44, says he finds himself thumbing through the channels and occasionally stopping on an MTV reality show. He thinks they’re completely idiotic — in a good way.

“I watch it because some of ‘em are kind of stupid but they’re funny,” Mr. Huckaby says. “It’s just something funny to laugh at.”

Besides the obvious arts and entertainment networks, reality TV has also showed up where you would least expect it. TLC and Discovery are two channels that focused their programming more on being educational than entertaining. But now, both networks have embraced reality TV. TLC has the tattoo show “Miami Ink” and the family-squabbling/motorcycle shop program “American Chopper” while Discovery has had success shows like the fishing-focused “Deadliest Catch” and “Man vs. Wild,” where a survival-skills specialist is dropped in harsh conditions and forced to, well, survive.

So, why is there so much reality TV and why is it so successful? Herb Terry, associate professor of telecommunications at Indiana University Bloomington, developed a freshman seminar class in 2003 called “The (Sur)Real World of Reality TV.” It was one of the first college courses ever devoted to the topic. Mr. Terry says that the reason reality TV is successful is a combination of the cast and the cost.

“It can be an inexpensive risk and it may pay off big.” Mr. Terry says. “They (the cast) appeal to the interest of individuals and the lives of people kind of like them.”

Terry also points out reality TV’s appeal to the lowest common denominator, along with the ease in which audiences can get into any number of reality shows, will keep the genre ever present on the tube. So whether you love it, loathe it or are desperate to be a part of it, reality television’s success will guarantee that networks are going to be keeping it real for years to come.

Lifestyles reporter Blake Hannon can be reached

at blakehannon@npgco.com