TVSquad

It's not really possible that every summer premiere on the great American broadcast TV schedule crashed and burned, is it?

But, out of all the original programs that premiered on the major networks after the completion of the fall 2008 season, not a single one got traction.

According to analysis reports, you can take your pick from any of the following shows: Defying Gravity, The Superstars, The Listener, Mental, The Philanthropist, Hitched or Ditched, Merlin and Great American Road Trip. All of them bombed -- each hovering just above a one market share.

In fact, you don't need numbers to prove that the fall crop crapped out. Ask your friend what his/her favorite summer replacement show was. You'll be waiting awhile.

I'll admit it upfront, I watched this week's premiere of NBC's Great American Road Trip. What can I say? I enjoy reality series, there was nothing else on TV, plus I had to tune in to NBC to watch and review America's Got Talent.

When the families were presented, I couldn't get over the feeling that I had seen Silvio DiSalvatore before on another reality show. Thanks to IMDb.com I quickly connected the dots ... DiSalvatore appeared on American Inventor, and it wasn't pretty. Considering the "invention" DiSalvatore presented and the response he got from the judges and viewers back then, it wouldn't surprise me if NBC actually asked him and his family to appear on Road Trip. Let's face it, DiSalvatore is quite a character and so was his "invention".

Don't recall what invention DiSalvatore created? Silly video and a link to his official web site after the jump!

After the separation of Jon and Kate Gosselin, one is left wondering: what will happen to the children? Jon and Kate Plus Eight isn't the first reality show to feature children, but many including Jon and Kate, place their children in questionable situations.

What makes exploiting children the same as a twenty-something who wants to win Big Brother? Family reality shows have done everything as well, including swapping mothers, adventure races, fixing houses, and general living with life. There's got to be a point where the legal guardian has to say enough is enough. Aren't child labor laws in effect with the 24/7 families?