As if this wasn't all contrived and planned.

From the early days of so called reality TV it has been well known that certain preferred "outcomes" are steered toward, sometimes with subtlety, sometimes without.

More than a decade ago, Survivor was outed on this practice. In the last season that I ever tuned in on an episode, one contestant was consistently displaying an overwhelming superiority over his more, ahem, comely but clumsy competitors. Suddenly, a new episode begins with this ubermensch being airlifted to a hospital because he mysteriously 'fell" into a campfire and suffered hand burns. With the requisite Ken and Barbie doll contestants advancing to the finals. Yes, that sounds plausible.

Ratings. That is the alpha and omega. If the networks could find a way to have murder committed legally, and broadcast, they would do it. Stay tuned.