It's not the fault of reality TV that Michaele and Tareq Salahi apparently decided to crash last week's White House state dinner. But that doesn't mean the industry can't take proactive steps toward discouraging future fame whores.
First and foremost, Bravo would be wise to announce -- immediately -- that Michaele is no long under consideration for a slot on the upcoming "Real Housewives of D.C."
Period.
Officially, "The decision as to who will be included in 'The Real Housewives of D.C.' will not be made for several months," a Bravo spokesperson told TheWrap Sunday. It's also true that, as of now, the Salahis have been charged with no crime.
And, given the twists and turns in this case so far, who knows? Maybe it'll turn out to be the case that Rahm Emanuel just waved the two in.
In the eyes of the Secret Service, however, the couple is very clearly guilty of punking White House security. And they invited camera crews along to document the buildup to their stunt -- a sure sign that they weren't doing this just to get up close and personal with the Obamas, or because they really wanted to hear Jennifer Hudson perform.
This alone should be enough for Bravo executives to swallow hard and just take these jokers out of the running -- no matter much a ratings draw the Salahis might prove to be.
It would send the message to other reality contestants that actions have consequences. That, while it's OK to be a little wacky on your audition tape or say crazy things while the cameras are rolling, it's very much not acceptable to possibly break the law in order to break though the clutter of other would-be reality "stars."
Bravo has carved out a niche for itself as one of the classiest purveyors of unscripted TV. Its shows mostly feature intelligent, ambitious, goal-oriented cast members. They get lots of Emmy nominations.
But the drug of fame is just as dangerous (and addictive) whether you're Virginia socialites or a mad scientist living in the middle of Colorado. Networks like Bravo need to step up and demonstrate that they're willing to risk a ratings point or two in order to act responsibly.
In addition, it's becoming clear that both broadcast and cable networks need to start taking another look at the rules now in place regarding the casting and production of unscripted shows.
I don't buy the argument that reality TV is evil or that the entire industry is recklessly out of control. Actors have died on the sets of TV shows and movies; the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes" is proof enough that working on a sitcom can be just as hazardous to a child's health as appearing on a reality show.
And there already exists on most shows a wide array of checks and balances, allowing the vast majority of shows to proceed without nary a moral glitch.
That said, as the genre has exploded in the past decade, so too has the pressure to top what's been done before.
