Reality TV Improves Our Lives

Colorado celebrity bail bondsman Bobby Brown wants to help solve old crimes, and he plans to use a new national TV show called "Missing Peace" to achieve his goal. If he succeeds, it will be just one more example of reality TV advancing society.

Reality TV shows, which began dominating programming during and after the Hollywood writer's strike of 2007, are an efficient business model that generates profits. The shows, even some that are stupid, typically fund constructive outcomes with revenues generated by profit motives.

The show "Storm Chasers" generates sponsorship revenue that pays scientists and crazy people — a few with armored tanks built to withstand tornadoes — to place themselves and data-gathering equipment in the paths of tornadoes. The show has funded unprecedented knowledge of tornados, spectacular video, earlier warnings and instant on-the-ground post-tornado first aid that has saved lives.

"America's Most Wanted," a pioneer reality show founded by former FBI "man of the year" John Walsh, has generated revenues that pay for massive exposure of dangerous fugitives. Law enforcement agencies cherish the show for achieving results. The show has led to the capture of 1,130 fugitives and has aided in the recovery of 61 abducted children.

"American Idol" has generated profits to discover some of our entertainment stars — such as Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtry — just as "Britain's Got Talent" plucked inspirational singer Susan Boyle from obscurity.

All public good is funded by profit. Without profit, nobody would receive welfare or unemployment checks.

Without profit, government could do nothing and would have nothing to tax. Oil would be worthless if we had no profit-driven revenues that fund production of cars, the shipment of goods and the buses that transport workers to and from jobs that pay wages out of profit-generated revenues.

That's why it's odd to hear the phrase "profit motive" used as if it means "sinister intent." If a reality show generates millions, cynics say it's about profit and somehow that's bad. Even the government courts count on profits earned by sellers of bail bonds to ensure the return of suspects free on bail. Sellers of bail bonds rely on the profit motives of bounty hunters to protect the money they lend. Profit motive is the only engine that powers civilized human endeavors, and reality TV is just one new example of how it works.

Brown, who helps capture fugitives on the reality show "Dog the Bounty Hunter," will star in "Missing Peace" alongside business partner Steve Peace. The men are former homicide detectives. They wish to use capital generated by the commercial potential of "Missing Peace" to help underfunded law enforcement agencies solve cold cases. It's a process TV viewers will likely watch, creating a valuable tool for companies to market products with ads that will fund the investigations. Profit is good.

Producers have finalized two episodes, and a third is under way. Networks will bid to air the show, and Brown said recent media attention has led to police agencies throughout the United States and Canada asking for help from "Missing Peace."

Just as Brown has interest in high-profile cases, he's eager for shows that will bring attention to cases that are mostly forgotten by all but the grieving survivors.

The free market, by generating profits in countless ways, eventually solves the seemingly unsolvable. Let's hope "Missing Peace" will provide one more great example.

REPRINTED FROM THE NEW BERN SUN JOURNAL.

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