Over midterm break I found some time to watch a bit of television. Not to be an old curmudgeon, but it seems as though shows are growing increasingly lamentable.

I really miss the television that came before reality shows took over (although I do love "Big Brother"). There was the irreplaceable idea of "TV for TV's sake" in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and it produced some high-quality programs.

Most of these shows aren't even  syndicated reruns, but at least someone, somewhere had the decency to keep airing "Golden Girls" and "The Cosby Show." Network executives erred in canceling some wonderful shows, but instead of issuing innovative replacements, they inoculated Americans with a highly contagious, endless strain of "real-life" programs.

Don't get me wrong. Early reality television was actually innovative. "Survivor" was a solid concept; it was creative, escapist and engaging.

But reality television's quality has dwindled. Instead of the "ordinary" people the shows are touted to exhibit, everyone is now tanned, ripped, bleached and siliconed in the appropriate areas. The "reality" in which they operate seems paradoxically highly unlikely. I don't know any ex-model construction workers looking to get hitched, nor would my parents ever give any guy I brought home a polygraph.

Aside from themes that obviously conflict with the "reality" concept, networks also must understand that they are running out of places to take these shows. I believe Antarctica is the only "extreme" location that Jeff Probst hasn't inhabited. Also, I'm not sure how many more ways there are for people to get money, win a record or modeling contract, or marry or hook up. The genre that was supposed to be refreshing is becoming stale and formulaic.

Enough already. It's time for Americans to stop watching their neighbors make out, warble excruciatingly elongated notes, backstab each other, spill their guts and cry all over the screen. Instead, they should infuse characters, storylines and imagination back into their viewing.

I asked around for suggestions of shows that could be brought back to redeem television. "My So-Called Life" sounds great, because any adolescent who didn't understand Angela's hopeless love for Jordan Catalano was obviously either living under a rock at the time or a really late bloomer. ABC canceled the show because parents called it "too realistic," which makes it a perfect candidate for current reality-holics.

Other heavily demanded favorites include Nickelodeon's "Hey, Dude," "Salute Your Shorts" and "Clarissa Explains it All."  Also on demand are "She-ra," "Reading Rainbow," "Today's Special" and "Square One."

But perhaps most in need of overhaul is MTV, the godfather of reality television. I am shamefacedly becoming a VH1 viewers because I just can't take any more horrid, reality-based, strangely musicvideo-free "dirrrty"-ness. "Taildaters" and "World Wrestling Entertainment" need to go. Bring back "Remote Control," "House of Style," "Sifl and Olly," Bill Bellamy, Kennedy and "The Real World," before everyone on it was completely skanky.

It's time to break out classic shows and inspire people to create some good new television, before "Who Wants Their Parents to Pick a Singing Millionaire for Them to Marry in the Burmese Jungle but Secretly Compete with for $1,000,000 and the Chance to Earn a Recording Contract?" airs in the fall.

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