Going all the way

Tonight, the second episode of the FOX television show "Temptation Island" will air. Last week's episode drew 16 million viewers, most of them between the ages of 11 and 18.\n"Temptation Island" has an interesting premise. Four couples come to a deserted island and go out on dates with beautiful strangers to prove their relationships are strong. For the winners, those who make it through without cheating, money is to be had. For the losers, a trip home alone. But is this the type of show we should be watching?\nThe show is taking reality programming to the next level. Scantily clad individuals using all of their sex appeal entice the couples into breaking their commitments. But with such a young fan base, this show might be more appropriate if it was regulated to HBO or Showtime, rather than on the FOX network during prime time. Haven't the people at FOX learned anything? Their last hyped show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" was a complete disaster.\nSure, no one is forcing these people to be on the island, but it is a little disgusting. Why would you want to air your relationship problems in your bathing suit in front of millions of people?\n"Temptation Island" does nothing more than confirm society's impressions about marriage and commitment today -- they are flimsy things we don't need. These couples obviously don't care about their commitment. If they did, they wouldn't need to go on a television show to prove its worth.\nThey also would know that working things out with the one you love does NOT include going out with bikini-clad girls and half naked guys to find out if the relationship is meant for the long run. With divorce rates as high as they are, what message are we sending, specifically to younger viewers, about commitment?\nWhat's worse, one couple is being thrown off the island because they violated the rules of coming to the island -- they have a child together. Guess the FOX network couldn't do their research. This situation is all too reminiscent of missing the fact that "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" star Rick Rockwell had a restraining order out against him when he won the chance to pick a gold digging wife. Their mistake might cause psychological damage to that child. How would you like to see mommy going out with another man on national television?