Joe Millionaire 2 ended last night. I must admit that I’m a sucker for a happy ending and both Joes ended happily. Choked up those few of you who watched it? Ok, I’ll admit that it did me a bit. In my old days I’m getting more sentimental, I guess. I think the second season was more promising for a real future for the couple than the first; I’d give David and his choice lady (no spoiler for those who haven’t seen) a better chance at a future than Evan Marriot and his choice. I think as far as believable reality shows, Fox did an good job with the Joe Millionaire series. It really shows how money — even if it turns out to be as real as Monopoly money – can change people and how love can still survive without money. Or at least the seedlings of love.

Recently I read in an article that only 34% of the population is married and I have to wonder if money is a huge factor. A lot of divorce and singles out there today. People just don’t seem to stick it out through the hard times like they did 25 years ago. And could one argue that economically times were harder 25 years ago than they are today?

I doubt Fox will be able to pull off a Joe 3 and if you read this (warning spoilers!) article: Fox rues staging second ‘Joe Millionaire’ this quote: “Our instincts told us from the very beginning that ‘Joe Millionaire’ was a one-time stunt. I think we got greedy.” and in <a href=http://www.nynewsday.com/entertainment/nyc-etsweeps3558448nov25,0,6712468.story?coll=nyc-flash-headlines>this quote</a> perhaps even more telling: <i>I think we thought we could sneak it by the American public one more time, and we were wrong.”</i>

So in the case of the Joe bashers, they can be glad that this series is going to be difficult to continue. Impossible? Probably not, but without the ratings what motivation is there for it to continue. Also there are the logistics of pulling off another version. They could go to some remote locale where there is little to no TV and bring in some new unsuspecting women to be wowed by a Joe 3, but I think this series has run its course and according to that article it’s over. Stranger things have happened. We’ll see.

Tonight they are going to have an American Idol Christmas special before the newest episode of 24. It wasn’t too long ago that I was saying TV totally sucked and there was nothing on but the occasional sports match and The Simpsons, but I’m being pulled back into TV mode with some of the shows I’ve been watching. I didn’t think I’d be looking forward to any TV shows. I think it helps that they are releasing a lot of these new series on DVD and the advent of TiVO (and other PVRs) so folks like me can watch at our leisure.

• American Idol talent well running dry?
• William Hung’s 15 seconds could be up, folks starting to boo him
• Web defacement day on its face
• Real hacks download music prices, Apple still feeling unHarmonious
• Be a castaway on Gilligan’s Island reality show
• Regular weekly episodes of 24 start tonight