We like it because it's "real"?

So the other day I was watching the biography of Kate Gosselin from the TLC reality show Jon & Kate Plus Eight, and when speaking about the popularity of the show, one of the entertainment experts that they interviewed stated that people like reality TV because we like watching the lives of characters that we can relate to; we like to see ourselves in these characters. Do you think this is true? Do you think this is the case for all RTV shows? Do we like to watch a mother of eight struggle to make ends meet because that struggle seems more “real”? Where do idealized shows such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians or Pimp My Ride or Girls Next Door fit in? These shows aren’t about normal everyday lives. They give us a glimpse at glamour. Do we like these because we can see ourselves in the characters? because we envy the characters? And what about shows that portray ridiculous characters and outlandish lifestyles such as Jersey Shore or Axe Men or Swamp People? Can we relate to these characters? What is their appeal?
I want you to feel free to use examples of shows I haven’t listed here to enter into this discussion.