I agree that there isn't a whole lot of good programming these days, especially on network TV.
I think that the explosion of "reality" shows came about as a result of the writers' strike back in '88 (5+ months), the commercial actors' strike in '00 (nearly 6 months), and the writers' strike in '07 (3 and a half months). With each strike, it got worse.
Since "reality" shows don't need a real script or card-carrying actors (and thus are cheaper to make by far), producers realized that each one is a gravy train that can't be easily derailed by industry events. Then you have to factor in the copycats that see the (so-called) successes of Survivor and the like, and put their own shows out hoping to cash in as well. The more shows that make it, the more that are spawned.
Also an issue are network execs that have their finger poised over the CANCEL button, ready to ditch any show that doesn't live up to their elevated expectations of revenue generation.
That being said, there's one reality show that I would actually watch, if it were to be made:
A variation of the "Survivor" theme... All contestants are dropped off in the geographical center of the African continent, stark naked, with the only goal being to make it to a coast.
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