Reality television has come a long way from singing contests and culinary showdowns. These days, viewers are tuning in for everything from couples marrying strangers to billionaires tossing people into obstacle courses. At this point, if someone pitched a show about arm-wrestling for a condo lease, networks might just say yes. So, when whispers of a government-backed citizenship competition began circulating, the idea did not seem completely off-script.

Social media users reacted as if someone had proposed turning The Handmaid’s Tale into a sitcom. The Daily Mail claimed the United States Department of Homeland Security's secretary was "pushing" for a reality series, titled The American, where immigrants would compete for citizenship. Outrage rolled in fast, with fans calling it dystopian and insensitive. The Department has since clarified to The Hollywood Reporter that the pitch is being reviewed, however, it "has not received approval or denial by staff". 

According to the reports, The American would feature a lineup of hopeful immigrants facing challenges designed to reflect US values- think teamwork, perseverance, and possibly a trivia round about the Founding Fathers. On his Facebook page, producer Rob Worsoff described it as a feel-good celebration of the immigrant journey, not a parody of it. Still, the idea did not impress audiences, especially as citizenship was presented as a prize somewhere between immunity idol and final rose.

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The internet struggled to separate heartfelt patriotism from prime-time drama as the idea of citizenship became a televised competition.

When the report first surfaced that the Department of Homeland Security might turn immigration into a reality show competition, the internet collectively gasped and reached for The Hunger Games. The idea of immigrants battling through challenges for citizenship felt less like entertainment and more like a dystopian fever dream. Social media exploded with comparisons to gladiators, survival trials, and even reality shows gone wildly off the rails.

Amid the disbelief, many users chose humor as their weapon. Memes popped up faster than contestants in a challenge, with jokes about citizenship becoming the new immunity idol or contestants needing survival skills just to pass a naturalization test. The internet’s ability to poke fun at almost anything made the absurd news easier to digest, turning it into a shared comedy sketch rather than a cause for despair.

Despite the chaos, the buzz around the rumored show has sparked a surprising craving for reality programs with a gentler touch that make you feel good. After all, viewers are hungry for shows that uplift rather than stress. Whether or not The American ever makes it to air, the internet’s reaction reminds us that some concepts might be better left untelevised, and that good entertainment does not always need to come with citizenship on the line.

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What is your take on this citizenship reality show idea? Share your thoughts in the comments!