The acting fraternity is notoriously shy of speaking out about the glut of reality TV that attracts ratings - but puts them out of work.
But Spy talked to New Zealand's King thespian Michael Hurst, who opened up on how many are feeling about the trend hurting drama.
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"I think reality TV tends to lower the bar so people stop demanding quality programmes and settle for pap, thinking this is real drama when it is just a kind of human circus or glorified sideshow.
"It's so cheap to make compared to drama and it is relatively simple and straightforward - full of cheap tricks, basic win-or-lose situations and a sense of voyeurism, often combined with a kind of extreme schadenfreude, all things that are easy for humans to comprehend. So the networks make it or buy it because the public want it because the networks make it or buy it for them.
"It's a bit of a downward spiral. And you can't blame the networks because they are struggling to survive in the world of Netflix and other internet platforms that provide challenging, often provocative content."
Hurst says we're groaning under the weight of reality TV because networks are too afraid to take risks.
"It's about who has the passion and drive to make it. And, surely, it's also about taking risks and backing our talented writers, producers and directors. Going out on a creative limb rather than producing safe shows that stretch no one and ultimately sink without trace. The best TV dramas are the ones that take the risks, but at the moment, the current climate here seems risk-averse."