Congratulations, Michaele and Tareq Salahi! Not only did you crash a high-profile White House event last week, but you've landed starring roles in a cutting-edge reality series.

It's called "the news," and it's the ultimate reality series.

The Salahis said last week that they are holding out for big bucks before they reveal their life stories. Tell you what, Salahis, we'll wait for court discovery. Whether you get paid or not, your court cases will be followed by newspaper, radio and television. You'll be blogged about on the Internet, and video of you will be posted to YouTube. You'll be Twittered, Facebook-ed and "friended."

Looks like you got just what you wanted, except the court stuff and having to hire a lawyer and all that.

The Salahis are the second family in the past couple of months to pull a stupid stunt in hopes of being selected to appear on a reality show - or, even better, star in one. Remember that family from Fort Collins, Colo., whose son Falcon supposedly floated over the eastern part of that state in a helium-filled balloon?

I forget their name.

It used to be that actors would have to work long and hard and do audition after audition to appear on television. Other people became famous or noteworthy by achieving important things. It took years of hard work and sweat.

But in our instant-gratification society, all that's required these days is to do something stupid and, boom, you're famous.

Michaele was hoping to be selected for the reality series "The Real Housewives of D.C." Bravo Network cameras followed her around the day of the White House state dinner as she had her hair done and shopped.

I'm guessing the show will be similar to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." Or "The Real Housewives of Orange County." Those shows follow the trials and tribulations of women who are attractive, fairly rich and completely self-absorbed. They don't actually "do" anything other than squabble, stab one another in the back and plot revenge. They shop. They eat lunch at trendy restaurants. Mostly, they are just flesh-and-blood bling for wealthy men.

When you describe it like that, it does sound like Michaele would be perfect for the D.C. version.

Wouldn't it be great if Michaele and that Colorado family (I still haven't remembered their name) were to land on an actual reality series?

Let's say Mrs. Salahi would be selected for: the History Channel's "Ice Road Truckers." Can't you just see Michaele jamming gears and steering a huge semi full of road construction explosives through the sub-zero temperatures, blizzards and mountain passes above the Arctic Circle.

No, huh?

Well, how about the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch"?

We could see that Colorado family serving as the crew aboard a crab boat. Let's see if they can haul in tons of stinking Alaskan King Crab in 12-foot swells when the deck is reeling underneath you feet.

Gee, that probably isn't what either family had in mind. Those shows are too much work.

Both families were probably hoping for a less risky, more mainstream show that doesn't require them to risk their lives or even be really uncomfortable for an hour. If either the Salahis or that Colorado family ever considered working hard, neither would have to resort to stupid stunts to gain attention.

But it seems these days that all you need to get your 15 minutes of fame is to be willing to do something that no rational, sane person would even consider.

Both families can check that box. In fact, the only thing that both the Colorado Twits and the Salahis forgot was to get some footage of either husband being hit in the groin with something.

Hey, you never know when "America's Funniest Home Videos" needs new material.

Steve Booher's column runs on Monday. He can be reached at steveb@npgco.com.