Valley resident Ashley Molina held her breath and closed her eyes before diving into the raw sewage. Just a few months ago Ashley was sitting on her couch, wondering why so many Fear Factor contestants wimp out when faced with stunts. Now she knows; it's the smell.

But Ashley and her husband Dean braved the stench and won the $1 million grand prize on NBC's Fear Factor Couples. "We really didn't even watch reality TV that much before being on a show ourselves," says Dean.

That puts Dean and Ashley in the minority of reality TV viewers, as statistics and real-life stories point to an increasing trend of fanaticism in reality TV viewers. A new breed of reality TV fans fosters life-like relationships with the real-life contestants of the shows.

And the audience numbers seem to be increasing. Now in its tenth season, CBS's Survivor lured a record-setting 24 million Americans to its mid-February premier.

And while reality TV draws millions from its ideal demographic, females age 18 to 34, the "what will they do" scenarios are drawing in all sorts of viewers.

"Reality TV is the only kind of TV I watch. Not too many sitcoms grab my attention," says 25-year-old Sean Samuel, a commercial real estate broker. In a given week Samuel works about 50 hours in the office, and spends at least nine hours watching reality TV.

"I find time," Samuel says of his busy schedule. One co-worker even refers to him as "Reality Check."

For reasons sociological, spiritual or primordial, humans are drawn to other humans more than anything else. So it only makes sense that the most popular TV shows would be all about live and real people.

"You need TiVo or something to watch a lot if you're working. I probably have four or five shows going at a time," adds Samuel. Asked to list the shows, he begins naming and quickly revises the count. "Maybe it's more like eight, nine or ten shows a week," he says, adding that, "With proper time management and an efficient TV recording device you can really get in a lot of reality TV time."

Samuel isn't alone. A weekday afternoon visit to a reality TV chat site reveals 203 live members chatting about the outcome of The Bachelorette.

"I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I am a reality TV nut!" writes one reality TV aficionado. "I think I have watched every reality show!"

Like Samuel, an analytical real estate broker at a reputable firm, reality TV enthusiasts often defy stereotypes. Some are outspoken while others remain embarrassed by the draw of the shows, and refer to themselves as "closet reality fans."

"I don't tell people," says Tracey Andrews, a newspaper distribution manager for an award-winning monthly Valley features publication.

As much as Samuel enjoys watching reality TV, he's never considered going on a show himself. "I like watching how dumb people can be sometimes. I don't want to go on there and be that person.

"But for some reason the shows really like casting in Scottsdale, especially the dating shows," Samuels says. "They asked my girlfriend if she'd go on The Bachelor. Thankfully she said no," he said.

Reality TV does exhibit an affinity for Valley contestants, from Dean and Ashley on Fear Factor to Jon Buehler, who earned second place on the grueling Amazing Race. And more recently the Gilbert family whose house was transformed into a $500,000 dream home for the popular Extreme Makeover: Home Edition series. Speaking of makeover, the Valley also lays claim to the Phoenix twins who underwent about $25,000 worth of cosmetic surgery to look like Brad Pitt for MTV's I Want a Famous Face.

Thanks to TiVo, reality TV rarely poses a serious priority conflict for reality TV lovers like Samuel. Though he does say his parents, also reality TV fans, would probably understand if a culminating show aired during one of their birthday parties.

The most common conflict Samuel's reality passion incurs is with his girlfriend. "She asks me to TiVo shows that aren't things I like to watch, Desperate Housewives and The OC, but sometimes I unintentionally, intentionally record my shows instead of hers."

While Samuel doesn't necessarily consider himself an addict, his passion for reality TV often surprises his friends and even himself. "When anybody brings up any show any time, I know what's going on with it," he says.

"I don't waste a minute of time when I could be watching; when it's time to watch TV it's all filled in with shows."

So what motivates this kind of commitment? Samuel says reality TV is perhaps the most human form of entertainment. "I love to people watch," he explains. "When I go to Disneyland I almost enjoy standing in lines more than the ride, looking at funny people, how people interact. In reality TV they're put in situations they know will be entertaining."

The Molinas agree. Dean says that Americans prefer reality TV because viewers can personally relate to the contestants. "That's kind of like me or my friend, you say while watching. That's a little different from watching Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston."

Good or bad, reality shows appear to be here to stay, and it may just be a matter of time before we all know someone who has participated on one.