In the past few years, there have been an increasing number of reality shows spotlighting people that have unusual jobs. We don't mean programs like Dirty Jobs or Bizarre Foods, but rather series that focus entirely on specific occupations whose existence we might have been barely aware of if it wasn't for reality TV. And as such shows proliferate, even the once-exotic professional tattooing subculture has come to seem practically mainstream. Here are the ten types of work that we find the most strangely fascinating to watch:

It's the start of movie awards season, and we're already dreading this particular self-congratulation fest since the incessant commercials running for the ceremony make us cringe. They're bringing Ricky Gervais back to say crazy things, but no one liked it the last couple times he did it. We don't get it. So while we have to suffer through the night in real time (because it is our job), there are a few things that could actually make us enjoy it.

VH1 has wisely decided to give Celebrity Rehab and Sober House an indefinite break. While the network claims that the shows could return at some point, it's about time that VH1 gave the Dr. Drew-led shows a rest. Maybe in a few years we'll be nostalgic for them (no we won't) and they can bring them back Fear Factor-style. Here are some other unscripted programs that could take a break for a season or two (or longer!) and then maybe come back when they've got something fresh to offer fans.

We offered our New Year's resolutions for shows last year, but most of them didn't pan out. Guess that's the problem with resolutions in general. Here's hoping that more of these shows stick to the suggestions we've carved out for them in the coming year.

There are a lot of terrible shows out there who have characters that are too good for their shows. Or good shows who just have too many characters to service. So as has become our annual tradition (2010, 2009, 2008), we've found shows where these people would be far better utilized.

We already receive our most important life lessons from television, but we're hoping producers, studios and networks themselves learn from the successes and failures of this fall. Here are our big takeaways from the first half of the 2011-12 season:

It seems that nearly every day there's a new reality show popping up to vie for our attention, and while most of them are instantly forgettable or boring clones of existing hits, some of them are actually pretty great. While we mostly talk about competitive reality shows or docu-soaps that feature reprehensible rich people, toddlers, tiaras and chefs, we enjoy plenty of other unscripted programs that don't get that much attention. Until we're blessed with another season of My Strange Addiction (because we can't get enough of people munching on cremated remains or drywall), here are the shows more reality fans should be watching:

Is your family driving you crazy this holiday season? In a time of high stress, it's important to take a moment and reflect on that fact that you're not stuck in one of the many horrible families from the current world of scripted TV. We're not talking about pain-in-the-butt relatives like those on Modern Family or Parenthood -- at least those crazies mean well. The following clans, on the other hand, make dysfunction seem luxurious -- just imagine what it would be like to call these characters your kin.

We're supposed to take time this week to reflect on the things in life that we're truly grateful for, and for us, not surprisingly, that includes plenty related to television. Here's what's made us the happiest this season:

Sitcoms get to have all the fun during the holidays, leaving dramas out in the cold when it comes to warm and fuzzy (and sometimes bloody) winter episodes. There are a handful of scripted series we'd love to see celebrate the season with themed episodes, and we're so convinced of their potential that we've even come up with suggested plotlines for them. You can thank us after New Year's.