When I tell people that I am a television critic, I’m often met with the same response: “There sure is a lot to criticize.” I have a professional obligation to fight that inclination, to find the best, or at least the most interesting, program of the night. I believe that too often people focus on the worst about television and ignore its virtues. They would rather carp about “Celebrity Mole” than appreciate “Mad Men.”

But some nights challenge even my sunny disposition – nights like tonight. For reasons unknown, the geniuses currently running the networks into the ground have chosen to introduce “Celebrity Family Feud” (7 p.m., NBC), “Wipeout” (7 p.m., ABC) and “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” (8 p.m., ABC) on the same evening.

“I Survived A Japanese Game Show” documents a group of Americans who travel to Tokyo to appear on programs far stranger than “The Price is Right.” “The Simpsons” lampooned this peculiar pop phenomenon many seasons ago. ABC did not make “Game Show” available for review, so I’m off the hook.

Only brief clips of “Wipeout” were showcased. It says something when a 32-second reel becomes taxing. The show consists of people competing in what looks like a giant’s version of a water park. It reminded me of “Survivor” but without the drama, intrigue and strategy. It’s all about the “contests,” the part of “Survivor” I like to fast forward through when I watch it at all.

Of the three, “Feud” may be the most pointless and pathetic. If the old “Family Feud” had any virtues, it was its display of ordinary people acting goofy and showing us how smart or dumb they could be under the pressure of hot lights, cameras and the withering quips of Richard Dawson.

Let’s put aside for the moment that host Al Roker looks decidedly uncomfortable and bored. Do people like Joan Rivers or Raven-Symone really need more screen time? If you think so, then this “Feud” is for you.

We used to watch game shows to empathize with ordinary slobs like ourselves and tune into dramas and comedies to be entertained or transported by actors with something called talent. Reality television invites untalented actors and desperate celebrities to convince us that they are ordinary slobs. And they do a bad job of it.

Programmers used to strive to create “event television,” shows that you just couldn’t miss. With “Feud,” “Wipeout” and “Survived,” the networks seem to be daring us to waste a little time with them. And they seem to be fatally oblivious to the fact that there are plenty of other ways to do that.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Scheduled on “48 Hours” (8 p.m., CBS): A mother vanishes on Sept. 12, 2001.

¢ Storm damage on “Deadliest Catch” (8 p.m., Discovery).

¢ “Frontline/World” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) looks at Christianity in China.

¢ A stunt man pulls a vanishing act on “Without a Trace” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ “Primetime: The Outsiders” (9 p.m., ABC) looks at Amish teens who leave the fold for a trial period.

¢ A filmmaker examines her New England ancestors’ role in the slave trade on “Traces of the Trade” on the season debut of “P.O.V.” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings)

¢ Sean battles urges on a five-minute episode of “Rescue Me” (9 p.m., FX).

¢ “30 Days” (9:05 p.m., FX) examines same-sex marriage.