My guess is that WE are not the target audience for these shows.
WE know how to fix them, to modify them and how to race them.
These shows target the armchair enthusiast that may like cars but probably will never own a classic and likely wouldn't have the skills to restore one.
The average idiot seems to want the drama. The build up of tension leading into the commercial break keeps them engaged and tuned in.
Guys like us are the minority in this world.
Think I'm wrong?
How many gearheads are in your extended family?
I have exactly none. My brother-in-law likes Mopars but sold his Duster to me when he moved back east. Nobody in my extended family can rebuild an engine, paint a car, reskin a seat or even change their own oil.