At a loss to explain the overwhelming popularity of today's insipid TV reality shows, critics have come to the condusion that viewers who are obsessed with reality programs are drawn to the ________ lifestyles depicted and allow the radiance of the stars' lives override the spurious dilemmas and dubious coping skills of the so-called stars.

Blank (i)
A. refulgent
B. austere
C. laudable
D. monotonous
E. sanctimonious