Post by Forever Xena on May 25, 2006 5:40:56 GMT -6
New reality TV shows for the summer
By TARA MERRIN - Calgary Sun
If Lance Bass screaming, "No Whammies, No Whammies. Stop!" appeals to you, at least one of this season's many reality TV offerings is right up your alley.
While the spring and summer lineup is mostly new cycles of established hits, such as So You Think You Can Dance, Last Comic Standing, Canadian Idol, Hell's Kitchen, Rock Star and Big Brother, there are a few new unscripted programs on tap.
One of these is CBS' Gameshow Marathon in which a group of C-list celebrities take part in a tournament of classic game shows including, The Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal, Beat the Clock, Press Your Luck and Card Sharks.
Viewers are invited to watch Bass (*NSYNC), Tim Meadows (Saturday Night Live), Leslie Nielsen, Kathy Najimy, Paige Davis (Trading Spaces) and Brande Roderick (Baywatch) fight it out to be crowned the gameshow champion.
Who wouldn't want to see that?
Another promising new offering is NBC's Treasure Hunters. Hailed as a "fast-paced adventure/mystery reality series" in which multi-player teams compete in mental and physical challenges for a chance to find a hidden treasure, this might be the network's answer to CBS' hit The Amazing Race.
For viewers who are less into adventure and more into voyeurism, MTV is launching a Laguna Beach spin-off called The Hills, which follows Lauren Conrad (L.C.) as she tries to make it in the real world, and The Life Network is airing #1 Single, which chronicles singer Lisa Loeb's quest to have it all -- love, success and career.
For American Idol fans, who are now going through withdrawal, Simon Cowell and NBC have joined up for America's Got Talent. While slightly different from Idol -- it includes all talents and ages and there is a $1 million US prize -- it's practically the same show.
Here is a list to keep reality TV addicts entertained while Survivor, The Amazing Race and American Idol are on hiatus until the fall (all dates subject to change):
So You Think You Can Dance 2 - tonight on FOX and CTV: The best undiscovered dancing talent in the U.S. compete.
Canadian Idol - Monday on CTV: Canada's own version of the mega-hit American Idol.
Last Comic Standing - Tuesday on NBC and Global: Anthony Clark hosts the lively laughfest, which has professional and aspiring comedians battling it out to win a talent contract with NBC and TV special.
Canada's Next Top Model - Wednesday on Citytv: Model wannabes must master the runway and photo shoots to win a modelling contract.
Gameshow Marathon - Wednesday on CBS and CTV: Six celebrity contestants compete in a weekly elimination-style tournament in which they play different classic game shows.
The Hills - Wednesday on MTV: Lauren Conrad from Laguna Beach attempts to create a name for herself in the fashion industry.
Hell's Kitchen 2 - June 12 on FOX and Citytv: Contestants endure chef Gordon Ramsay's hellishly intense culinary boot camp for a chance to win the title of Executive Chef of a Las Vegas restaurant.
How to Get a Guy - June 12 on ABC: This romantic reality series follows the trials and tribulations of love as seen through the eyes of four attractive and available women.
Tuesday Night Book Club - June 13 on CBS: Reality TV's version of Desperate Housewives.
Treasure Hunters - June 18 on NBC: Da Vinci Code meets The Amazing Race.
America's Got Talent - June 21 on NBC and CTV: Regis Philbin hosts this Simon Cowell series.
Rock Star: Supernova - July 5 on CBS and Global: Talented vocalists compete to become the lead singer of the band Supernova which includes Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), Jason Newsted (Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses).
#1 Single - July 5 on Life: Singer Loeb goes on a dating frenzy in New York City in hopes of finding her soul mate.
Big Brother: All Stars - July 6 on CBS and Global: America will help choose who will participate in the game from among a pool of 20 of their favourite former houseguests.
Project Runway - July 12 on Bravo/Life: Amateur designers compete to show a collection at Fashion Week where one will win.
Cover Shot - Aug. 18 on TLC: Everyday women will have their dreams realized when they get to be a magazine cover model.
The One: Making a Music Star - Premiere date TBA on ABC: The series will follow the lives of contestants as they attend a music academy. The winner will receive a recording contract with a major record company.
By TARA MERRIN - Calgary Sun
If Lance Bass screaming, "No Whammies, No Whammies. Stop!" appeals to you, at least one of this season's many reality TV offerings is right up your alley.
While the spring and summer lineup is mostly new cycles of established hits, such as So You Think You Can Dance, Last Comic Standing, Canadian Idol, Hell's Kitchen, Rock Star and Big Brother, there are a few new unscripted programs on tap.
One of these is CBS' Gameshow Marathon in which a group of C-list celebrities take part in a tournament of classic game shows including, The Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal, Beat the Clock, Press Your Luck and Card Sharks.
Viewers are invited to watch Bass (*NSYNC), Tim Meadows (Saturday Night Live), Leslie Nielsen, Kathy Najimy, Paige Davis (Trading Spaces) and Brande Roderick (Baywatch) fight it out to be crowned the gameshow champion.
Who wouldn't want to see that?
Another promising new offering is NBC's Treasure Hunters. Hailed as a "fast-paced adventure/mystery reality series" in which multi-player teams compete in mental and physical challenges for a chance to find a hidden treasure, this might be the network's answer to CBS' hit The Amazing Race.
For viewers who are less into adventure and more into voyeurism, MTV is launching a Laguna Beach spin-off called The Hills, which follows Lauren Conrad (L.C.) as she tries to make it in the real world, and The Life Network is airing #1 Single, which chronicles singer Lisa Loeb's quest to have it all -- love, success and career.
For American Idol fans, who are now going through withdrawal, Simon Cowell and NBC have joined up for America's Got Talent. While slightly different from Idol -- it includes all talents and ages and there is a $1 million US prize -- it's practically the same show.
Here is a list to keep reality TV addicts entertained while Survivor, The Amazing Race and American Idol are on hiatus until the fall (all dates subject to change):
So You Think You Can Dance 2 - tonight on FOX and CTV: The best undiscovered dancing talent in the U.S. compete.
Canadian Idol - Monday on CTV: Canada's own version of the mega-hit American Idol.
Last Comic Standing - Tuesday on NBC and Global: Anthony Clark hosts the lively laughfest, which has professional and aspiring comedians battling it out to win a talent contract with NBC and TV special.
Canada's Next Top Model - Wednesday on Citytv: Model wannabes must master the runway and photo shoots to win a modelling contract.
Gameshow Marathon - Wednesday on CBS and CTV: Six celebrity contestants compete in a weekly elimination-style tournament in which they play different classic game shows.
The Hills - Wednesday on MTV: Lauren Conrad from Laguna Beach attempts to create a name for herself in the fashion industry.
Hell's Kitchen 2 - June 12 on FOX and Citytv: Contestants endure chef Gordon Ramsay's hellishly intense culinary boot camp for a chance to win the title of Executive Chef of a Las Vegas restaurant.
How to Get a Guy - June 12 on ABC: This romantic reality series follows the trials and tribulations of love as seen through the eyes of four attractive and available women.
Tuesday Night Book Club - June 13 on CBS: Reality TV's version of Desperate Housewives.
Treasure Hunters - June 18 on NBC: Da Vinci Code meets The Amazing Race.
America's Got Talent - June 21 on NBC and CTV: Regis Philbin hosts this Simon Cowell series.
Rock Star: Supernova - July 5 on CBS and Global: Talented vocalists compete to become the lead singer of the band Supernova which includes Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), Jason Newsted (Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses).
#1 Single - July 5 on Life: Singer Loeb goes on a dating frenzy in New York City in hopes of finding her soul mate.
Big Brother: All Stars - July 6 on CBS and Global: America will help choose who will participate in the game from among a pool of 20 of their favourite former houseguests.
Project Runway - July 12 on Bravo/Life: Amateur designers compete to show a collection at Fashion Week where one will win.
Cover Shot - Aug. 18 on TLC: Everyday women will have their dreams realized when they get to be a magazine cover model.
The One: Making a Music Star - Premiere date TBA on ABC: The series will follow the lives of contestants as they attend a music academy. The winner will receive a recording contract with a major record company.