Bob McCarty Writes

Any television junkies out there today? Good! I want to test your knowledge of reality television. First, I’ll describe a show, then you tell me the name of it.

Here we go: Ordinary people face their fears by competing against each other in outrageously-devised stunts for the chance to win a $50,000 prize. You’re right. Fear Factor.

Here’s another: Young, aspiring singers compete in a nationwide talent search on live television, often facing unfair scrutiny and sarcasm from a panel of judges before one is branded “the winner” and receives a huge recording contract. Right! American Idol.

Even after several years on the air, the Reality Television concept remains strong – so strong, in fact, that several new reality-based shows are in production as we speak.

Anybody heard of HGTV? They have a couple of shows in the works. HGTV hopes to attract more inner-city viewers with its new show, Crack-House Hunters.

NBC hopes to add more credibility to one of their own already-established reality shows by including appearances by celebrities who closely mirror the show’s theme. For instance, Al Gore will be a regular guest on The Biggest Loser.

Finally, LOGOS, the gay and lesbian cable channel, plans to air a show this fall that features teams of male and female couples in a highly-charged competition dubbed, So You Think You Can Prance.