F's

Faking It (TLC): - teach someone a new skill and then put them up against experienced people to see if judges can tell who is the "Fake."  Episode one trained a carpenter to be an interior designer.

Fame (NBC): Debbie Allen from the film and TV show "Fame" recruits talented people to compete for cash and awards worth $100k or so.  Looks as good (or better) than American Idol in my opinion.  Alas, I lost interest and didn't even see the final show which was won by 36 year-old Harlemm Lee.

The Family (ABC): The producers of Big Brother 2 -5  bring you a show with a fun twist.  Family members are put up in a fancy mansion with no expense spared and servants at their beck and call.  They then compete for a million $$ and are eliminated one by one each week.  All they know is that there is a secret panel deciding who is eliminated (they vote between 2 nominees).  The panel?  The servants of course.  George Hamilton does a great job hosting playing his part to the hilt.  Cudos Arni!! Love this show.   (The show was pulled during the Iraq War).  I don't know if there will be a #2 - but I really enjoyed #1. The winner: "In the shocking final episode, Cousin Anthony came from behind to win the million dollars, and then showed what the word "family" really means by splitting it evenly among all ten family members!" Episode Recap from ABC

Family Plots (A&E): "Chronicling the curious comings and goings of a real Southern California family-run mortuary, premieres on Monday, April 19, 2004 at 9pm ET / PT and 8pm CT.  Here at San Diego's Poway Bernardo Mortuary, the staff - an intriguing assortment of family members and other unusual characters -- compassionately console grieving families on a daily basis.  Three beautiful sisters, their hot-blooded father, an exacting boss, a quirky funeral director, and a stream of anguished patrons, comprise the cast of this groundbreaking new real-life show. " (From a press release - no official web page yet). My "Family Plots" Web Page with Pictures

Fear Factor (NBC): Did you ever see the tv show News Radio??  I loved that show, and I thought "Joe" was a hoot.  I still like JoeRogan on Fear Factor.  One of my favorite "reality candy" shows.  I figgure if I remember to see it great, if I miss it, no biggie, the show the following week will be different anyways.  50k just does not seem enough of a reward for some of the stunts these folks have to do. 

Film Fakers (AMC):  Fake a film - take 3 unsuspecting actors and some B rated actor and make the new guys think you are shooting a real film.  Then tell them at the end it was fake and watch their reaction.  Kinda a candid camera thing - catch it on AMC if you see it on  - its good for a chuckle.

Forever Eden (FOX):  Fox has ordered 25 shows.  If it pans out this will be a never-ending reality show somewhat similar to Paradise Hotel.  Premire is March 1st.  From the fox press release, " Forever Eden, a new series breaking ground as the first open-ended unscripted soap opera, with contestants aiming to stay on the show for weeks, months and possibly even years."  Full Press Release. (Premiered March 1, 2004) My Forever Eden Pages - Casting

For Love or Money (NBC): Sort of a reverse Joe Millionaire, the jokes on the guy this time.  Women vie for a man's attention and in the end the winning gal can choose him or the money - and all the women know the secret, the poor guy doesn't ;)  - Then they a reversed it and men competed for the woman that 'won' the 1st version.  Coming summer 2004 - Season III. 
Season One:  Rob Campos chose Erin Brodie and Erin rejected him and won One Million $$.
Season Two: Erin gave up the One Million for a chance at two, rejected Rob for a second time and later chose Chad Viggiano and won Two million.
Season Three: Premieres 6/7/2004 (no web site as of this writing)

Fraternity Life (MTV): The male answer to Sorrority Life.  What can you say?  If you like the "Real World" concept of reality shows you will most likely like this one.  Watch a fraternity recruit a pledge class (who get to live in a fancy house during their pledge period) and see all the fun and games, except the 'secret stuff' of course. 

G's

Gilligan's Island (TBS): "TBS will collaborate with the creators of the original Gilligan's Island sitcom, Lloyd and Sherwood Schwartz, to shift the concept to the reality genre.  It will feature a real-life skipper, first mate, millionaire couple, movie star, Kansas farm girl and professor.  And, like the original show, they'll work together to try to get off the island.  Episodes will be modeled after some of the situations that occurred on the original sitcom.   The series is set to premiere in Fourth Quarter 2004." - from an TBS e-mail 3/2/04 - CASTING

The Good Life (NBC): Now seems to be called "The Hilton Project" (click to go there).  Who knows - no word yet on when it might be on.

Growing Up Gotti (A&E): "GROWING UP GOTTI reveals the life of a most intriguing woman.  Victoria Gotti is a best-selling author, a nationally syndicated columnist and a celebrated personality, who also happens to be a divorced mother of three teenage boys, and the daughter of the late John Gotti.  Now, Victoria Gotti is allowing viewers unprecedented access to her unique work and social life, along with her home life with her sons. "

Guess Who's Coming to Decorate? (Style): "Remember that old boyfriend with the really bad taste? Or the college roommate with the extensive assortment of black-light paintings? How about Uncle Sol and his collection of monkey teeth? Sure, you miss them--but not necessarily their design choices.  Now, imagine one of them has redecorated your house..." (from the official site - I don't get this channel).
 

H's

He's A Lady (TBS): This show took 11 men and transformed them into women.  It was funny and I personally enjoyed it.  The guys were duped because the show was cast as "All American Male" (link to my original title from TBS).  The winner of the only season (so far) was David from Milwalke - a 37 year old man who was the 'ugly duckling' of the group.

The High Life (NBC): Take a rural family and set them up in Beverly Hills and see what happens.  Slated for fall 2004.  NOT the same program as "The Real Beverly Hillbillies" which has never made it to air as of this writing.

High School Reunion (WB): Hey its your 10 year class reunion, see old friends, go after that person you had a crush on!!  And if we can't round up enough people from your graduating class we'll toss in a couple from the year before ya just to keep it interesting!!  No elimination, no cash reward, its all about the relationships baby!!  Season one is in the books. Season II premiered 3/14/04.  Press Release about Season 2 -  Season One Site - Casting For Season III

The Hilton Project (NBC):  Title was originally "The Good Life" - not sure if it has changed or if they are calling it this just for casting.  "Set in New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, The Good Life, described as My Fair Lady meets The Apprentice, will feature 10 young contestants being taught by Hilton how to make it in high society. Each week, Hilton will teach the wannabes various skills, and at the end of the episode Hilton will eliminate one contestant who fails to perfect the weekly task." Full Story  Scheduled for Fall 2004. (Spring 2005 - no word yet!!)

Hooked Up (Canadian TV only): From the press release, "A one-hour six-episode series that whisks 10 gorgeous women and 10 handsome men off on a journey to find their perfect mate. The show invites viewers to witness the rocky road of love, betrayal and intimate affairs in an unscripted and unpredictably wild series as 20 singles set a course for true love on a multi-week adventure in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. " Premiered 2/17/2004

House of Dreams (A&E): From the site, "reality series brings together a community of sixteen individuals who combine forces to plan, design, build, and decorate a dream home in Harmony, Florida."  Each week a builder is eliminated until one person wins the house. George Wendt (Cheers) hosts.  I really liked this show - it was very much like Survivor .  Viveca was the winner of the first season and I am hoping there will be a Season II.

House Rules (TBS): Three teams compete to renovate homes - at the end of the season one of the teams wins the home they have worked on based on an audience vote.

I's

I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here!!(ABC): A group of  "Celebrities" in an Australian rain forest (rain being the operative word), spend 15 days being humiliated all in the name of charity.  The shows aired for 15 nights in a row live.  Being as it was not a ratings success we may never see it again, but it was the closest thing to Big Brother out there.  Just wish they had had at lease ONE live feed on the net so we could peek in on them.  John Lehr hosted.

In a Fix (TLC): One spouse helps fix his/her house, the other goes away for a makeover.  Both do the "Reveall" for each other at the end of the show.

Invasion Iowa (Spike):  WIlliam Shatner and a group of folks pretend to be filming a Sci-Fi film in a small town in Iowa - its a mini-series so it won't be around long - premires March 29th 2005.

The It Factor (Bravo): Follow aspiring actors while they try to make it big.  Season one was in Ney York, season two is in L.A.