Don't know what reality shows are on the air? For those who have not turned on the television in the past few years, here is a rundown of some of the most popular and most ridiculous shows on the air now.
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
Ty Pennington and his design team travel across the States in this "making dreams come true" series. One needy family is picked each episode from tapes submitted that explain its living situation and highlight its misfortunes. The family is sent on a week-long vacation while the team redesigns the whole house in order to create a better life for the family. The family is chosen based on its inability to fix the house alone, whether it be because a parent has died or a child has a disability. The show captures the re-building of not only a house, but also of faith. "Extreme-Makeover: Home Edition" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
"Pimp My Ride"
Have a vehicle that needs a serious overhaul? Then apply for MTV's "Pimp My Ride" and you could be the next lucky person to get your car completely redone. Unfortunately for us, all applicants must live in the Southern California area. From under the hood to the rims, a vehicle is totally "pimped out" and some fine accessories are added in along the way. Whether it be a TV or Playstation hooked up in the trunk, Xzibit and the crew at West Coast Customs will create a whole new look for your ride that will have everyone staring as you cruise by. "Pimp My Ride" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on MTV.
"The Surreal Life"
For 10 days, six has-been stars are documented living and working together after they are thrown into a house in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Now in its fourth season, "The Surreal Life" shows us what different celebrities do when they give up their everyday lives, have to function with one another on a personal level and are suddenly not the center of attention. "The Surreal Life" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on VH-1.
"Strange Love"
Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen, who are from the third season of "The Surreal Life," show us their truly surreal lives in this test of true love. Flav convinces Nielsen to leave her house in Milan, Italy and come back to the States with him. From the Big Apple to Vegas, we follow their romance and witness the ups and downs of this complicated, and very commercialized, duo. "Strange Love" airs Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on VH-1.
"The Bachelorette"
The question at hand: can she find her true love in the Big Apple? Jen Schefft, known for capturing the heart of Andrew Firestone during the third season of "The Bachelor," is back to give love another try. In its third season, "The Bachelorette" is the journey of a young woman searching for romance, or at the very least another few months of fame. After weeding her way through 25 eligible bachelors, she must choose the one who makes her heart soar. "The Bachelorette" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
"American Idol"
While searching for the best pop talent in America, this show auditions thousands of contestants, but only a few finalists make it to Hollywood. Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson sort through the competition to find the nation's next shining stars and send them to the final stage where the audience votes on who should be their new pop star. Past winners and runners-up, including Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, have gone on to make albums and get tons of radio play. "American Idol" airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.
"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"
Five gay men ban together to help the less fortunate straight man get his life together and become more refined and fashionable. Ted, Kyan, Thom, Jai and Carson join forces to educate their pupil on the more stylish things in life. Areas such as food and wine, interior design, wardrobe, grooming and culture are covered. In the end, a clueless straight man is completely revamped. After much preparation, the new man surprises the special people in his life with the tips he has learned from "The Fab Five." "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on Bravo.
"The Simple Life 3: Interns"
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie lend their skills, or lack thereof, to the business world in this season of "The Simple Life." The girls will attempt to conquer all sorts of odd jobs and not get fired while they travel by bus through the Northeast. Past seasons of the show had Hilton and Richie road tripping the South, from Florida to Beverly Hills, as well as living for a month with a small-town Arkansas family. "The Simple Life" airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on Fox.
"Survivor"
In Season 10, which premieres Feb. 17, 20 Americans will be stranded on an island to compete in this Darwinian-concept show. The battle tests true endurance while two tribes vote a member off every three days until there are only six remaining members on each team. After this, the two teams join together and become one tribe, which has to face challenges given by the host as well as elements from the outside. The last member left on the island takes home a million-dollar prize. "Survivor" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.
"The Apprentice"
There will be a new spin on the third season of "The Apprentice," Donald Trump's television series that separates the ambitious from the downright underhanded. Normally, at the end of each season, one individual is chosen to have a head management position on a developing Trump project. This season, the stakes are higher. There will be two teams divided by "book smarts" and "street smarts" as opposed to prior seasons that pitted women against men. In each episode, the teams are assigned different business tasks and Trump fires one member from the losing team. The prize for this season's winner is a seat with The Trump Organization. "The Apprentice" airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
