HOME > Reality TV News - January 2006
Reality TV News - January 2006
'Survivor' host Jeff Probst dishes about 'Survivor: Panama'
January 31, 2006
As he typically does before every new season, Survivor host Jeff Probst met with the media on Monday afternoon, teasing the press about Survivor Panama's upcoming season and sharing some previously undisclosed details about the new twists that viewers will see in the twelfth edition of the of the long-running CBS reality show.
CBS reveals 'The Amazing Race 9' cast, series to debut February 28
January 30, 2006
CBS has revealed the identities of the eleven teams who will be competing on The Amazing Race 9, the new edition of its three-time Emmy Award-winning reality adventure series that will debut with a special two-hour premiere on Tuesday, February 28 at 9PM ET/PT.
The Bachelor: Paris - Episode 3 summary
January 30, 2006
"DAW TV," our episode summary for the third episode of The Bachelor: Paris, ABC's eighth edition of The Bachelor, written by greeneyes, is now available.
'Spoiler Island' fantasy game launches for 'Survivor: Panama' season
January 29, 2006
Reality TV World's Spoiler Island fantasy prediction game has opened for Survivor: Panama -- Exile Island Episode 1 picks.
Skating With Celebrities - Episode 2 summary
January 27, 2006
"Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Judges?," our episode summary for the second episode of Fox's new Skating With Celebrities reality series, written by WaterDrop, is now available.
Lack of crowd control cancels 'The Biggest Loser' casting call
January 26, 2006
Nearly 1,000 people showed up at a San Diego restaurant for a Thursday casting call for NBC's "The Biggest Loser" that never happened.'Fear Factor South Africa' contestant loses half her hair in show stunt
January 26, 2006
A dangerous stunt on "Fear Factor South Africa" ripped out half the hair from a contestant's head and left her hospitalized with a concussion.
Arrested 'American Idol 5' audition twins dropped from show
January 25, 2006
"American Idol" twins Derrell and Terrell Brittenum are out of an Atlanta-area jail but they've been bounced from the Fox TV show.
'Survivor' winner Richard Hatch found guilty of tax evasion charges
January 25, 2006
Original Survivor winner Richard Hatch didn't prove nearly as persuasive with his real world jury as his reality TV version, with a federal jury finding him guilty of tax evasion for failing to pay taxes on income that included the $1,000,000 grand prize that he'd won after convincing his Survivor jury that he deserved to be crowed the champion of the popular reality show's initial Summer 2000 season.
'Top Model' star Tyra Banks' talk show renewed for second season
January 24, 2006
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution has picked up a second season of model Tyra Banks' syndicated talk show.Jamie Foxx working on "fallen rock star" reality TV show
January 24, 2006
Singer/actor Jamie Foxx says he's developing a TV show about helping fallen stars regain their star power.
'Apprentice' star Donald Trump sues 'TrumpNation' writer for $5 billion
January 24, 2006
Donald Trump has filed a $5 billion defamation suit against the author and publisher of the 2005 book, "TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald."Richard Hatch tax evasion trial jury begins deliberations
January 24, 2006
A federal jury in Providence, R.I., Tuesday began deliberating in the tax evasion trial of $1 million "Survivor" champ Richard Hatch.UPN and The WB to merge into new The CW network this fall
January 24, 2006
CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment rocked the broadcast television landscape this morning, making an unexpected and somewhat shocking announcement that they will be shutting down their respective UPN and The WB networks and instead launching a new The CW broadcast network that will begin operation this fall.Richard Hatch tax trial testimony ends with without cheating testimony
January 23, 2006
Alleged cheating by season one "Survivor" contestants did not come up as Richard Hatch finished testifying Monday in his Rhode Island tax evasion trial.
'The Apprentice' moves to Mondays, fifth edition to debut February 27
January 23, 2006
NBC has announced that The Apprentice 5, which it had previously announced would premiere "after the Olympics," will literally do so, premiering on Monday, February 27, the day after the network's Sunday night broadcast of the closing day ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics.Richard Hatch alleges producers agreed to pay taxes to hide cheating
January 21, 2006
The attorney for "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch says producers promised to pay his taxes if he kept quiet about cheating on the hit CBS reality show.The Bachelor: Paris - Episode 2 summary
January 21, 2006
"Is That The Eiffel Tower in Your Pants or Are You Just Happy to See Me," our episode summary for the second episode of The Bachelor: Paris, ABC's eighth edition of The Bachelor, written by frisky, is now available.'Survivor' winner Richard Hatch takes the stand in his tax trial
January 20, 2006
"Survivor" winner Richard Hatch admitted in a Providence, R.I., courtroom Friday he did not declare his $1 million prize on his 2001 income tax return.'American Idol Rewind' to debut in weekend syndication in September
January 20, 2006
Tribune Entertainment and American Idol producers FremantleMedia North America have announced the details of American Idol Rewind, the new syndicated television series that will repackage previous seasons of the smash-hit Fox reality show for weekend syndication.British police enter 'Big Brother' house and seize "gorilla coat"
January 19, 2006
A so-called "gorilla coat" belonging to a contestant on Britain's "Big Brother" reality TV show was seized by police for testing Thursday.Baseball slugger Barry Bonds to star in new ESPN reality TV series
January 19, 2006
San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds is apparently gearing up to star in an ESPN reality series, it was reported Thursday.
Kelly Clarkson settles 'American Idol' song use dispute
January 19, 2006
Kelly Clarkson, the original "American Idol," has relented and agreed to let contestants on the Fox TV show sing her songs.
'Idol 3' runner-up Diana DeGarmo lands Broadway 'Hairspray' role
January 19, 2006
A trio of "American Idol" offspring will be shining on Broadway this spring, it was announced Thursday.'American Idol 5' audition twins facing forgery charges in Georgia
January 19, 2006
Memphis twins Terrell and Derrell Brittenum may have wowed "American Idol" judges, but the next judges they face may be a bit stricter.Skating With Celebrities - Episode 1 summary
January 19, 2006
"The Train Wreck That Wasn’t," our episode summary for the premiere episode of Fox's new Skating With Celebrities reality series, written by WaterDrop, is now available.
UPN's 'America's Next Top Model 6' to premiere March 8
January 19, 2006
UPN announced today that America's Next Top Model - Cycle 6, the sixth edition of its Tyra Banks-hosted reality modeling talent competition series, will debut with a special two-hour premiere on Wednesday, March 8 at 8PM/PT.Dutch TV network cancels porn star's reality show after two episodes
January 18, 2006
A Netherlands TV show based on the daily life of a porn star has been shut down as too steamy for broadcast on a family-based channel.
Paula Abdul a no-show for 'American Idol' pre-debut news conference
January 18, 2006
A no-show pulled by "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul incurred the wrath of hundreds of journalists assembled for a news conference in Pasadena, Calif.Fox's 'American Idol 5' premieres to record debut ratings
January 18, 2006
Competing broadcasters and other Idol-haters beware -- Fox's American Idol juggernaut is back... and if the ratings results from last night's fifth season premiere are any indication, it looks like the show might be (almost inconceivably) even bigger than ever.Simon Cowell slams Kelly Clarkson for possible 'Idol' song use denial
January 18, 2006
An "American Idol" judge has some harsh words for the Fox TV talent show's first winner, Kelly Clarkson, who hasn't agreed to let "Idol" use her songs.
NBC resurrects 'Last Comic Standing,' orders new edition for summer
January 18, 2006
NBC has announced that it has ordered a fourth edition of its Emmy-nominated reality talent competition, reviving the series after a two-year layoff that followed the network's unwise Summer 2004 decision to overexpose the show by premiering a third, hastily-assembled Fall 2004 edition only weeks after its Last Comic Standing 2 summer edition had ended.
CBS orders 'Rock Star' sequel for summer but format still undecided
January 17, 2006
CBS has renewed its Rock Star reality talent competition, ending months of rumors about whether the Mark Burnett-created reality series would return for a second season. But although CBS has now decided that the show -- along with co-hosts Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke -- will return as part of its Summer 2006 programming lineup, numerous other details about Rock Star's new season reportedly remain undecided, including whether the new season will center around finding another lead singer for a still-undetermined headless rock group.HBO's 'All Aboard!' to document Rosie O'Donnell's gay family cruise
January 17, 2006
Comedian Rosie O'Donnell says she was surprised when participants in the first gay family cruise were met by protesters in the Bahamas.Fox's 'American Idol 5' returns with more shrieks, slight tweaks
January 17, 2006
The fifth season of Fox's American Idol juggernaut will premiere this evening, and while the new season won't feature any of the more significant "higher age limit" changes of seasons past, American Idol's producers have once again slightly tweaked the top-rated show's smash-hit formula.
The Biggest Loser Special Edition - Episode 3 summary
January 16, 2006
"For Richer, For Poorer, In Thinness And In Health," our episode summary for the third episode of NBC's The Biggest Loser Special Edition series, written by volsfan, is now available.The Bachelor: Paris - Episode 1 summary
January 16, 2006
"Meet the Cinderellas" or "Hurry, My Eggs Are Rotten," our episode summary for the first episode of The Bachelor: Paris, ABC's eighth edition of The Bachelor, written by kathliam, is now available.
ESPN's new edition of 'The Contender' to premiere July 18
January 15, 2006
ESPN has announced that rather than debut in April as was originally planned, its new season of The Contender will premiere on Tuesday, July 18 at 10PM ET/PT.Richard Hatch trial hones in on improper use of charity donations
January 14, 2006
The second day of "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch's federal trial in Providence, R.I., focused on whether he improperly used funds from his own charity.
'Idol 2' finalist Julia DeMato agrees to drug rehab, community service
January 13, 2006
"American Idol" contestant Julia DeMato has reportedly cut a deal in Danbury, Conn., to get drug and alcohol charges pending against her erased.
Bravo announces 'Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List' renewal, new season to debut in Spring 2006.
January 13, 2006
A month after Kathy Griffin herself had already announced that a second season of her My Life on the D-List reality series would begin filming in February, Bravo has confirmed that the show has been renewed and its new six-episode season will premiere sometime during Spring 2006.
Bravo's 'Top Chef' to premiere after March 8 'Project Runway 2' finale
January 13, 2006
Hoping to expose its new Top Chef reality series to as many Project Runway viewers as possible, Bravo has announced that decided to bump the premiere of the new reality cooking competition up a week and debut it immediately after the Wednesday, March 8 at 10PM ET/PT broadcast of Runway's second season finale.'Survivor' producer Mark Burnett testifies as Richard Hatch trial begins
January 12, 2006
"Survivor" boss Mark Burnett told the Providence, R.I., tax evasion trial of Richard Hatch Thursday the $1 million winner knew he was supposed to pay taxes.Starz movie channel launching 'Looking for Stars' reality show
January 12, 2006
Cable TV's Starz movie channel is launching a reality show, "Looking for Stars," in which the winner will get a role on the big screen.
Ousted 'Bachelor' bachelorette Allie Garcia-Serra: "That's so not me"
January 11, 2006
Eliminated The Bachelor: Paris bachelorette Allie Garcia-Serra might have only lasted one episode on the latest edition of the long-running ABC reality show, but apparently that was more than long enough for her learn the "it was the editing" excuse previously used by countless other reality TV contestants embarrassed about their televised behavior.
ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars 2' premiere delivers big ratings
January 11, 2006
ABC's new season of Dancing with the Stars got off to very strong rating start last week, with Thursday night's special two-hour performance show ranking as the week's sixth most watched non-sports program and the show's new Friday night results show also winning its time period.Dancing with the Stars 2 - Episode 1 summary
January 11, 2006
"Once More Back Onto The Dance Floor," our episode summary for the first episode of ABC's second edition of Dancing with the Stars, written by PhoenixMons, is now available.BET's 'Lil' Kim: The Countdown to Lockdown' show to debut March 9
January 11, 2006
Black Entertainment Television executives say their new reality series following rapper Lil' Kim as she prepared for her prison term does not condone her crime.Fox orders new Simon Cowell-created 'Duets' celebrity singing show
January 10, 2006
Increasingly busy American Idol judge Simon Cowell reportedly has yet another new reality show in the works -- Duets, an unscripted singing competition series that will feature celebrities partnering with professional singers.
'Chaotic' star Britney Spears tops Mr. Blackwell's Worst Dressed list
January 10, 2006
Pop star Britney Spears topped the 46th Annual Worst Dressed Women list released Tuesday by style watcher Mr. Blackwell.
'Malcolm' star buying Nick and Jessica's 'Newlyweds' home
January 10, 2006
"Malcolm in the Middle" star Justin "Reese" Berfield has bought the house made famous by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey on MTV's "Newlyweds."'Apprentice' star Donald Trump launches Trump University podcasts
January 10, 2006
Owners of portable MP3 players can now take "The Apprentice" star Donald Trump's latest nine-course Trump University offering on how to get rich.The Biggest Loser Special Edition - Episodes 1 & 2 summary
January 10, 2006
"How Many Losers Are In Your Family?," our episode summary for the first two episodes of NBC's The Biggest Loser Special Edition series, written by Cyndimaus, is now available.
CBS reveals 'Survivor: Panama' cast, series to premiere February 2
January 9, 2006
Although online sleuths had already identified many of them, CBS today announced the identities of sixteen of the castaways who will be competing on its upcoming Survivor: Panama -- Exile Island series.Fox orders Simon Cowell's new 'Duets' singing celebrities show
January 9, 2006
"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell is working on another singing competition for Fox TV, it was reported Monday.'Survivor' winner Richard Hatch's trial to begin jury selection
January 9, 2006
The tax evasion and fraud trial of "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch won't begin in Providence, R.I., until the week's end, a court clerk said Monday.
Authorities probing Paris Hilton New Year's Vegas nightclubs report
January 8, 2006
Authorities are investigating whether two Las Vegas nightclubs let Paris Hilton's underage boyfriend into their establishments.'American Idol 3' runner-up Diana DeGarmo lands 'Brooklyn' lead
January 7, 2006
"American Idol" runner-up Diana DeGarmo has been cast in the lead for the U.S. tour of the Broadway pop musical "Brooklyn."Divorcing 'Newlyweds' stars Nick and Jessica put home up for sale
January 6, 2006
The Calabasas, Calif., mansion made famous by former golden couple Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson during MTV's "Newlyweds" is for sale.
'American Idol' repeats to air in weekly syndication beginning this fall
January 6, 2006
Tribune Entertainment has snatched up the syndication rights to Fox TV's hit talent competition, "American Idol," it was announced Friday.
'Apprentice' star Martha Stewart loses appeal of federal conviction
January 6, 2006
A federal appeals court in New York court Friday upheld Martha Stewart's conviction for lying about a stock sale.Paris Hilton's boyfriend's friend seeks restraining order against her
January 6, 2006
A friend of Stavros Niarchos' is seeking a restraining order against the Greek shipping heir's girlfriend -- hotel heiress Paris Hilton.
Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' to premiere March 21
January 6, 2006
Bravo has announced that The Real Housewives of Orange County, its new reality documentary series, will premiere Tuesday, March 21 at 10PM ET/PT.Kevin Federline says life with Britney Spears is fine, announces album
January 5, 2006
Britney Spears' husband, Kevin Federline, announced on Ryan Seacrest's Los Angeles radio show Thursday that he's putting out a hip-hop album.
'Newlyweds' star Jessica Simpson to open People's Choice Awards
January 5, 2006
"The Dukes of Hazzard" star and pop singer Jessica Simpson was announced Thursday as the opener for the 32nd Annual People's Choice Awards on CBS.
Stacy Keibler deemed the favorite to win 'Dancing with the Stars 2'
January 5, 2006
Online gambling sites have deemed World Wrestling Entertainment professional wrestling "diva" Stacy Keibler the favorite to win the new season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars that premieres tonight at 8PM ET/PT.Source says 'Simple Life' star Paris Hilton admits making up attack
January 3, 2006
Socialite Paris Hilton has reportedly admitted making up the story about heiress Zeta Graff attacking her, the New York Post said Tuesday.
'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest officially joins the E! team
January 3, 2006
"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest has received a $21 million birthday present from E! Entertainment Network.'Apprentice' star Donald Trump says no to New York gubernatorial bid
January 3, 2006
"The Apprentice" star Donald Trump says he's having too much fun to run for governor of New York.Poll: Most would send Paris Hilton packing first from 'Survivor'
January 1, 2006
If U.S. adults were on "Survivor" on CBS, 35 percent would send Paris Hilton packing home first, and 33 percent would send President George W. Bush home.
