• Will America pair Lisa Shannon up with the man of her dreams?

  September 16, 2003
  Lisa Shannon made it clear to America who her choice for a husband is, but does America believe that he is the best person for her? Find out who America selects for her, on the series finale of "Cupid," tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 16 (9-10 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

• 'Idol' judge Simon Cowell says Clay Aiken's success due solely to choice of song

  September 10, 2003
  The sniping from American Idol judge Simon Cowell toward Idol runner-up Clay Aiken may have begun during American Idol 2, but it clearly isn't over yet. Entertainment Weekly (subscription required) reports that Simon dismisses Clay's chart success compared to Idol winner Ruben Studdard -- and even his platinum single -- as merely a consequence of Clay's decision to cover Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

• 'American Idol' bans songs from performance due to rights and overuse concerns

  September 5, 2003
  Don't look for the next Bruce Springsteen on the next American Idol. The Associated Press reports that Idol has banned certain songs, including ones by Springsteen, Mariah Carey, James Taylor and Carly Simon, from being performed during auditions or on the show.

• ABC moving ahead with plans to bring British 'Wife Swap' show to U.S.

  August 14, 2003
  The reality TV invasion from Europe continues unabated. CBS's Survivor is adapted from the Swedish show Expedition: Robinson; Fox's American Idol is a clone of the British smash Pop Idol (complete with judge Simon Cowell); CBS's Big Brother comes from the Netherlands by way of Britain ... even Fox's Paradise Hotel comes from Britain. Now The Guardian reports that ABC is ready to go forward with the smash hit British show Wife Swap, which we reported in January was in the casting process.

• 'Reality summer' continues on U.S. networks as several shows draw high ratings

  August 12, 2003
  Back in the spring, the U.S. networks talked about dumping reality shows; only six shows were scheduled on the four main networks and ABC's Jimmy Kimmel referred to them as "shit". How quickly things change.

• Lucy Hale becomes 4th member of final "American Juniors" group

  August 1, 2003
  The votes are in and Lucy Hale from Memphis, TN joins Taylor Thompson, Tori Thompson and Chauncey Matthews in the "American Juniors" final group. This leaves only one position and six contestants vying for the final spot in the five-member group. As the stakes get higher next Tuesday, Aug. 5 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) Simon Cowell will make a special guest appearance on "American Juniors" via satellite from London with a first look at the "American Idol" auditions.

• 'Queer Eye" ratings soar on Bravo; NBC considers more rebroadcasts

  July 31, 2003
  It worked once, so why not try it again? Michael Starr in the NY Post reports that NBC is "definitely considering re-airing" episodes of the Bravo hit Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, in the face of record-breaking ratings for the cable show. The July 29 episode of the show on Bravo (which is owned by NBC) drew 2.8 million viewers, smashing the record for the most-watched show in Bravo history: the 1.6 million who watched the series premiere on July 15. The first episode then drew 6.7 million viewers to NBC when re-aired on the broadcast network on July 24.

• 'Cupid's Lisa Shannon selects her ten lucky bachelor finalists

  July 24, 2003
  Lisa Shannon's "Cupid" has whittled the pool from hundreds of potential suitors down to 10 lucky men. These men will live together in a bachelor pad in the Hollywood Hills and compete for Lisa affection and America’s approval.

• CBS to rebroadcast second 'Cupid' episode on Tuesday, July 22

  July 20, 2003
  CBS has announced that it will rebroadcast Wednesday's second episode of "Cupid", the network's new relationship reality series from "American Idol's" Simon Cowell, on Tuesday, July 22 (9-10 PM, ET/PT), following "Big Brother 4".

• U.S. Emmy Award nominations honor 'Amazing Race,' 'American Idol,' 'Survivor' and other reality shows

  July 17, 2003
  Reality TV may make famous TV producer David E. Kelley mad. But a lot of other people in Hollywood found a lot to like in the reality genre this year, resulting in five different reality shows (airing on four different networks -- CBS, Fox, MTV and E!) receiving a total of 12 Emmy nominations. (The Los Angeles Times provides a complete list of Emmy nominees, for those who want to look for themselves.)

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