• Report: Pepsi may back space reality series

  October 1, 2002
  Pepsi is floating a proposal for a TV series in which contestants would compete to win the opportunity to travel into outer space, the New York Post reports, according to Zap2It.com.

• New German reality show to award jobs to winning contestants

  September 27, 2002
  Reuters reports that Germans competing in a new television gameshow will not be bidding to win a luxury car or exotic holiday. In a country where four million people are out of work, the prize is much more sought-after: a job. In a European version of a program on in Argentina, a country reeling from economic crisis, two unemployed people will compete for one job contract in each show.

• New FX reality show to 'nominate' American presidential candidate

  September 23, 2002
  Reuters reports that inspired by the success of the Fox hit "American Idol," sister cable network FX is developing a reality show called "American Candidate" that will choose a "people's" nominee for president in 2004. FX said on Friday it has teamed up for the show with R.J. Cutler, the documentary veteran behind the Oscar-nominated film "The War Room," which chronicled Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign for president. Joining him on the project will be director Jay Roach ("Austin Powers") and producer Tom Lassally ("Totally Hidden Video").

• NBC orders 3 episodes of new 'Adrenaline X' extreme sports reality series

  September 13, 2002
  NBC has announced that it has ordered three episodes of 'Adrenaline X,' a new action-adventure reality series matching the world's elite extreme athletes in direct competition as they perform high-risk stunts.

• 'Boot Camp' producers to team with 'Men's Health' magazine to create reality TV series

  September 12, 2002
  The Hollywood Reporters reports that under an agreement announced Monday, LMNO Productions, the producers of FOX's ill-fated 'Boot Camp' reality TV series, will adapt numerous aspects of the "Men's Health" magazine brand for television.

• New British reality show challenges contestants to get as sick as possible

  September 7, 2002
  The NY Post reports that a new British show called "Sick Day" will follow three men who will try and catch as many ailments as possible. Potential maladies include nits, lice, flu, venereal diseases and warts (a virus) and a cold. The three contestants will live together in a house jammed with cameras and microphones for two months.

• Norwegian TV turns to senior citizens for new reality show

  August 27, 2002
  Variety reports that Norwegian public broadcaster NRK's new reality show is relying on gray power -- in "Super Seniors," sixtysomethings have just 10 weeks to produce a revue.

• Erin Brockovich to host reality tv show for Lifetime

  August 4, 2002
  Reuters reports that Erin Brockovich, whose real life battle to expose corporate polluting of drinking water was turned into a hit movie, will host a television show profiling women who battle the system.

• FOX snaps up the rights to three more overseas reality TV series, including a possible successor to 'American Idol'

  August 1, 2002
  Variety reports that Fox has snapped up the rights to three reality TV formats, including a talent boot camp series that's a logical successor to summer smash "American Idol." The trio are from Dutch production powerhouse Endemol, which already has successful shows in place at CBS ("Big Brother 3") and NBC ("Fear Factor," "Spy TV").

• Reality TV shows dominating summer ratings for the 18-49 demographic

  July 31, 2002
  No wonder programming execs insist reality is here to stay. The Hollywood Reporter reports that for the week ending July 28, four of the top five and seven of the top 10 shows in 18-49 belonged to the genre, including NBC's "Dog Eat Dog" and "Fear Factor" and CBS' "Big Brother 3." Moreover, every night except Friday offered at least one high-rated reality contender. Even long-suffering ABC is in on the action; its "Mole II: The Next Betrayal" took second place in its time slot (3.5/10) and would almost certainly be doing even better if not scheduled opposite "Idol."

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