Another summer season comes to an end, and with it ends the 11th season of Big Brother. This season was quite a roller coaster with house guests in an all-out-battle vocally. I have never seen a season where there was so much tension, distain and animosity between the house guests.

It definitely made for interesting viewing, but at times it did mean the I.Q level may have been lowered a little to keep up with the taunting and immature behavior that took place.

So I was quite happy that the winner this year was a player who was trust worthy and truthful during the game. Just goes to show you don’t have to lie, cheat and steal to make a cool half million prize. Jordan played it smart and aligned herself with some strong players and then kicked it up when she needed to win. A good strategy that proved to be the way to go - while other seasons the nice guy has definitely finished last.

It’s hard to let Big Brother go. Though I have to dedicate three nights a week to it, the eye in the sky currently ranks as one of my MUST SEE shows. It really is reality at its best. The house guests can’t hide in the house or from each other or the public - nice or not, they are on display to be judged. Good or bad, they are in it together down to their eviction. And even then those that are kicked off must head to the jury house to rehash their best and worst moments all over again.

Despite all its pitfalls, this is the type of show I would want to take part in if they had it in Canada.

From executive producer Johnny Knoxville comes a spine-tingling, hair-raising, nail-biting show full of stupidity, athleticism and sheer craziness. Brings a tear to my eye as I think back to the days of Jackass… but this is better. Who needs some crazed skateboarders when you can get the Nitro Circus crew comprised of experts in BMX, Motocross and even B.A.S.E. jumping.

Week to week I sit on the edge of my couch with a pit in my stomach as I squirm in anticipation - will this be the episode in which someone is seriously injured and heads to the hospital, or will my heart just have to skip a few beats and wait for the next crazy stunt? Either way, it’s 30 minutes of pure adrenaline for the viewer. I can only imagine what it’s like for the participants and their unlucky friends that get called upon. I know some of you may think this type of programming is grotesque and inhumane but I say, hey, bring it on if someone is willing to do it and it can take me away from my reality every once and a while.

Sadistically, I do wish this show was on more than just once a week and perhaps even for more than its allotted time slot…… or would my nerves be able to take it? I’d be willing to risk it as this has turned into one of my favorite guilty pleasures. My hat goes off to a friend that turned me onto the show - I never knew what I was missing and now it’s a must to find the episodes from the beginning so I can catch up.

So let the big wheel racing, canyon jumping, monster truck flipping and just plain crazy stunts keep on coming. This is one happy viewer that will be glued to the TV.

My love for TLC is constantly growing thanks to their array of programming being released for the summer season and the old favorites that still have a place in my heart.

While checking out some of the season premieres this week I came across what could be my next weekly “must see” show. Bill and Jen are newlyweds being introduced to us in The Little Couple, a show stemming from their one hour special earlier this year: Little People: Just Married.

Even though TLC already has a hit with Little People, Big World, and some might question if they need another, I think this is a great avenue to follow as we get to see the beginnings of a new relationship and what will become of this family. The average-sized world doesn’t always get a glimpse into the lives of others that are different, special or just living their lives while dealing with challenges. I admire this strong duo for the challenges they face and the courage they have to look above the ill mannered public that they sometimes come across. We can all learn a little something from this soon-to-be hit show.

My other favorite, as some of you know, is Jon &Kate Plus 8. I try not to believe what I read (in tabloids, at least) but it’s hard when it’s always in your face. So when I heard the tabloid rumors, I wondered if it meant the end of this happy family. Just like millions of others I was glued to my TV for the premiere episode of season five to see what was unfolding. As much as I wanted to see the family in action it was a bittersweet hour. Seeing the Gosselins’ interviewed separately on the couch was hard to handle; I wanted to see the bickering and laughing from seasons past. And it was heart-wrenching to hear the kids say they didn’t want their dad to be away anymore. I know we all love the “reality” of reality TV, but maybe this is too real. Maybe this family should be left in peace to pick up the pieces of their slowly shattering lives. To quote Jon, “My kids are going to Google me one day. I hope they’re mature enough to understand what’s happened.” It breaks my heart to know that what has transpired in the past few months will follow this family essentially for the rest of their lives and they won’t be able to run from it.

Will they survive as a family unit? Only time will tell and I don’t think we will have the answers by the end of this season - which as far as we know may be the final one. I do wish them a little solitude, especially for the younger kids who really don’t know what’s happening around them. Kinda sad when five-year-olds have to get used to the paparazzi following their every move, even waiting for them outside a party supply store.

Okay, so I’ve been sucked in - are Jon and Kate (of Plus 8 fame) splitting up? After watching the season four finale I’m beginning to wonder myself.

At the very end of the finale the producer off screen asked them each what they thought of the past year and how it has affected their family. Kate was overly eager to say how happy she was and talked about the opportunities her family has been given with travel and different cultural activities. Meanwhile, Jon wasn’t as enthusiastic. He almost seemed resentful - unhappy about the popularity and lifestyle the show has given them and he even alluded to the fact that he couldn’t be just Jon, now he’s Jon & Kate Plus 8. With a red face and blank stare he looked as if he would have rather been anywhere than the ever-familiar interview chair.

Is the honeymoon over for these two and their brood? After I had time for the episode to sink in I began to wonder if this was indeed the new reality for the “happy” couple, or if it was a cliffhanger of sorts. The level of awkwardness coming from the television made me think that a season five may not be in the works. As many will agree, I hope the family returns to their crazy antics for another season.

But as Kate mentioned, they may or may not be back - I guess only time will tell. Best of luck to the Gosselins; a good break may mend whatever broken fences may exist and bring them back to the glory of their reality star lives.

Wow. Who knew Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher could make such a mess when it came to creating a new program together? America’s Next Top Model and Beauty and the Geek are mega hits that have become formats and spun off into other regions and Punk’d was the ultimate prank show with a twist. But watching True Beauty, I can honestly say that I felt like I lost a few brain cells while watching the first episode, and even scarier, I almost couldn’t tear myself away from the TV. I was like an innocent bystander driving past a bad accident on the highway - somehow I just couldn’t look away.

The worst part is the show started with an idea that had the potential to be so good - to try to find the inner beauty in someone. But yet again, the show is based on the most attractive person in the room. What does this show say to the world - are we back to judging the book by its cover? Why can’t you have someone that is attractive, though not over-the-top gorgeous, and then see them build to become more and more beautiful as you get to know them? That seems to be more like reality.

Famous words from Heidi Klum as she starts the last runway show on this seasons final episode of Project Runway.  Once again I know some American’s are reading this and wondering if I finally caught up on my PVR or am I just simply that out of it. Neither is the case. Unfortunately, here in Canada, some of the best shows are on a slightly slower schedule as they are picked by one of many channels fighting for such hits as this. The wait was well worth it and somehow I managed to steer clear of the media - the winner was a surprise…. I love it when that happens.

This extremely eccentric show has always had a history of some “out there” characters, and I think this season held up just fine. They came out blazing - opinionated, pig headed, stubborn and I even learned that apparently you can have a bad attitude and it will still take you pretty damn far. Too bad life outside the glamor bubble can’t be that easy, or successful.

For the first time this show produced three women in the final, all with completely different looks and views, and dare I say every collection shown was absolutely amazing. Sadly that can’t be said for previous season. Once again creators behind the scenes have managed to pick the best of the best and they produced when it counted. Here’s hoping the next season will have just as much talent and punch. It could be hard to beat this crew.

Saldy, as I deleted this final episode, the wait will be a long one but the anticipation will get me through to the next season. As Heidi always likes to say, you’re out “Auf Wiedersehen!”

The PVR/DVR and Timeshifting have to be the best technical inventions of our time. If I hadn’t had these in my television watching arsenal, it’s safe to say that I would have missed the greatest finale of Dancing with the Stars. WOW - what a showdown, or should I say Mambo Smack Down.

While in its 7^th season, Dancing with the Stars still has star quality that piques your curiosity and grabs your attention, and that’s with two shows per week, and three in the beginning. A lot to take in but it’s worth it. With the accessible cast of stars I think it’s safe to say that a few more seasons will be in the works for ABC.

Where else can you get a boy band pop star, model/host and very large football hero willing to possibly put their reputations on the line to learn a few steps? The finalists this season were sensational and one was even touted as being as good as some of the professionals on  the show. Koodos to you Brooke Burke and her fancy foot work. She had men swooning at their televisions and woman wishing they had her grace. A glimps into her perceived ‘perfect star life’ has given all her viewers a chance to see her as a normal person and root for her to win.

March can’t come too soon for the next installment. Here’s hoping for the sake of the next line-up that the accidents, ambulance rides and hospital visits will be kept to a minimum. This season taught us that dancing just may be a sport as the saying goes, “It’s not a sport until someone gets hurt.”  I guess there’s a little something for everyone.

You’re probably wondering if this is going to be another heart warming write up. If that was your initial thought… well your right. I can’t seem to pull myself away from the feel good shows. Is that really a crime? Seriously, there are far worse things in the world than wanting to see a happy ending.

So the tale of this week brings us to Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I think it’s safe to say that this is probably one of the best moves ABC made when they picked up this program. It’s good clean family entertainment, we all know that can be hard to find these days. And along with that smart decision they also managed to get the perfect host, Ty Pennington. He was well suited for carpentry when I first saw him on Trading Spaces,  but even better matched as not only a personality for the show but also someone that can empathize with his guest families and really bring their stories to life - the good and the bad. Just goes to show that a great host really makes the show a hit.

In all the years I’ve been watching this show, the team has always had the ability to make the viewer look past someone’s disability and get you to focus on all the abilities; and they usually are pretty grand. Koodos to this program week after week for highlighting the challenges of the not so every day person that has had to adjust to a not so accommodating world.

Every day, I come across something that I think is difficult in my life. Is it because I’ve hit a lazy streak or is the task actually overwhelming? More often than not it’s a common practice for the human race to go about this day to day torture of self loathing and close themselves in an incoherent, dense fog

Little People Big World – one on my favorite shows on TLC – has made me think about life a little differently in the past little while. This is a family in which three of its members are challenged every day by things that would be simple tasks for the average sized person. Makes you appreciate the world we live in.

Matt Roloff, the father of this fantastic family of six never ceases to amaze me. In the season premier, he made it his mission to travel to Afghanistan to help a family with three dwarf children who needed medical attention. An enormous task for someone so small, the size of his heart more than made up for it. In watching the past two seasons, this isn’t the first time Matt and his family has helped the less fortunate – a charity was developed to help kids with dwarfism and also adoption processes for those who wanted to open their hearts to a small child that needed a home. I could go on about how Matt has started to change and enhance the lives of little people around him but I’m afraid I would run out of time and space. He just simply is of the best examples of a man you can find these days: driven, compassionate, family oriented, achiever and so on. Kind of makes you want to start making a difference in your own life and some of the people around you. Every bit counts right!

I know my past few entries seem to pull at my own heart strings. I guess it’s because I enjoy finding  good stories to help hide from the horrible reality of our every day society. Matt Roloff and his family have shown us how to succeed and strive forward in good and bad. I think it’s time we took a page from their book and looked at our lives a little differently.

Fall is a great time of year, especially if you’re as fond of television as I am. New seasons of old favorites to comfort you and new shows that leave you with a sense of wonder for what’s to come.

This week was a sad one as I sat down to the finale of Top Chef – I know it’s a little slow on the showings for us Canadians but I’ll take what I can get. This show always has the ability to grab me and I don’t know why; it’s kind of odd when I’m not much of a fan of cooking. But for some reason I love to see the masterpieces these chefs concoct; talk about your brain moving a mile a minute. Plus you’re always guaranteed an uproar between the cast members, a given since they spend 24/7 together and are uncensored, raring to go and always speak their unforgiving minds when they hit the judges’ table. I have to say, from guests to contestants, this definitely gives you the best bang for your cable bill buck. Can’t wait for the next season.

And then the moment you know fall has truly arrived – Jeff Probst appears in a crisp, blue button down shirt ready to welcome us to the wonders of an untouched landscape soon to be overtaken by man and cameras. Funny how it’s the same wardrobe season to season…. But I seriously love it. Then the magic 18 march their way to their season of Survivor, what a moment. You can feel the nerves, the curiosity and, of course, the adrenaline as the first challenge is about to begin. And you always have that thought” ‘Are you kidding me? There’s no way she’ll make it past the first tribal counsel,’ and ‘Are they serious about placing that girl on the show? She won’t last a week in her thin state.’ Well it happens season after season whether our opinions are valid or not. I guess it just adds to the intrigue of the show. And so we watch and wait for those famous words: ‘Survivors Ready?’ I know I am, bring it on!