Reality TV prepared to fill gaps caused by strike

Wondering about how a certain reality show pulled something off? Have a question about a certain contestant?

Whether it's "Survivor," "American Idol," "The Apprentice," "Real World" or another show, send in your questions. Andy Dehnart, msnbc.com's Television Editor and creator of Reality Blurred, will try to answer them.

Before you send in your question, check our archives — you may be able to get your answer right away.

Q: What kind of new reality shows are in the works in case the Hollywood writers go out on strike? I understand the networks will run reality shows in place of reruns. — William M, Cincinnati, Ohio

A: The television writers' strike began Monday, but what that means for television depends upon how long it lasts. (The last strike went on for 22 weeks.) While shows that are produced on a day-to-day basis — such as "The Daily Show" and "Late Night with David Letterman" — will drop into repeats immediately, networks have stockpiled scripted shows, including full or half seasons of new series. In addition, networks typically take a break from airing new episodes over the holidays, which gives some breathing room.

All of this means that network TV probably won't change all that much until 2008 — if the strike hasn't ended by then. And for those shows with extra episodes sitting around, there may be no noticeable difference. However, reality TV is ready to stand in and fill in the gaps if they start to appear.

Here's what we do know now about reality television this spring:

Video   Strike forces late night TV into reruns Nov. 6: The shows that rely on writers to turn fresh material every day, like the Tonight Show, the Late Show and The Daily Show go into reruns. NBC's Jinah Kim reports. NBC News Channel

"American Idol" will return for a seventh season in mid-January and will probably bowl over its competition, even if it has trouble recovering from last year's relatively flat season.

"Survivor" will be back for a 16th season, which is currently filming in Palau, the same location that hosted the 10th season. Reports suggest this will be the second all-star season featuring contestants from seasons nine to 15. Typically, CBS kicks off new seasons in early February, but that could always be pushed up, since production will be done by the time "Survivor: China" ends.

Perhaps the most shocking news is that CBS could bring back "Big Brother" in March instead of next summer, possibly with a celebrity cast, according to a recent report in Variety. As to its other big reality show, CBS moved the debut of "The Amazing Race 15" to this past Sunday (it was originally scheduled to return in the spring), so it'll continue for about three months, well into next year.

In addition to bringing back its staples "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny," ABC has new reality shows such as "Oprah Winfrey's The Big Give" (on which Oprah gives people money that they have to use to help others) and "Here Come the Newlyweds," a competition between, well, newlyweds.

ABC will also air a sixth "Dancing with the Stars," but before that debuts, we'll see a spin-off show, "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann," on which the two judges will train teams of dancers and get rid of them "Apprentice"-style.

Speaking of "The Apprentice," it will return on NBC in the spring for a seventh season, and this one will feature C-list celebrities such as Stephen Baldwin, Omarosa, Gene Simmons and Marilu Henner.

FOX has ordered two new seasons of "Hell's Kitchen," plus more of Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares," and while they've planned to hold the next "Hell's Kitchen" until summer, it could move up to spring.

Finally, The CW will continue to pump out new versions of its reality standbys: "America's Next Top Model," "Beauty and the Geek" and the "Search for the Next Pussycat Doll." It also plans a "Bachelor"-like series called "Farmer Wants a Wife."

In other words, right now, spring reality TV looks pretty much like it always did.

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