We name reality TV’s turkeys of the year

What a year it's been. As reality television began to dominate the airwaves, a flock of turkeys descended into our living rooms.  This year, both Gael Fashingbauer Cooper and Andy Dehnart choose their Reality Turkeys of the Year, plus a few deserving runners-up. (We'll get back to answering your questions after the holiday.)

Andy says: Rocco DiSpirito's career crashed and burned on "The Restaurant 2," while Ryan Seacrest ultimately failed to expand his TV empire beyond repetitive, childish interaction with Simon Cowell when his Idol-fueled daytime talker failed to catch on.

And every former "Real World" and "Road Rules" cast member who subjected us to their presence yet again on one of the two "Challenge" shows this year deserves our scorn for trying to bleed their fame dry.

But my reality TV turkey of the year has to be Donald Trump, and not just because both he and the birds clearly go to the same salon. When Trump makes absurdly hyperbolic statements about "The Apprentice" (the "number-one show on television") or his own products ("the purest, best-tasting water you can imagine"), we collectively roll our eyes because he actually expects us to buy it. Ditto for his weekly oversimplified, preachy lessons about business. His persona has been amplified on "The Apprentice 2," where the success of the first season clearly went to his head. Trump has made a series of bizarre and sometimes seemingly irrational decisions in the boardroom, which make him look like John Cleese's "Rat Race" mogul Donald Sinclair when he says, "I can do whatever I want. I'm eccentric. Grrr!"

Still, all of this has a corollary, and that's the fact that it's hard not to love Trump for acting like such an eccentric nitwit.

His VISA Check Card commercials are brilliant, and show that Trump is at least somewhat self-aware. He's given us the most entertaining new competition reality show to debut in a long while, breathing life into the genre while breathing plenty of hot air into the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade balloon that is both his ego and his persona.

Gael says: So many turkeys, so little time. I considered New York Giants benchwarmer Jesse Palmer for one of the most boneheaded "Bachelor" fumbles ever: In his first rose ceremony, Palmer said "Katie" when he meant "Karen," leading to a bizarre and humiliating scene where he had to explain to some poor woman named Katie that she was welcome to stay, even though it was clear he'd meant to boot her.

I also mulled over choosing Amanda Byram, the Most Desperate Woman in Reality TV, who's hosted both "Paradise Hotel" and "The Swan." And there's also Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth of "The Apprentice," if for nothing more than losing Jessica Simpson and, worse yet, finding her again.

Fox William Hung's 15 minutes should have been over long ago.

But in the end, my choice was as glaring as a certain bright-blue shirt. Because he bangs, he bangs! Oh baby, when he moves, he moves... I go crazy. When William Hung first showed up at the "American Idol" auditions, I suspect the screeners just thought he was one of the many, many bad singers who think they're going to be the next Fantasia or Ruben. But when he opened his mouth ... well, the UC Berkeley student simply defined the cliche "so bad, it's good." His voice never met a correct note and his dance moves resembled someone hopping around on an anthill. But his attitude was purely turkey-free. While "Idol" judges Randy, Simon and Paula dissolved into helpless laughter, Hung stood proud, saying "I already gave my best and I have no regrets at all."

So in the end, Hung is not a turkey for his attitude, but for his inability to Just. Go. Away. His fifteen minutes of fame were kinda fun, and we'll never hear a certain Ricky Martin song the same way again. But he's got multiple albums now (including the hilariously named "Hung for the Holidays"). He's got a DVD ("Hangin' with Hung"). He's been on Ellen De Generes' talk show; he's sung at at least two NBA games and one major-league baseball game. William. Please. Stop the insanity.

Speaking of turkeys...
Thanksgiving and the day before it are full of cooking and family, but it turns out they're also full of reality TV. Here's a look at the reality lineup those days:

Wednesday, Nov. 24
• "Kelly, Ruben & Fantasia: Home for Christmas," FOX, 9 p.m. ET
The debut of "American Idol 4" is still two months away, but the three previous winners will feed your need for "Idol" as they perform songs from their holiday CDs.

• "The Bachelor 6" finale and "After the Final Rose special," ABC, 8-11 p.m ET.
Three hours of "The Bachelor 6," the perfect way to kick off a holiday weekend. Or not. The two-hour finale will be followed by the coma-inducing "After the Final Rose" special.

• "Regency House Party" finale, PBS, check local listings
PBS airs the final episode of the Jane Austen-era reality dating series, in which singles have to play by the courtship rules of the early 1800s. With the stifling guidelines and clothing, it easily rivals "The Bachelor" for drama.

Thursday: Nov. 25, Thanksgiving
• "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," Bravo, 1-7 p.m ET.
Hang out with the Fab Five for six hours; the marathon includes two airings of the new "A Queer Eye Thanksgiving" special, where the Fab Five show up to see if their proteges have kept up their new looks.

• "The Real World Philadelphia," MTV, 1-4 p.m ET.
Three hours of sex, lies, and conflict — perfect for Thanksgiving Day.

• "Trading Spaces: Family," TLC, 4-11 p.m. ET.
Avoid your family by hanging out with families redecorating each others' homes during this seven hour marathon.

• "Survivor," CBS, 8 p.m. ET.
• "Apprentice," NBC, 9 p.m. ET.
Finish dinner early, as new episodes of both "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" will air Thanksgiving evening. A 12th castaway will be voted off the island, and Trump's minions will redesign Pepsi product packaging. The shows will face competition from the younger members of your household, as ABC is airing "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" followed by "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the Jim Carrey version, not the animated version).    —A.D.

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is MSNBC.com's Television Editor. Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news.

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