Reality shows are tweaking old formulas

"Supernanny" and "Wife Swap"
FOX's "Nanny 911" and "Trading Spouses" failed to make it to the networks' fall or spring schedules, which is a victory for ABC, the network that airs the original version of each imported series. FOX's knock-offs didn't do well, but both "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap" offer riveting glimpses into domestic life. Nanny Jo Frost uses all of her veddy British powers to try to repair naughty children whose parents don't really know how to parent. Over on "Wife Swap," differences in class are usually highlighted as two parents switch households for a short period of time. The show is actively searching for families right now, offering $20,000 to each participating family, so it looks like it'll be sticking around.

"Supernanny" premieres Sept. 23; airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET, ABC
"Wife Swap" premieres Sept. 12: airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, ABC

"Survivor Guatemala"
Nine seasons and five years later, CBS will kick off its 10th edition of "Survivor." This year, the castaways won't be living on a beach, but instead in Mayan ruins in the heart of Guatemala.

Despite the ancient setting, most of the drama will likely still come as the survivors backstab each other on their way to $1 million. Those 16 cast members are rumored to be joined sometime during the season by two familiar faces, but one face might already be familiar: former NFL star Gary Hogeboom. Along with another castaway who's hiding his identity as an Ivy League college graduate, Hogeboom plans to conceal his past, so it sounds as though deception will be the name of this game, at least at first.

Premieres Sept. 15; airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET, CBS

“Three Wishes”
NBC moves into the feel-good reality space with the fall’s only brand-new network reality TV show. On “Three Wishes,” host Amy Grant will, um, grant, uh, three wishes to people, families, and communities. Grant will work with three familiar faces: “Trading Spaces” carpenter Carter Oosterhouse, “Clean Sweep”’s Eric Stromer, and “Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls”’ Diane Mizota.

Together, NBC says, they’ll grant a “broad spectrum of wishes range from paying tribute to an unsung hero to helping a family grappling with a loved one’s life-threatening medical crisis to honoring a high school coach by making her heartfelt wish for her students come true.”

Premieres Sept. 23; airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET, NBC

Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news