Designed and built according to Bravo's standard blueprint for reality programming, "Shear Genius" TV show pits hairstylists against one another in cut-throat competition for reputation and glamorous prizes. In its first season, "Shear Genius" series steadily gained loyal viewers by word-of-mouth, and the original coterie of just over one million fans has made the program just popular and just profitable enough that Bravo programmers have stayed with it. For the first two seasons, "Charlie's Angels" mega-star Jacklyn Smith came out of retirement to host "Shear Genius"; in the third season Brazilian super-model Camila Alves took over hosting and refereeing the competitions. Like the top chefs and the aspiring fashion designers, the hair stylists on "Shear Genius" compete against the clock, arbitrary constraints, and one another, submitting their work for celebrity judges' approval. In some of the most intense challenges, the shear wizards work on mannequins' hair; in some of the eliminations, they work on aspiring models' locks. Winning styles are displayed on the Wall of Fame at Allure magazine, and the best stylist is celebrated with the signature expression, "Your work is shear genius!"

Aired in over eighty countries, and boasting well over 11 million American viewers, "The Dog Whisperer" proves that people love their dogs and Cesar Milan. Each week, self-taught professional dog trainer Cesar Milan shows how dog owners can and must become "pack leaders" for their dogs. He emphasizes exercise, discipline, and affection, and he stresses that the majority of canine misbehavior originates in owners' failure to assert their leadership with their dogs. The disclaimers insist that "The Dog Whisperer" documents only how Milan rehabilitates problem dogs and is not intended as instruction in how to train a pet. Despite the caution, legions of viewers attest to the power and wisdom of Milan's techniques. All three of Milan's books have become New York Times best-sellers with worldwide sales totaling more than two million copies.

Most foodies guide their viewers down the garden path to gluttony"”so much butter and so many fantastic flavors. On "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," celebrity chef Jamie Oliver beards the challenge of making a whole town eat healthier and lose weight. In this ground-breaking and controversial series, Oliver heads to Huntington, West Virginia, "the unhealthiest city in America." In Huntington, obesity rates soar beyond the top of the charts, so that diabetes and heart disease rates similarly skyrocket. "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" goes right to the problem's source, taking on generations-old cooking traditions that rely on fats, starches, and salts, steering away from vegetables and lean meats. Firing the opening salvo in his revolution, Oliver explained, "Jamie says, "The time is right for people to rediscover the sense of pride, satisfaction and fun you can get from cooking for the people you love. There's an incredible community in Huntington, and I want this experience to be a celebration of what we can achieve when people come together. I want to prove that turning around the epidemic of obesity and bad health doesn't have to be boring or dull in the slightest. " "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" won endorsement from First Lady Michelle Obama, whose personal crusade against childhood obesity has brought attention to the seriousness of America's obesity epidemic. At the end of his first season, Huntington residents and television critics agreed he had made significant progress, concluding, "He's"¦helping people of all ages eat more balanced meals and cook with fresh ingredients, not only at schools, but also homes, workplaces and even restaurants."

The competition is hot as"¦ well as a hotplate! And as each new season commences we see more contestants vying for the coveted role of The Next Food Network Star. It truly can be a life altering prize that has "made" stars of the likes of Guy Fieri, Aaron McCargo, Jr., Adam Gertler, and Melissa d'Arabian among others. The Food Network competition is stiff and aspiring chefs from all over the US apply for the opportunity to compete for a show of their own on the popular network. Probably the biggest success story is found in Guy Fieri who has so much personality that he cannot be denied. He even hosts a game show on the NBC network now called Minute To Win It along with his popular Diner's, Drive-in's, and Dives plus Guy's Big Bite (both on the Food Network). Appearing as a contestant on Next Food Network Star is a golden opportunity for an aspiring chef who has a standout personality and those who enter are a widely diverse group that may consist of food bloggers, sous chefs, dietitians, personal or executive chefs, and even the occasional attorney who have dreamt of one day being a famous chef.

The first of two spin-offs from Bravo's phenomenally popular "Top Chef" TV show, the masters edition focuses on accomplished chefs competing more for acclaim as the best of the best than for cash and glamorous prizes. Competition starts with twenty-four prominent masters of haute cuisine, who face unusual challenges from celebrity judges, who then evaluate their fare and determine which kitchen-kings stay and which pack-up their blades and hit the road. For example, one episode of "Top Chef Masters" challenged the chefs to prepare satisfying and flavorful lactose-free and gluten-free meals for Hollywood stars with food allergies. Rising to the occasion, the chefs showed dazzling inventiveness without hyper-drama. "Top Chef Masters" show breaks the reality television rules by showing chefs behaving with dignity, professionalism, collegiality, and even some plain old courtesy. No ego. No tantrums. Despite the absence of super-sensation, "Top Chef Masters" TV show has scored well in ratings, because it focuses more on the food than the cooks' foolishness.

American reality shows seldom satisfy as much as the fabulous dishes produced on this program! That is they would if we could get our hands on them and actually taste them like the judges do. Contestants have challenges in each episode that test their culinary talents specifically in the art of making desserts. Gail Simmons is the host and judges include Johnny Luzzini, Hubert Keller, and Dannielle Kyrillos with two challenges per episode. One challenging test is called a Quickfire followed by the Elimination Challenge. Quickfire being as the title implies, a quick test of the contestant's fundamental and basic skills in the kitchen. Elimination round is difficult and each chef must show how adaptable and creative they can be with a list of needs and use of specific ingredients. As with many other reality style shows, one contestant is eliminated at the end of each week, until there are only two remaining and the heat is not only in the kitchen but almost comes through the screen to us, the viewing audience. The loser is announced during the "Judges Table" at the end of each episode. Challenging these "experts in their own field" is a fun way to find out who can take the pressure and stand the heat until the finale at the end of the season. The winner receives $100,000 and the prestigious title of Top Chef in the world of Pastry Desserts.