Not exactly on the cutting edge of "reality" programming, "If I Can Dream" nevertheless pushes the technological envelope as it works to make the real-life dramas imitate life as accurately as possible. The show still has potential to become "The Jersey Shore" with class and brains. In March, 2010, "If I Can Dream" debuted, showing specially chosen contestants pursuing their artistic, musical, dramatic, athletic, and creative gifts dreams, pushing themselves to break into the big time in their fields. In order to gain admission to the show's Hollywood, California home, contestants had to satisfy producers they really had legitimate shots at making their dreams come true. MySpace, PepsiCo, and Ford invested heavily in the project, gambling that it would revolutionize broadcasting by making optimum use of internet technology. At first, weekly episodes of "If I Can Dream" aired exclusively on Hulu. According to its website, "The "˜If I Can Dream' House is wired with 56 AXIS Q1755 H.264 cameras delivering content across 3 CDNs. Video feeds are available at both 500 Kbps and 1 Mbps. As designed, "˜If I Can Dream' will be the largest persistent live "˜event' produced by a media company."

The competition is high and so are the stakes for the U.S. version of The X Factor. Judges have been selected from the cream of the celebrity music crop and with a recording contract worth $5 million the winners in each category will need to be at their best and give the performances of their lives. Simon Cowell is creator of The X Factor and will oversee the talent as well as the judges, assuring the show goes on in an audience pleasing manner. Each of the judges will handle one of the four assigned categories that include boy singers (ages 12-25), girl singers (ages 12-25), group singers, and those who are over the age of twenty five. Unlike other programs of this sort there is no upper age limit for the competitors. Judges will mentor those in their category and offer help and advise as the competition progresses. Getting that advise from the likes of Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, L.A. Reid, or Simon Cowell himself will be invaluable to the aspiring singers as they have helped fashion many super stars in the music industry. There are to be five competitive stages involved: Auditions by the producers, auditions by the judges, a Bootcamp, visitation to the judges houses, and finally the live shows where it all comes down to a single winner or group. As the five stages of the competition progress, it promises to get more exciting each week

Celebrity chefs make for popular culinary reality television programming. The star of Chef Roble & Co is Roble Ali originally from Poughkeepsie, New York. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, he always wanted to follow in his grandfather's (Jesse Harris) footsteps and become a professional chef. On this new reality based show we see him attempt to start a high end catering business in New York with able assistance from his older sister Jasmine. Chef Roble & Co launches their very selective catering business for celebrity clients that include a wedding for a dog, the unveiling of a naked statue, Indian food served up at a dance party for the rich, and carnival antics and food themed to the wild party of very rich and discriminating. As many of these extravagant parties are conducted outside, the weather often plays a part in how well the party plays out as in a graduation party planned for Vanessa Williams and her young children. The bigger and more outlandish the party idea, the better our fearless chef copes, proving he can handle most any situation as long as food is involved. Roble, known as the "Hip Hop Chef" has cooked for musical notables such as Michael Jackson, Russell Simmons, Rachel Dratch, and Faith Evans.

Tiny House Hunting is a reality TV series that showcases people looking to downsize and move into a tiny house. The show follows the homebuyers as they search for the perfect tiny home that fits their unique needs and lifestyle. Each episode features different homebuyers with different budgets, tastes, and priorities.

You can't get much more "real" than those women on Real Housewives of Atlanta! These gals can get down and dirty if they choose or be ladies with style and talent at other times. Revolving around the personal and business lives of six metro Atlanta area housewives, the show has now been on for several years and is now considered the top rated show on Bravo television network. Watch as these ambitious ladies juggle their social, business, and personal home lives. The current season includes: NeNe Leakes is a singer who's expertise now lies in wig designing. She has been seen as a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice. Kim Zolciak, singer and record producer, Kim is also a Grammy Winner and busy new mom. Sheree Whitfield has been busy fighting to keep the 2.6 million dollar home she was ordered out of after her divorce from Bob Whitfield, an Atlanta Falcon football player. She claims to have no education or special skills to help her support her two children. Kandi Burruss who claims to have fortune and fame because she earned it. Herself a Grammy Award winner, Kandi is CEO and founder of Kandi Koated Entertainment, a record label, as well as her own internet show. Phaedra Parks states she is the ultimate southern belle and knows how to get what she wants! One of Georgia's Super Lawyers, Phaedra is an entertainment attorney and seen often on TV programs like Entertainment Tonight and Extra. Cynthia Bailey is a former high school homecoming queen and actress. She's been on episodes of The Cosby Show and New York Undercover. These ambitious ladies have intertwining lives and are highly competitive, making the show somewhere between a cat fight and a love in each episode.

A new addition to reality television programming is MTV's MADE. It's all about self improvement and the contestants are asking for help to become dancers, singers, athletes, or maybe expert skateboarders. There is a designated Made Coach who will provide the expertise to help them reach their goals within several weeks as their achievements are documented. Be on the lookout for casting calls put out by MTV most any time of the year. Whether it's for MADE or any of the other reality based competition shows put on by MTV you will have just as much a chance as any one else to become part of the show and win. Working your way toward becoming the best cheerleader, wrestler, opera singer, dancer, homecoming queen, or even triathlete you can possible be is only half the fun. These teens will show how competitive and dedicated they can be as they improve their talents each week and come back for more until they accomplish it all.