nashville star

A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.

The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.

This time we have Nashville Star, America's Next Top Model, Master of Dance and other new shows.

A lot of viewers who watch reality shows - even the music competition reality shows like American Idol - might not be aware that there's another long-running singing competition show on TV. It's called Nashville Star, and it's coming to NBC.

The show usually airs on one of NBC's other properties, USA Network, but in this new strike television landscape many shows are coming over to the big networks. The show will be paired with American Gladiators, as part of their "All-American Summer."

Believe it or not, this show is actually in its fifth season, so it has a lot of fans out there. Now we'll see if that viewership increases when it comes over to the Peacock. No new host(s) has been chosen yet.

The Black Donnellys (Mon., 10PM, NBC) series premiere
There are no original ideas in the movies -- everything's a sequel, prequel or "re-imagining." So, it's no surprise that this new show from Oscar-winning movie producers Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco (Crash) tries to be an Irish version of The Sopranos. The Donnellys comprise four brothers: hothead Jimmy, gambling Kevin, artistic Tommy and baby Sean. When Jimmy kidnaps Kevin's bookie, the brothers find themselves facing off against the Italian mob.

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (Tue., 9:30PM, Fox) series premiere
Class is in session! Reality TV maestro Mark Burnett presents this new game show that tests just how much adults have forgotten since their elementary school days. Over three days this week, host Jeff Foxworthy will asks questions about everything from math to grammer to American history. And instead of using a lifeline or asking the mob, contestants can turn to some pint-sized experts: a group of real fifth graders.

• At 8, CBS has the season premiere of Survivor: Fiji, followed by new episodes of CSI and Shark.
• ABC has a new Ugly Betty at 8, then new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Men In Trees.
• NBC has new eps of My Name Is Earl, The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock, and ER.
• There's a new 'Til Death on FOX at 8, then new eps of The War At Home and The O.C.
• The CW has a new Smallville, then a new Supernatural.
• At 9, Spike has a new TNA iMPact, followed by a new Pros vs. Joes.
• TLC has a new American Chopper at 9.
• HGTV has a new Divine Design at 9.
• At 10, CMT has a new Nashville Star, with Jewel.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Sarah Silverman Program.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has a new According To Jim, followed by two new eps of Hope and Faith, then new eps of Less Than Perfect and Boston Legal.
• CBS has new eps of NCIS and The Unit, followed by Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar.
• NBC has a new Most Outrageous Moments at 8, followed by a repeat Scrubs, a new Scrubs, a new Teachers, and a new Law and Order: SVU.
• The American Idol finalists sing the songs of Motley Crue at 8 on FOX. Just kidding. It's followed by a new House.
• The WB has new eps of Gilmore Girls and Pepper Dennis, while UPN has a repeat of America's Next Top Model and a new Veronica Mars.
• Lifetime has a new Unsolved Mysteries at 8. New??
• TNT has the NBA playoffs at 8, with the Bulls vs. the Heat.
• Also at 8: ABC Family has Under The Tuscan Sun.
• At 9, Bravo has the season finale of Blow Out, followed by a new Real Housewives of Orange County.
• A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter at 9.
• Food Network repeats the special Catering Impossible: M: I: 3. It's on at 9 too.
• There's a new episode of Love Monkey on VH-1 at 9.
• At 10, USA has Nashville Star.
• FX has a new Thief at 10.
• Also at 10: TLC has a new Miami Ink.

• "If you voted for me, I'm going to hug you." Who said it? George Bush, John O'Hurley, or Ace Young? The answer.
• Stephen King couldn't care less that Katie Couric is leaving The Today Show. He tells us what he watches in the morning.
  
• Gillian Flynn likes Dirty Jobs.
• 97% of this issue is taken up by a big Summer Movie Preview, but there's some TV stuff in here too: Ken Tucker absolutely hates the first season DVD set of American Dad (he gives it an F), and Gillian Flynn gives The Unit a B-; Whitney Pastorek compares the American Idol singers to the Nashville Star singers; Lou Ferrigno (yes, Lou Ferrigno) reviews Ghost Whisperer; and there's a handy chart to some new shows that are battling for a spot on the fall sked, including Andy Richter's new PI comedy, Andy Barker, P.I., and the superhero shows Ultra and Aquaman.

• ABC has a repeat According To Jim at 8, followed by two new eps of Hope & Faith, then new eps of Less Than Perfect and Boston Legal.
• CBS has a new NCIS, a new The Unit, and a repeat of Criminal Minds.
• NBC continues their week of Celebrity Cooking Showdown at 8, followed by new eps of Scrubs and Teachers, then a repeat Law and Order: SVU.
• Over on FOX, the remaining contestants sing the songs of Rod Stewart on American Idol. It's followed by a new House.
• The WB has new eps of Gilmore Girls  and Pepper Dennis, while UPN has  a repeat America's Next Top Model and a new Veronica Mars.
• TBS has one of my favorite Friends eps, the one where Rachel throws a fake party for Emily to impress Joshua. It's on at 8.
• Also at 8: TLC has new eps of Wrecks to Richs, Overhaulin', and Miami Ink.
• At 9, VH-1 has the first never before seen episode of Love Monkey.
• HBO has the animated film Robots at 9.
• At 10, FX has a new Thief, while MTV has a new The Real World.
• Also at 10: USA has a new Nashville Star.

• At 8, FOX has a two hour American Idol.
• ABC has new eps of According To Jim, Hope & Faith, Sons & Daughters, another Sons & Daughters, and a new Boston Legal.
• CBS has a repeat NCIS at 8, followed by new eps of The Unit and The Amazing Race.
• NBC has a new Most Outrageous Moments at 8, a repeat at 8:30, a new Scrubs, a repeat Scrubs, then a new Law and Order: SVU.
• UPN has repeats of America' Next Top Model and Veronica Mars.
• The WB has two repeats of Gilmore Girls.
• TLC has Million Dollar Auctions at 8, followed by a new Overhaulin'.
• HGTV has a new Designed To Sell.
• USA has George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Intolerable Cruelty at 8.
• Also at 8: TV Guide Channel goes behind the scenes of The Office on a repeat InFANity.
• At 9, IFC has Y Tu Mama Tambien, while HBO2 has I, Robot.
• At 10, FX has a new ep of The Shield.
• Also at 10: USA has a new Nashville Star.

• The Sopranos, Sundays @ 9 pm on HBO (Sixth season premieres March 12)
• They're back.
  

• Big Love, Sundays @ 10 pm on HBO (premieres March 12)
• Bill Paxton stars as a polygamist in Salt Lake City who has three wives, seven children and three adjoining houses. Also stars Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin. Great tagline: Polygamy Loves Company.