The summer of 2000 started out to be a typical one for television: repeats, theatrical movies edited for television, repeats, shows that needed to be burned off because they were so bad, and repeats. It was a formula that hadn't really changed for the Big Three networks in several years. And, it was one that viewers had gotten used to as they mourned the last episode of their favorite series and waited with eagerness for the new season to begin in September.

Then, something happened. CBS decided to air a 'game show' about a group of strangers stranded on a tropical island. Survivor began at the end of May and continued into the end of August. Along the way it gained more and more fans and produced more and more publicity for both the show and the network. By the last episode, on August 23rd, Survivor had become a huge success as well as one of the highest rated original shows ever to air in the summer.

Little did CBS know that this summer replacement show would begin the Reality Revolution and change the landscape of network television forever more.

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Now that the big finale is in the books, and the right chef won, the fine folks over at Top Chef HQ have some time on their hands. It appears they'll be spending it getting going on their new spinoff, Top Chef Jr. (not an official title). According to the press release, the series comes about because Top Chef is the "number one food show on cable." I think that is a point that might be contested by someone at Food Network, but I do agree, it is my favorite of the cooking based shows.

The show will have an eight episode run and feature teens (13-16) in the familiar competitions to see if they are junior top chefs. Bravo calls it a natural expansion of their food domain and says it will be fun for the whole family. I can't help but think of Trading Spaces: Boys vs Girls. It was a fine imitation of the original Trading Spaces, but didn't hold up among the parent show's fans. And that's exactly what I would expect from Top Chef Jr.

I know most of you have been kept awake at night by disturbing thoughts that there just might not be enough reality television. Thankfully, the folks over at the FOX-owned MyNetworkTV have heard your cries in the night and are developing some new (and not so new) reality shows.

First, the short-lived NBC series Meet my Folks is coming back with the same format of parents deciding who their children should date.

There's also Jail, a new series from John Langley, the creator of Cops. As the name suggests, this series will look at life in prisons all over the United States.