TVSquad

Got a press release from Bravo the other day that says they've not only given the green light for a third season of Shear Genius, they also have a new reality show coming up titled Double Exposure. I'm not even going to tell you what world the show is set in because you can probably pretty much tell from the title.

Do you remember when Bravo wasn't completely infested with reality shows? Sure, Top Chef is a good show, but the channel is practically all reality shows now, and most of them pretty lame (if not despicable). We've had Hey Paula, which showed Paula Abdul stumbling through her life. We've seen The Real Housewives of Orange County turn into some sort of ever-growing franchise. And let's not forget Tabatha's Salon Makeover, Manhunt, Make Me A Supermodel, Blow Out, Millionaire Matchmaker, Showbiz Moms and Dads, and...well, about 40 others.

No, it's not going away. The reality television genre is growing even stronger as it becomes the umbrella for shows ranging from the traditional reality "game" shows like Survivor or The Apprentice, to actual game shows, to real life drama such as The First 48 or Intervention to talent contests and beyond.

What I'll be doing here is taking a look at some of the current newsworthy bits from recently-aired shows, checking out upcoming shows, and sharing the latest reality TV gossip. Is it real or is it just reality TV? As long as I'm entertained, that's all I ask of any show, scripted or not. Are you game? Join me beyond the jump.

Labor Day marks the end of summer (yeah, don't tell me summer ends later in September, if it's Labor Day and the kids are back in school, summer is over), and you could spend the weekend at the beach, having a barbecue, or doing something athletic outside. Or, you could stay in all weekend on your couch and watch a TV marathon! Here's a list of some marathons you can see this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Saturday, August 30

• At 6am, TCM starts a marathon of Katharine Hepburn movies.
• At 7, History Channel has a marathon of Ax Men.
• At 9, USA has a Starter Wife marathon.
• Also at 9, Sci-Fi has a marathon of monster movies, including Carnosaur, Reptilian, Beneath Loch Ness, Eye of the Beast, King of the Lost World, and Black Swarm.
• At 10, Bravo has a Shear Genius marathon.
• At 11, History Channel has a bunch of Ice Road Truckers episodes.
• At 11:30, Discovery Kids has a marathon of Flight 29 Down episodes.
• At 2pm, Spike has a CSI marathon.

• The news channels have the Democratic National Convention all night, with the main networks joining at 10.
• At 7, USA has more coverage of The U.S. Open.
• At 8, CBS has a new Greatest American Dog.
• NBC has a new, two-hour America's Got Talent at 8.
• Bravo has a new Project Runway at 9, then a new Shear Genius.
• Discovery Channel has a new NextWorld at 8, followed by a new Mythbusters.
• At 9, Sundance Channel has a new Architecture School.
• At 9:30, A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter, then two new episodes of Criss Angel Mindfreak.
• At 10, Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.
• Also at 10:30: E! has a new Sunset Tan.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, CBS has a new Greatest American Dog.
• PBS has a new Click & Clack at 8, followed by a new Nova scienceNOW.
• TCM has The Glenn Miller Story at 8, then The Benny Goodman Story.
• At 9, NBC has a new Baby Borrowers.
• FOX has a new So You Think You Can Dance at 9.
• There's a new Dog The Bounty Hunter at 9, then a new Criss Angel Mindfreak.
• History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
• Bravo has a new Project Runway at 9, followed by a new Shear Genius.
• Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters International at 9, then two new episodes of Scare Tactics.
• Also at 9: Food Network has a new Throwdown with Bobby Flay at 9.
• At 10, ABC has a new Primetime: Crime.
• TruTV has a new Black Gold at 10.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has the season premiere of Root of All Evil.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Despite rumors and conspiracy theories about Bravo trying to sabotage Project Runway because the show is leaving them for Lifetime, the premiere had the most viewers for a premiere that the network has ever seen, 2.9 million. That was enough to make Bravo the #1 cable network from 9-10 in all key demographics. And Project Runway was the top ranked cable telecast for the day in adults 18-49.

That's certainly cause for celebration, but there's more good news. The fourth episode of Shear Genius managed a milestone of its own, becoming just the fifth Bravo show to top 2 million viewers for an episode. The others are Queer Eye, Top Chef, Project Runway, and The Real Housewives of Orange County. Completing the trifecta of personal bests, Flipping Out broke a million viewers for the first time.

The success sets the stage for a very interesting ratings drama once Project Runway debuts on Lifetime. Will the fans follow the show to Lifetime? And will the Lifetime audience embrace a show that seems to fit the network's brand about as well as a new season of Queer Eye on Spike? I'd prefer to see it stay at Bravo, but I'm all kinds of curious to watch the change play out.

• At 8, CBS has a new Big Brother.
• FOX has a new, two-hour So You Think You Can Dance at 8.
• PBS has a new Click & Clack's As The Wrench Turns at 8, then a new NovascienceNOW.
• At 9, NBC has a new Baby Borrowers, followed by a new Celebrity Circus.
• A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter at 9.
• History Channel has Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight at 9.
• There's a new Costas Now on HBO at 9.
• Bravo has a new Project Runway at 9, then a new Shear Genius.
• At 10, ABC has a new Primetime: Crime.
• TruTV has a new Black Gold at 10.
• TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne at 10.
• Also at 10: Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible.

Check your local TV listings for more.

This is a rather confusing story. Or maybe all of this heat is getting to me and there's obvious point here I'm missing.

Nielsen Media surveyed 82,000 18-49 year-olds (a rather hefty sample), and 75% of the respondents say that Bravo is the most engaging network. Yup, the network of reality shows (is there anything else on the network these days?) holds the attention of that key demographic more than any other channel, network or cable, including runner-up CBS (which got 74%), ABC (73%), The CW (71%), NBC (70%), and FOX (69%).

• At 8, FOX has a new, two hour So You Think You Can Dance.
• PBS has a new Click & Clack's As The Wrench Turns at 8, then a new Nova scienceNOW.
• At 9, NBC has a new Baby Borrowers, followed by a new Celebrity Circus.
• History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
• HGTV has a new Deserving Design at 9, followed by a new Design on a Dime.
• Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters International at 9, then two new episodes of Scare Tactics.
• At 10, ABC has a new Primetime: Crime.
• There's a new Black Gold on TruTV at 10.
• TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne at 10.
• Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
• MTV has a new Real World at 10.
• Also at 10: Bravo has a new Shear Genius.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Mind of Mencia.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, FOX has a new So You Think You Can Dance.
• At 8:30, G4 has their Comic Con '08 Live Preview.
• At 9, NBC has a new Baby Borrowers, followed by a new Celebrity Circus.
• PBS has a new Nova scienceNOW at 9.
• Also at 9: Sundance Channel has a new On The Road In America.
• At 9:30, HGTV has a new Design on a Dime.
• At 10, TruTV has a new Black Gold.
• TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne at 10.
• Bravo has a new Shear Genius at 10.
• Also at 10: MTV has a new episode of The Real World.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Mind of Mencia.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Well, she's making over America one salon at a time. The former Shear Genius contestant will be saving America's hair stylists in Tabatha's Salon Takeover. She'll visit salons on both coasts that are in dire need of her direction. Coffey has just a week to work her magic.

This is the "hair version" of Kitchen Nightmares. The press release goes on to say that her comments are mean and jarring. The salon owners and employees probably won't like her at first. But they'll realize that it's her passion and intensity that "drives her sincere quest to turn these salons around." After one week with Coffey, who started as a salon assistant when she was 14-years-old, we'll see dramatic results. Coffey will also recommend people to be fired and tell some of the better stylists that they should raise their rates. Kitchen Nightmares, right? I'm not saying I wouldn't give this a try though. I like Kitchen Nightmares.

Tabatha's Salon Takeover premieres Thursday August 21st at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo.

• At 8, FOX has a new So You Think You Can Dance.
• ABC has a new Wife Swap at 8, followed by new episodes of Supernanny and Primetime: Crime.
• NBC has a new Deal Or No Deal at 8, then the series premiere of The Baby Borrowers and a new Celebrity Circus.
• HBO2 has On Location: George Carlin at USC at 8, followed by George Carlin Again!, George Carlin at Carnegie Hall, George Carlin: On Campus, and George Carlin: Playin' With Your Head.
• At 9, PBS has a new Nova scienceNOW.
• History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
• Hallmark has the movie Charlie & Me at 9.
• At 9:30, HGTV has a new Design on a Dime.
• At 10, TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
• Bravo has a new Shear Genius at 10.
• Also at 10: MTV has a new episode of The Real World.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Mind of Mencia.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Much like the marriage of Top Chef and all things Glad, Bravo's Shear Genius has inked a deal with Nexxus Salon Hair Care to be the sole integrated sponsor of the upcoming season. And we're talking full immersion here. The salon that houses the competition will be called the "Shear Genius Nexxus Salon." There will be a Nexxus challenge in the show. The stylists will use only Nexxus products. And the winner of the Shear Genius will receive $100,000 furnished by Nexxus and an apprenticeship with the company.

Get ready to lather, rinse and compete. The second season of SG will premiere on Wednesday June 25th at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Jaclyn Smith will host. Celebrity stylist Kim Vo and Allure editor Kelly Atterton will helm the judges table. Rene Fris will be back again as the contestants' mentor.

Shear Genius is the Bravo's first original series shot in high definition.

On Friday I attended the All-American Summer Press Event held by NBC Universal. The event was held at the Langham Hotel (formerly the Ritz-Carlton) in Pasadena, CA. It included the casts and producers of the following shows: American Gladiators, Nashville Star, Shear Genius, and Last Comic Standing. NBC also held panels for two new shows: Celebrity Circus and Baby Borrowers.

Find out what Wolf said and what's in store for next season on NBC and Bravo after the jump...

You know they have to been ticked off at Bravo about losing Project Runway to Lifetime. Still, Bravo execs stood up at a breakfast in New York to announce their new schedule, all happy and smiling. The good news is that they still have some good stuff coming up, starting with more Kathy Griffin, another season of goofy Jeff Lewis, the house flipper, and -- oh, yeah -- one more edition of Project Runway. Should we call in the auld lang syne edition?

Here's the rundown of what's coming back for Bravo:

-- Project Runway: The last Bravo season (unless something changes) will begin in July 2008, with the usual cast of judges.