High School Reunion
The WB (8 p.m. Sunday, WGN-Ch. 9)
Premise: Seventeen students from the Oak Park-River Forest High School class of 1992 have their 10th year reunion on Maui, with cameras catching new/old relationships and rivalries.
Cast of characters: the class clown, the nerd, the jock (see accompanying story), the homecoming queen, etc. Duration: six episodes.
Will it work? Yes. The drama is soapy, the archetypes solid, and who can’t relate to the angst of high school?
Joe Millionaire
Fox (8 p.m. Monday, WFLD-Ch. 32)
Premise: A Los Angeles construction worker who makes less than $20,000 a year is made to look like he’s loaded, and 20 women who think he has “bucks” try to woo him. Ouch.
Cast: People starved for love and attention.
Duration: seven episodes.
Will it work? Yes. Seeing an ongoing scam is always good for yuks.
Star Search
CBS (7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, WBBM-Ch. 2)
Premise: Takeoff of the old syndicated talent contest where singers, comics and others compete for short-lived fame and a few bucks. Whatever happend to Arsenio Hall? He hosts.
Cast: Amateur performers starved for love and attention.
Duration: nine episodes.
Will it work? Possibly. It’s a way to cash in on “American Idol’s” success, without the backstage anguish.
The Bachelorette
ABC (8 p.m. Wednesday, WLS-Ch. 7)
Premise: Trista Rehn, who came in second to Amanda Marsh for Alex Michel’s hand in last year’s edition, is the one who gets to belittle 25 prospects.
Cast: More losers at love who also wouldn’t mind some TV face time.
Duration: six episodes.
Will it work? Probably.
The last two racked up ratings, and now it’s a woman’s turn.
Celebrity Mole
ABC (9 p.m. Wednesday, WLS-Ch. 7)
Premise: Strangers travel the world trying to win money — with one among them undermining their moves. The twist: Players are C-level celebs. Ex-NFL receiver Ahmad Rashad hosts.
Cast: Stephen Baldwin (“The Usual Suspects”), Kim Coles (“Living Single”), Corbin Bernsen (“L.A. Law”), Kathy Griffin (“Suddenly Susan”), Michael Boatman (“Arli$$”), Erik von Detten (“Dinotopia”) and supermodel Frederique.
Duration: six episodes.
Will it work? Possibly. The game is moderately fun, and stars just might up the ante.
The Surreal Life
The WB (8 p.m. Thursday, WGN-Ch. 9)
Premise: It’s like “The Real World” and “Big Brother,” except the housemates aren’t nobodies, they’re people who used to be somebodies.
Cast: Corey Feldman (“The Lost Boys”), Emmanuel Lewis (“Webster”), Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, Jerri Manthey (“Survivor”), rapper MC Hammer, Gabrielle Carteris (“Beverly Hills 90210”) and Brande Roderick (“Baywatch”).
Duration: seven episodes (this item as published has been corrected in this text).
Will it work? Doubtful. Do you really care if Corey and Brande will get along?
