It started with Richard Hatch and Susan Hawk in the very first season of "Survivor." Hatch strolled around au naturel, Hawk talked like a sailor and I was hooked.

Actually, my very first foray into the reality genre was MTV's "Real World," which I watched off and on during the 90s. It was interesting at times, abysmal at others, but it never captured my fancy the way "Survivor" did.

SURVIVOR

The thing I like best about "Survivor" is its fairly predictable cast of characters that represent people we all know in our own lives: there's always at least one really flaky blond chick who has obviously undergone breast augmentation; an older (being 40) man who's wise and fatherly; a hillybilly; a strong, silent wildcard man; and an older (again, in her 40s) more aggressive woman who's immediately labeled the b--tch.

You can count on at least one renegade each season declaring himself in complete control of the game, making for delightful viewing when he's voted off; one woman who can't seem to keep herself covered during challenges; and a few emotional breakdowns as the stress of being stranded on a remote island begins to take its toll.

The faces change each season, but the formula is like an old friend.

It's all about social interaction. Physical ability is important, but the ability to handle people is essential - one of the few things about this or any reality show that's really real.

Others may come and go, but "Survivor" has proven to be, well, a ...

THE BRAVO EMPIRE

"Survivor" is the granddaddy of all things reality, but Bravo has two very strong candidates for favorite son. Both "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" have given us great characters (Remember Jay McCarroll and Austin Scarlett from "Project Runway" Season One? You couldn't make up those two characters if you tried.) in competitions that actually reward people who are talented in their chosen professions.

The shows also have two of the most likable hosts in television history, right up there next to Best Host of a Reality Show Ever Jeff Probst of "Survivor." Tim "Make it work" Gunn of "Runway" is the impeccably tailored epitome of class, while "Chef's" Padma Lakshmi is so stunning onscreen, it doesn't really matter what she says.

Bravo has two other occupation-based reality shows that caught my fancy. "Shear Genius," which pitted hair stylists against one another in weekly challenges, and "Top Design," a reality show for interior decorators. Kinda surreal, and not as good as "Chef" or "Runway," but I liked them both. I was afraid they wouldn't be back, but according to Bravo's Web site, both shows have just this month completed casting for their second seasons. Whew!

THE SURREAL LIFE

Any show that puts former pornographic film star Ron Jeremy and former televangelist Tammy Faye Baker together in a mansion with a bunch of other has been C- and D-Listers (Vanilla Ice? Mini Me? Erik Estrada? Did we know these people were even still alive?) for two weeks has my eyeballs. I admit I watched the first two seasons much as one would watch a traffic accident - you hate yourself, but you simply can't turn away. But my shock and awe turned to affection in Season Three because of the inclusion of Christopher Knight, AKA Peter Brady. I could have done without Adrianne Curry sinking her hooks into him, but at least their relationship has spawned the spinoff series "My Fair Brady" so we can continue to see our delightful Peter, er, I mean Christopher.

"Surreal Life" is trashy, pure and simple, but it doesn't pretend to be anything more.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• "Iron Chef/Iron Chef America" are always entertaining. I like the original Japanese version best, not only for the more exotic ingredients but also the animated narration. The American version is good, mostly because of host Alton Brown, but is lacking in the kitsch department.

• "Dancing With the Stars" is an appealing offering. I've never watched a full season, but any show that helps re-introduce ballroom dance to popular culture is a good thing. Again, it's a reality show that rewards people for being good at something other than eating bugs.

• "American Idol" is the newest addition to my reality repertoire. "Idol" is the king of milking a few minutes of performances into hours of programming, but since I've embraced the DVR lifestyle, I can zip right through to the good stuff and cut through any excruciating performances. Considering the legions of rabid "Idol" fans, I'm expecting to be impressed.

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

The reality genre has a few shows that just don't cut it.

• "Fear Factor" - Just gross and exploitive.

• "The Bachelor/Bachelorette" - How pathetic does one have to be to compete for a date on national television? Pathetic enough that I'm not interested in spending my free time with these people.

• "The Apprentice" - I would probably like this show because I'm all about nastiness and stepping over dead bodies to get to the top. But I can't in good conscience watch anything that will further line the Trump's pockets.

- Mary Jane Grenzow is features editor of The Monroe Times.