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Reality TV: Gifts for reality TV fans
Friday, December 03, 2004

Instead of the usual wrap-up of this week's shows, today's Reality Check offers my top 10 holiday gift suggestions for those reality TV fans in your life.

1. TiVo. TiVo is a necessity for any serious reality TV watcher (or any avid TV watcher, really). Record every episode (first-run or rerun) of your favorite shows with Season Pass and use the WishList feature to search for keywords or actors in TiVo's two-week, built-in TV guide. Forget to set your TiVo this morning? Go online and use Online Scheduling to set your TiVo back at home. TiVo easily records and organizes all of your TV watching, and it allows you to zip through pesky commercials.

TiVo digital video recorders start at $99 (after rebates) on www.tivo.com. TiVo service costs $12.95 per month or $299 for a lifetime subscription.

And for those TiVo-devotees in your life, here's the perfect stocking stuffer: The TiVo 3-inch Plush Ornament. $3.99. Also available at www.tivo.com.

2. "Viva La Bam: The Complete First Season" on DVD (Paramount Home Video).

Bam Margera of "Jackass" fame proves he's the ultimate prankster in this hilarious eight-episode collection of his MTV show. He's always tormenting his family with the help of his crew. Highlights include Bam painting his parents' entire kitchen, and its contents, blue, and digging a tunnel into his uncle Don Vito's house.

To get into the holiday mood, skip to episode six, "The Christmas Episode," in which Bam lights the outside of the house with an obscene amount of bright lights and turns the main floor into an ice skating rink, complete with Russian figure skaters.

By the end of the season, the Margeras receive a township zoning violation kicking them out of West Chester, Pa., for a number of offenses -- a classic Bam moment. It's the perfect finale for a ridiculously funny first season. $26.99.

3. Donald Trump Talking Doll. This suit-clad replica of The Donald features 17 phrases spoken by the star of NBC's "The Apprentice." From several variations of "You're Fired!" to some tidbits of business advice, this 12-inch Trump is never at a loss for words. And in case you're wondering, the doll's hair is made of plastic. Talking Trump costs $28. Available at nbcstore.shopnbc.com.

4. "The Simple Life" and "The Simple Life 2" DVDs (Fox Home Entertainment).

In season one, socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie live on an Arkansas farm with the Leding family, sans credit cards and cell phones, where they prove they can't hold down jobs, but they sure can beg for money. In season two, the girls hit the road in a cross-country journey from Florida to California, with their pampered pooches in tow. "The Simple Life" isn't the most realistic reality TV, but it is loads of fun. Season one costs $9.98; season two, $19.98, but I've seen season one at Target and Wal-Mart for as little as $5. In the words of Paris, "That's hot."

5. "Survivor: Vanuatu" buff. Be as fashionable as your favorite Survivors with this multipurpose, polyester microfibre buff -- the same one the Survivors wear while roughing it in the South Pacific. The buffs are available in red, yellow and orange, but why not go with orange to match the remaining members of the Alinta tribe? The tribe has spoken. $20. Available at store.cbs.com/survivor9.

6. Orange County Choppers gear. Who doesn't love a good reality TV argument? Paul Sr., Paulie and Mikey have perfected the art of family bickering on Discovery Channel's "American Chopper," a show centered around a Montgomery, N.Y., custom motorcycle shop. Countless OCC items are available -- from caps and T-shirts, to die-cast models, to baby clothes, to OCC's new men's fragrance, "Full Throttle." Products vary in price and are available on webshop.orangecountychoppers.com and shopping.discovery.com.

7. The Sexiest Women of Reality TV and The Sexiest Men of Reality TV 2005 Wall Calendars.

These 16-month calendars feature some of reality TV's prettiest, hunkiest and trashiest stars showing plenty of skin. (What else is new?) The ladies' calendar features many "Real World" stars including Trishelle and Coral, and "American Idol" crooners Ryan Starr and Kimberly Caldwell, who is looking awfully grown up since her stint on the show's second season. Ethan Zohn, winner of "Survivor: Africa," poses in the guys' calendar, along with beefy Reichen, winner of "The Amazing Race 4," who, by the way, has his very own 2005 calendar. The Sexiest Reality TV calendars cost $12.99 each. The Reichen 2005 Calendar costs $14.95.

8. "The Amazing Race" passport holder. Wish you could race around the world with a loved one with the hope of winning $1 million? I know I do, but I haven't made it on the CBS show just yet. Jetsetters can keep their passport and documents safe and organized in this vinyl case embroidered with the "Amazing Race" logo. $15.95. Available at http://store.cbs.com/show.php?showID=229.

9. "The Anna Nicole Show: The First Season" DVD (Lions Gate/Fox).

Sorry, but I couldn't resist. Relive lovable Anna's wacky, wild and chubbier days with this unrated, uncensored, almost five-hour-long, three-disc set. Who could forget all the drama with outrageous designer Bobby Trendy? How luxurious! Skip right to the Christmas party episode to laugh at the antics of Anna's trashy, toothless, drunk cousin Shelly. Just try not to lose too many brain cells in the process. $24.98.

10. And finally, how about recent reality star Ashlee Simpson's "Autobiography" CD? Just kidding. How about "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica: The First Season" DVD (Paramount Home Video) instead? Follow bubbly Jessica Simpson and hubby Nick Lachey during their first year of marriage, as the pop tart learns Chicken of Sea is indeed tuna fish, and buffalo wings do not come from buffalos. She might be reality TV's ditziest, but cutest, blonde yet. $26.99.

Happy holidays. And happy reality TV watching!

First published on December 3, 2004 at 12:00 am
Kara A. Medalis may be contacted at at kara.medalis@scni.com.