Reality TV star Jade Goody made headlines for her antics on “Big Brother” in the U.K. Instant notoriety came when she said, “I thought East Anglia was abroad.” But now she’s in the headlines for another, much more tragic reason. The 27-year-old has been fighting an uphill battle with cervical cancer since last August. Unfortunately, chemotherapy hasn’t worked to combat the cancer that is rapidly spreading throughout her body. Doctors have given the star only weeks to live. In an interview, Jade revealed how she felt when she received the news.

“I couldn’t breathe when they told me, just screamed and cried and said, ‘Can’t anyone do anything to help me!’ Because a few weeks ago when they first told me the chemo hadn’t worked they said it didn’t have to be the end.”

Jade is aware of her inevitable fate, but instead of accepting the idea that she’s dying, she’s choosing to live in the moment instead.

Jay McCarroll, the fashion designer who won the first season of “Project Runway,” is the focus of a new documentary that arrives just in time for New York Fashion Week: “Eleven Minutes.” Why 11 minutes? That’s how long his first fashion show will last. The cameras follow McCarroll behind the scenes as he works to live up to the expectations that reality TV bestowed upon him and at the same time expose the insanity that is the fashion industry, of which McCarroll says: “It is the dumbest industry.” Dumb or not, the doc, the cast of which includes the delightful Kelly Cutrone, is a mostly hilarious, sometimes moving look at what it takes to make it—without compromising yourself. The bigger question, of course, is whether McCarroll or any of his reality TV show peers will be able to turn their 15 minutes of fame as reality stars into stars in the real world.

This just in…VH1 is paying has-beens major money to create and produce more lame and overdone reality TV. Former TV icon Scott Baio and former child star Jason Hervey have created “Confessions of a Teen Idol,” which will give “heartthrobs” from the ‘80s and ‘90s another chance at fame. The show, which premieres this Sunday, Jan. 4, will function as a support group for the all male cast comprised of Christopher Atkins (“The Blue Lagoon”), David Chokachi (“Baywatch”), Billy Hufsey (“Fame”), Jeremy Jackson (“Baywatch”), Eric Nies (“The Real World” and “The Grind”), Jamie Walters (“Beverly Hills 90210”), and Adrian Zmed (“TJ Hooker,” “Grease 2”). According to VH1, each hour-long episode will provide a “rare, never-before-seen look at fame and its consequences as the guys live together.” However, there really isn’t anything rare about this show.

MTV plans to launch 16 new reality shows over the next four-and-a-half months, in an effort to retain its young and flighty audience. Recent ratings show a 23 percent drop in the network’s core demographic of 12- to 34-year-olds. The new series will be in the same vein as “The Hills,” a slightly scripted success story at MTV, but will avoid the backbiting and bitchery themes of most reality shows nowadays. Instead, the shows will focus on young people accomplishing their goals and proving themselves. Gee, that sounds like “Made” to me, but hopefully MTV won’t actually interfere in the lives of these young people. But then again, is watching someone fail also entertaining? MTV probably doesn’t think so. Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks music channels and president of Logo, said these new themes are in step with the Obama generation. If Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” video is any indication, the Obama generation also enjoys music videos. Take a look at MTV’s programming for today and you’d discover music videos only air for two hours, from 5 am to 7 am. The rest of the programming is the fluff the network (and its audience) is trying to escape. After the jump find out some of what MTV has planned for your viewing pleasure.

There are two marathons for “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” on this weekend, so there is no excuse for you not to be in the know about the drama and conspicuous consumption. But if McMansions, just-for-the-hell-of-it shopping sprees and gossip aren’t your shtick, then there’s plenty of other stuff to watch. And guess what? All of it isn’t mindless TV. Oh, and don’t forget—Amelia will be liveblogging “True Blood” again on Sunday at 9pm EST!

You may remember Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas from her days as one-third of the Grammy Award-winning group TLC. We haven’t heard much from Chilli since the group fizzled after the death of member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Now we’ve caught wind of a VH1 casting call for “Atlanta’s hottest men to compete for a chance at romancing Chilli.” Seriously, is the dating scene in Atlanta that pitiful that Chilli has to humiliate herself on reality TV? More after the jump.

There’s only one thing I love more than reality television—my gay BFF!  We go together like a penis and vagina, except that we don’t have sex, obvi. Now even Bravo wants to get in on our sweet action. Rumor has it, the network that brings you Kathy Griffin and Project Runway has a new reality TV show in the works. According to gossip king Michael Musto, it will be about couples comprised of gays and the girls they love.  Although the premiere date has not been announced, I’m already making space on my DVR!  I hope this show really helps break down discrimination—and I don’t mean just against homos. The ladies who love the gays often get called hags. As if! Listen, I might not be Angelina Jolie, but I’m sick of being called a paper bagger just because I hang out with guys who aren’t interested in packing my box! And let’s face it, that name is a misnomer in most cases—Margaret Cho, Madonna, Chelsea Handler, Katherine Heigl (pictured at left with her GBFF), and even Clay Aiken’s baby mama are totally slammin’! Speaking of which, I hope Clay and his special lady/womb at least have a guest spot. Still, I wonder what the show will even be like…an “Amazing Race”-style adventure, a style show like “Top Design”, a buddy comedy like “Beauty and the Geek”?  Supposedly, the concept comes from a book that contains a collection of essays called “Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys”. Well, whenever and whatever it is, I’ll be watching!

Red lipstick, brown hair, ‘tude-tastic, and she likes to wear feathers—on paper, Kenley from Project Runway sounds like my celeb doppleganger! It was girl crush at first episode. However, as the season has progressed, that brat has broken my heart and now she seems more like my evil twin. Kenley may make ladylike dresses but she has some seriously bad manners. She’s been so rude, I feel betrayed by my style and she’s made me reconsider my love of retro.  When Kenley laughed at poor Joe on the runway with her trained poodle protégé, it made me want to puke all over her handmade dress. You know when Tim Gunn has to sit you down for a talk, you better step off. Alas, Kenley thinks she is too cool for the way of the Gunn and just seems to be taking her self-image on a downward spiral.  Karma is an even bigger bitch than you, Kenley! Everyone with cable television has seen you in action and just like these Bratz, your day is coming, doll. [Seattle PI]

Rachel Zoe is such an absurd character that we’ve developed a slight obsession with her and her reality show. Everything about her—from her kooky wardrobe to her catch phrases to her paycheck—is totally over the top. Want to possess the essence of Rachel Zoe? Here are 10 tips. And don’t forget! Halloween is right around the corner. We’re thinking about going as a posse of Zoe-mbies.

Every reality show has a breakout star—Lo or Whitney on The Hills, Nicole Richie on The Simple Life, etc.—but usually that star has a fall from grace, once everyone has tired of his or her eccentricities. Just look at Christian Siriano—even we’re sick of saying “fierce” all the tme. But this is not the case with fellow Project Runway star Tim Gunn. I don’t think anyone expected Tim to become the show’s most beloved cast member, least of all Tim, but five seasons in, how is it that we still love him so freaking much?! Check out the clip from Wednesday’s episode above. We want to smack Blayne, but Tim is just adorable as always. He’s so stylish and handsome and cultured, yet he reminds me so much of my grandma when he says, “Holla atcha boy!”

It’s not uncommon for aspiring actors to audition for reality TV shows, hoping a spot on Big Brother or The Real World will get them noticed by a casting director and catapult their career into, well, reality. But now there are people who don’t really aspire to be actors who play roles, they just want to be cast as themselves because they want to be famous, if only for one season of I Love New York. As one such person said, “I see that [reality TV] would fulfill the reason why I want to get into acting in the first place. I have that desire to express myself, to get what’s inside outside and there’s no more raw, real way than reality television.” A few enterprising people have opened schools or started offering classes in cities such as New York and London, teaching people how to be on a reality TV show. Robert Galinsky, an acting coach, performer, and producer, opened the New York Reality Television School after helping someone prepare for Animal Planet’s The Groomer Has It. He shares “eight commandment of reality television,” which include “show confidence not cockiness,” “say ‘yes’ as often as possible” (the reason for all of the hookups on The Real World?), and “never say ‘I am an actor.’” During the class, five TV cameras film the students’ every move to prepare them for the intensity of starring on a show.

Maybe one day, reality TV will become a major at colleges and become such a popular career path that everyone will be on a TV show, and shows will consist of people sitting on the couch watching other reality TV shows. Let’s pray this doesn’t happen though, because even watching Justin Bobby burp on The Hills was more exciting.
[Reuters]

This video compilation, from FourFour, featuring the cliche lines uttered on reality TV is serious awesome and thorough. Enjoy!

On Friday, I did indeed watch Queen Bees on the N, like I promised. And boy do I have to say that it was everything the network had promised. Cat fights. Lies. And diva-tude, galore. I usually get annoyed when producers release the first 10 minutes of a show because when the show actually airs, only half of it is new content. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to learn that Bees was a whole hour long, so I settled in for an extended romp with mindless television. But the thing is, this show isn’t mindless and neither are its contestants. Some of these girls are real schemers.

The N Network has a new show, Queen Bees, premiering tonight at 9 p.m., and I’m not ashamed to admit that my Friday night is looking up. The show is not about nature, but does feature queen bees, or biyatches, in their natural, swanky habitat. Host Yoanna House (America’s Next Top Model, Cycle Two) will try to change these self-described mean girls, who were nominated by family and friends, into nice girls by giving them soul-bettering tasks, and whoever shows the most growth wins $25,000.

I’m a self-described reality TV junkie. I watch it all, including Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, Jon and Kate Plus Eight, America’s Next Top Model and I’ve recently taken up a new addiction to VH1’s I Love Money. But I have to say I’m less than excited about the reality show Ashley Dupre is reportedly developing. Dupre, as you may remember, was the high-priced hooker that took down New York Governor Eliot Spitzer earlier this year. And now it seems she is looking for love and romance…or just more notoriety in the same fashion as A Shot At Love’s Tila Tequila. I guess I’m just totally sick of these celeb-reality stars thinking the American public is dumb enough to believe you can find love under the watchful eye of a production team. And I ask you, what exactly does Dupre have to offer in the ways of love? As far as I know, love has never been a job requirement of prostitution, although perceived romance has. Dupre would better serve society by developing an instructional reality show on how to make copious amounts of money with only a few hours of work. Now that’s a show I’d watch, as long as her techniques were legal. I’ve got student loans, you know. [New York Post]

One of the weird side effects of being engaged, I’m discovering, is that I cannot watch weddings on TV anymore. In movies it’s okay, because they are fictional (hence, I loved 21 Dresses), but last night, as I was thumbing through the channels, I stopped on some “Celebrity-Inspired Real Wedding Extravaganza”-type show on the Style Network and attempted to tune in. I was doing okay for awhile, but when the scene cut to the actual wedding day, I had an uncontrollable urge to change the channel. FAST. I seriously could not let myself watch the actual ceremony. It felt like skipping to the end of a book or something and reading the ending. I watched A Shot At Love II instead.

Then this morning, I was doing my usual, eat-a-yogurt-and-watch-The-Today-Show routine, when Matt, Meredith, Al, and Ann cut to the plaza where The Today Show wedding was about to be performed. And I had to turn it off AGAIN, even though I kind of wanted to see what the bride’s dress looked like. It’s hard to explain, but the idea of watching the actual ceremony in one of these reality weddings feels, like, not allowed. What’s the deal with that?

A bunch of boys are getting ready for a drag race.  But these guys aren’t into cars—they like lipstick and can apply it better than any born woman. The Logo network is currently casting for RuPaul’s Drag Race, a new reality show competition to crown America’s Top Drag Queen. While we’d take any reason to get the diva supermodel back on the boob tube, this sounds like a fierce excuse for a show!  So far, you can you can check out submission videos and vote for which tranny you think deserves a chance at the tiara.  As for Miss Ru, you’ll have to wait until the show airs sometime next year, but we’ll leave you with some vintage love. Work it girl! [Towleroad.com]