Reality hits
Here’s a round-up of shows that will make their premieres this summer
1 BIG BROTHER 15
June 26 (CBS) Big Brother is back for its 15th season, and it’s trying to shake things up again with some big twists. According to the new promo, the twist will be so huge, “We’ll need your help to pull it off.” With shows getting more interactive than ever, we can only imagine that Twitter hashtags and voting are going to come into play even more this season. Last season we had America’s Player, where viewers got to choose everything one houseguest did — including their votes. What move can top this sort of power? Whatever it is, Big Brother will be pulling out all the stops to get your eyes this summer.
2 AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR
July 1 (NBC) Tired of dating shows and cooking competitions? This reality show might be the one for you. It takes soccer moms, students, seniors – you name it – and sticks them into challenges they describe as “beyond compare”. The show boasts that only three in the world have succeeded but none have become the first American Ninja Warrior. Each finalist will get a chance to win a $500,000 cash prize once Japan’s Mount Midoriyama comes to the U.S., where they will compete for the prize and the title. Sounds intense. Maybe it’ll even inspire some viewers to get outside and try some crazy things this summer.
3 BREAKING AMISH: LA
July 21 (TLC)
Watch these young adults leave their Amish and Mennonite lives behind and decide whether they want to “break free” in L.A. or go back to the life they had before coming onto the show. We’ll meet Betsy, who was adopted, Devon, who is feeling more confused than ever with his path i n life, Iva, who has tried this once before, Lizzie, who always carved her own path, and Matt, whose two siblings have already left the Mennonite community. Emotions run high on this show and you can’t help but feel for them as they try and figure out the life we live day to day.
4 CATFISH SEASON 2
June 25 (MTV) This reality show that investigates online romances and exposes people who are posing as an alternate internet identity (a.k.a.: a catfish) won us over last season. Now, with a whole new season, we have juicier stories and mysteries that are crazier than ever. Couples who have been chatting online for eight years? A pair that is already engaged before meeting? It’s pretty nuts what Nev and Max dig up to help out these hopeless online romantics. In the trailer for Season 2, we even meet a guy who sent a girl — that he has yet to meet, but claims to love — thousands of dollars over the web. Things are about to get real on Catfish, that’s for sure.