The Apprentice

Day/time: Wednesdays at 7, 8 or 9 p.m. (depending on province)

The story: Vying for a job assisting New York mega-tycoon Donald Trump, competitors not only face tough job assignments for the Trump Organization, but living together as well. Trump will fire one hapless shnook per episode.

The cast: Sixteen male and female participants who run the gamut from Ivy League MBA grads to street entrepreneurs without college education.

The backing: Produced by Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor.

The verdict: ‘Yeah, I think it’ll be good,’ says Dennis Dinga, VP/director of broadcast buying at M2 Universal. He isn’t hot on reality in general, but says this one has potential – largely because it doesn’t have a lot of competition in its time slot and because snowbound viewers watch a lot of TV in the dead of winter.

American Idol 3

Day/time: Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

The story: The third U.S. search for a young American singing sensation is expected to match its success last season, when it attracted more than 38 million viewers. Once again, the show will feature new contestants competing for the title of American Idol, along with the best and worst auditions.

The cast: Host Ryan Seacrest returns along with judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and that brutal Simon Cowell.

The backing: Format licensed from FremantleMedia, 19TV.

The verdict: Dinga says some of his clients have already bought into this ‘tried-and-true’ entity. Florence Ng, VP of broadcast investments at ZenithOptimedia, doesn’t believe the interest level is quite as high as for the previous season.

Average Joe: Hawaii

Day/time: Mondays at 10 p.m.

The story: A second round of the quirky reality series, in which 18 ordinary-looking guys compete for the heart of a beauty queen who is shocked to discover how unglamorous her suitors are. To keep this twist secret, by the way, Average Joe: Hawaii was taped before its parent series aired.

The cast: A former model and Miss USA contestant (TBA) is slated to take over the lead role.

The backing: NBC Studios and Krasnow Productions (Dog Eat Dog, The Weakest Link).

The verdict: ‘The original Average Joe performed well because the premise of showing us folks who aren’t like the beautiful people on all the other shows was appealing,’ says Cathy Murray, media manager at Toronto’s MaxxMedia. ‘But based on the erosion we saw with, say, the latest Joe Millionaire, I’m not sure this follow-up show will sustain viewer interest.’

The Bachelorette 2

Day/time: Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

The story: The second instalment of the romance reality series gives one woman the chance to meet 25 handsome and successful men.

The cast: Dozens of attractive men and one beautiful woman (TBA).

The backing: Produced by Next Entertainment in association with Telepictures Productions for ABC.

The verdict: Murray: ‘They just keep trotting out new people, but I think we’ll see ongoing erosion because the premise gets old fairly quickly.’

Corner Gas

Day/time: Thursdays at 8p.m.

The story: New 13-episode Canadian comedy series about the owner of the local gas station/coffee shop in Dog River, Sask.

The cast: Comedian Brent Butt as the gas station owner, with Eric Peterson and Janet Wright as his parents.

The backing: Saskatchewan-based Vérité Films’ Virginia Thompson coproduces with Vancouver’s 335 Productions in association with CTV.

The verdict: None of the buyers who spoke to Strategy were aware of this show, although CTV SVP of program planning and promotion Rick Lewchuk says it was announced during the fall launch.

Line of Fire

Day/time: Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

The story: One-hour drama delves into the gritty rivalry between the FBI and a powerful organized crime family.

The cast: Leslie Hope (24), Colin Ferguson (Coupling).

The backing: ABC, with executive producer Rod Lurie (The Contender)

The verdict: ‘I haven’t seen it, but it sounds like they’re trying to build on the appeal of The Sopranos,’ says Murray. ‘It will probably have a tough time up against Law & Order: SVU,’ says Kathleen Khoorshed, broadcast buying manager for Toronto’s OMD, ‘because they’re both about urban crime and Law & Order is already established.’

Hooked Up

Day/time: Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

The story: New six-part reality series with 20 singles searching for love in The Canadian Rockies.

The cast: see above

The backing: Lone Eagle Entertainment (Popstars, Supermodels) and Alberta-based Nomadic Pictures.

The verdict: ‘People always say there’ll never be a Survivor: Canada because there’s less opportunity to have people frolicking about in bikinis. While it’s interesting to see a Canadian reality show, this one sounds like tree-planting blind dates in parkas,’ says Dinga. ‘Oh forget it, it’s just another of those stupid reality programs.’

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series

Day/time: Sunday after-noons at varying times

The story: Live NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races for the 2004 and 2005 seasons beginning with the Daytona 500.

The cast: Crazy NASCAR drivers

The verdict: Dinga says: ‘of course some of our clients are interested, most likely automotive and Wendy’s because it’s a younger-skewing crowd. And, depending on who the brewery sponsor turns out to be, it could also make sense for Labatt.’ Although NASCAR ‘is

huge in the States,’ Ng says ‘it’s not so big in Canada and the audiences here haven’t been as high as people expected when TSN ran NASCAR.’

Rick Mercer’s Monday Report

Day/time: Mondays at 8 p.m.

The story: Caustic comic Rick Mercer turns up in a different part of Canada each week to collect opinions, swap quips and do his famous rants – after

which he mouths off in front of live audiences.

The cast: Mercer, assorted Canadians

The backing: Island Edge (Mercer’s production company)

The verdict: ‘Rick Mercer is a popular comedian. His Talking to Americans special did very well and I think people miss him on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. So I think this will probably be a successful show,’ says Murray. Khoorshed adds that the show will do well ‘because people have missed Mercer’s clever, edgy humour since he left 22 Minutes.’

This is Wonderland

Day/time: Mondays at 9 p.m.

The story: Set in Toronto’s Old City Hall courtrooms, this new combination drama/black comedy series revolves around a young female criminal lawyer and the melting pot-type cases she tackles.

The cast: Cara Pifko, Michael Riley (Interrogation of Michael Crow), Michael Healey (Robocop).

The backing: CBC production from producer Bernard Zukerman.

The verdict: ‘Kind of a marriage between Ally McBeal and Street Legal. It could definitely have some appeal if the writing is sharp and the situations are believable and contemporary,’ says Murray. ‘Could be a good alternative choice in that time slot for people interested in a Canadian spin on a lawyer show,’ says Khoorshed.