Reality Shows Used To Be Friends of Mine

My love of puzzles and games extends to my television viewing.  I used to watch game shows such as Jeopardy, (and even fake game shows, like the classic, Emmy award-winning Whose Line Is It Anyway?), but I have cooled off on those.  I still like reality competition shows.  It all started with Survivor, of course, but since in moved from the summer months, I really don't watch any more.  I still like Big Brother, even if some of the challenges seem to repeat themselves.  I am not a superfan who remembers every competitor or watch online, but I do love the social interaction.  I could never go on, though, not with my issues.  I much prefer talent competitions.  I don't really watch any where the audience gets to decide who wins, for example The Voice, as I find it more popularity based than on actual talent.  I first got hooked on them when I was up late one night and caught Project Runway while flipping through the channels.  While I cannot design, I did used to know how to hand sew.  Runway helps me catch fashion trends before they become mainstream.  Although not entirely connected to men's wear (and there really should be a spin-off for this), it still helps, since I consider myself fashion forward ever since I stole ideas from friends in high school.  I guess I like cooking shows most of all.  This love started with Top Chef.  I consider myself a somewhat good, self-taught, amateur cook, but these professionals go beyond most of what I can do.  I get good ideas for recipes and trends, though.  Then, there is Next Food Network Star, something I almost could get on, especially since Kentucky natives have had a good track record (Go Demaris and Jason!).  I just don't think I am anywhere near that level yet, and besides, I am not sure I would like to be that kind of star.  My most favorite show currently is The Great British Baking Show.  I believe it to be the fairest competition out there.  Amateur cooks go out to a tent kitchen over a weekend to compete in three challenges.  On the morning of the first day, the cooks have to create a "signature" dish based on that week's theme.  They know the challenge beforehand, so they can practice and even bring their own ingredients and tools to help.  The afternoon is dedicated to a mystery "technical" challenge where the cooks are given ingredients and a bare recipe outside of their wheelhouse to recreate.  Then they are blind-judged to see how close they came to the actual recipe, ranked from worst to best.  On the second day, the have to create a "showstopper" that will take the entire day.  After this, the best of the weekend is named "star baker" and the worst is eliminated.  The overall winner gets a crystal cake stand and prestige, no prize money!  The only fault is that this last season, my local PBS station aired it two days late, and only one a week even when there were multiple episodes.  That, added to an unannounced pledge drive, led the finale to be aired late.  Not only did I have to hide from the spoilers from when it aired on the BBC last year, but current ones as well.  Then, out of nowhere, TV Guide printed the winner.  Very disappointing.  I only hope the next season goes off well now that it has changed hands and lost some of the talent.  Now, if only someone could come up with a writing competition show, I could go on it and win.  Of course, it might be very boring, just footage of people typing on keyboards or writing longhand on legal pads, but still.