Radar makes the world's tawdriest reality shows safe for American audiences

This article is from the July/August issue of Radar Magazine. For a risk-free issue, click here.

When it comes to reality TV, Americans are prudes. While the rest of the world enjoys programming packed with sex, stunts, and flaming car wrecks, U.S. network execs only see fit to import the most modest foreign fare (Nanny 911, anyone?).

Fortunately, thanks to ABC's new offering I Survived a Japanese Game Show (premiering June 24), the States are poised to jump headlong into the burbling hot tub of reality sleaze. Still, it'll take years for the networks to tweak the backlog of worldly reality for domestic consumption. But with the help of Kid Nation executive producer Tom Forman, we've done our part to speed up the country's descent into utter depravity. (You can thank us later.) Here, a few of the world's nuttiest shows, tweaked for local sensibilities.

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Fat Kids Can't Hunt
Country: United Kingdom
The Concept: Ten weighty youngsters are sent to live for a month with aborigines in Australia's outback, where they are forced to survive on whatever animals and insects they can catch.
The Problem: Fat kids on TV?
Forman's Fix: "Actually, the problem here isn't fat kids. It's hunting. Lose that, and you've got a feel-good show about Americans shedding pounds."