Kids TV 2004: Real and Reality Picks

A kids game show similar to The Iron Chef, young contestants compete in a manic cookoff. Like many of the CBC's shows, there's incessant "cool" yos and "rapping", to appeal to the hip-hop generation. 

Just when people have got that pathetic Punk'd show out of their minds, you can guarantee the format would come back from the dead. An "experimental format" show, it features no-holds-barred pranks, caught on hidden cameras. A team of young pranksters play practical jokes on unsuspecting adults. Viewers at home can go online and vote for their favourite gags, or suggest a prank. Yet another show to make Candid Camera's good-spirited laughs roll in their graves.

Since its foundation in 1955 to settle arguments arising over a pint of Guinness, The Guinness Book of World Records has become the sole authority on the biggest, smallest, fastest and strangest accomplishments on the planet. Thankfully, this isn't the FOX TV version of the series, which ran in the late 1990s. This version is hosted by Ian Wright and Kate Charman.

Before her big break, Elisha Cuthbert of The Girl Next Door and TV's 24 co-hosted PMK, a behind the scenes look at science and technology doing amazing things. Also co-hosting are Jay Baruchel (Undeclared), and later Tyler Kite, while Vanessa Lengies (American Dreams, Radio Active) and Charlie make appearances each episode. The only qualm I had with the first season of this old favourite was how much Jay moved his hands when talking, it was down-right distracting.

With thousands of occupations out there, Very Odd Jobs takes a look at some of the more unusual ways to make a living.

Butler school instructors, mountain carvers, an African safari guide, a gondola maker from Florence, the pilot of California's Goodyear Blimp. These are just some of the endless interesting people with cool careers that kids can meet on this new Canadian produced series.