The Writers Guild of America strike is little over a week old and already the onslaught of reality shows has begun. Last week, Fox announced the premiere date of its new reality show, tentatively titled " When Women Rule the World." This week, the CW announced that it, too, will debut a new unscripted show, " Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants."

The show starts 9 p. m. Dec. 12, after the season finale of "America's Next Top Model," and follows teams of mothers and daughters as they compete in a beauty pageant.

In the end, one mother/ daughter team will be crowned winner and will take home a prize package that includes $ 100,000 and a pair of tiaras.

Judges for the beauty- pageantwithin- a- TV- show include Carson Kressly, of " Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," former Miss USA Shanna Moakler ( who has also appeared on the reality shows " Dancing with the Stars" and " Meet the Barkers") and television personality Cynthia Garrett, of " Later with Cynthia Garrett."

FX awards viewers ' Damages'

After a seemingly endless wait, the cable network FX announced this week that it would renew its twisty legal drama, " Damages."

The series starred Glenn Close as ruthless attorney Patty Hewes, and Rose Byrne as her deceptively cagey young protegee, Ellen Parsons.

Despite almost universally glowing reviews, the show scored mediocre ratings, leading fans to fear it might not get a second season. But FX announced Monday that it had ordered not one, but two

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new seasons of the series.

Production of season two is slated to begin early next year in New York, but, presumably, it could be delayed if the writers strike is still on.

Byrne, Close and co- star Tate Donovan are already signed on as series regulars for season two.

Is Bravo ' Faux/ Real'?

In the spirit of its hit docuseries " The Real Housewives of Orange County," Bravo is launching "Are You Faux/ Real?," a nationwide contest available now on www.BravoTV.com, where one deserving candidate will win $ 5,000.

Interested participants are invited to submit a " before" and " after" photo with the results of their cosmetic upgrades, and an essay explaining why they deserve to live like a " Real Housewife."

Bravo will match the $ 5,000 prize with a donation to The Smile Train, a charity organization dedicated to helping children worldwide with cleft lip and palate by providing free surgery, training for doctors and research toward a cure.

For more information or to enter, log on to www.BravoTV.com, complete the entry process, and upload your photos and essay.

Essay entries can be no more than 75 words and can be submitted until Jan. 16.

Staff writer Amanda Cuda can be reached at acuda@ctpost.com.Visit her blog at forum. connpost. com/ turnedon.