Wondering about how a certain reality show pulled something off? Have a question about a certain contestant?
Whether it's "Survivor," "American Idol," "The Apprentice," "Real World" or another show, . Andy Dehnart, msnbc.com's Television Editor and creator of ,will try to answer them.
Q: On "The Hills," how did Heidi and Lauren know each other in the first place? They seem to be from two different worlds. — Penny, Collierville, Tenn.
A: Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag, the best friends and roommates on the first season of "Laguna Beach" spin-off "The Hills," met during orientation at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2004. (They have since become enemies.)
"Everyone in the room was kind of gothy, and we were the two blonde girls in the room scared out of our minds. I ran up to her and said, 'Will you please talk to me,'" Heidi once told The New York Times. In other interviews, Heidi has said that she'd never actually seen "Laguna Beach," so she didn't recognize Lauren from the series (later, Heidi appeared briefly on "Laguna").
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}By the way, as we learned on last Monday's finale, MTV has ordered an additional eight episodes to extend this season; they'll air early next year and will follow Lauren's time in Paris and the aftermath of Spencer and Heidi's apparent break-up — although the two members of this frequently-despised couple have since appeared together in the real world.
Q: Why are there no more "Bachelorette" shows? — Kelly, Palm Bay, Fla.
A: "The Bachelorette," the spin-off of "The Bachelor" that features a woman selecting from a group of men, hasn't aired since February of 2005, when its third season concluded.
But the ABC reality series will return for a fourth season next summer. There's no official word yet about who will star in it.
Will the show recycle a rejected woman from a previous "Bachelor" season, or go with a star who has yet to appear on the franchise? (ABC has continued to air "The Bachelor" almost non-stop, and will air that show's 12th season in the spring.)
The first season of "The Bachelorette," by the way, is the only "Bachelor" season — out of a total of 14 — to produce a lasting, successful relationship. Perhaps bringing the spin-off series back may give the franchise a better shot at creating a lasting relationship. Or perhaps not.
Q: How did "Top Chef" host Padma get scarred? — Anonymous, Arlington, Texas
A: In a car accident when she was 14. The car she was in with her parents left the road in Malibu and crashed down an embankment and into a tree. Everyone survived, and she had surgery to repair her shattered arm and broken hip. While physical therapy helped her regain the use of her arm, Padma was left with a permanent reminder of the accident.
In an six years ago, Padma discussed in-depth the effect the scar has had on her career as a model and actress, which preceded her time as host of "Top Chef."
"When I first got the scar, I was self-conscious about it. I perfected a casual pose that hid it under my left hand and thumb when my arms were crossed. But I also knew my scar was a symbol of my survival," she said.
She noted that while she had work done to minimize its visibility, and while sometimes it gets covered with makeup for her work, "I love my scar. It is so much a part of me. I'm not sure I would remove it even if a doctor could wave a magic wand and delete it from my arm."
Next week, I'll look back at my favorites and least favorites, and we'll include some of your selections, too. Tell us what you think were the best and worst reality shows, moments and characters of the year by filling out the form below. And keep your questions about reality TV shows coming for 2008.
is a writer and teacher who publishes , a daily summary of reality TV news.