Fort Simpson (Feb 28/03) - Mike Matou and Sheldon McKay are big Fear Factor fans.

They love it when contestants have to eat something utterly disgusting, like buffalo testicles, Matou said.

"No, pig ovaries was the grossest thing I've ever seen," McKay exclaimed.

The fascination doesn't exist solely among teens. In Fort Providence, Darren Ruben also admits to tuning in to Fear Factor. Ruben, who grew up in Paulatuk, said there's one way he'd have an inside shot at the prize money.

"I figure if they show muktuk and frozen fish I could go down there and take the 50 Gs ($50,000 top prize)," he said, laughing.

In Fort Liard, Adilene Marcellais said she got hooked on a different "reality TV" show -- Joe Millionaire. It was Evan Marriott's rugged good looks that appealed to her, she noted.

"I think he's hot," she giggled. "I don't think he made the right choice (in mates). If he was over here he could have made the right choice with me."

When she started listing all the programs she watches, Wrigley's Tannis Cli really got on a roll: The Bachelorette, Joe Millionaire, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Temptation Island, Big Brother, The Mole and Fear Factor.

"I watch most of them," she said. "I don't watch soap operas during the day, I watch (reality TV) during the night."

Her favourites are the ones in which couples are formed, although they may not be lasting relationships.

"It's just all fairy tales, man," said Cli. "But you never know, they might (last) or they might not."

Reality TV isn't for everybody, though.

Perhaps Nahanni Butte's George Tsetso, who doesn't watch any of the shows, put it most poetically ...

"I don't bother with it. I'm too busy with my own reality," he said.