Whatever you may think about the auditions phase of "American Idol," the extended segment pretty much encompasses the entire reality TV universe. The Omaha tryouts had lady wrestlers (gladiator potential, anyone?), a forgetful Iowan who could've used "Don't Forget the Lyrics" host Wayne Brady by his side, and a Hollywood-bound ingenue who squealed she'd be the next "America's Top Model."

As January nears its wintry end and striking writers continue to leave viewers at the mercy of reality TV producers, "Idol" has fended off all newcomers and old-timers to claim the top Buzz spot among its ilk. Let us exult as we review the top 10 TV reality competition shows this month.

1. "American Idol" (Fox). The show's 40% Buzz margin makes the Fox program the clear leader. Of those who may have forgiven the singing contest for forgetting its true roots, the good people of Atlanta, Dallas, and Kansas (Missouri) led the queries. The show also attracts the widest age range, which may mean a generation of hopeful and/or delusional warblers for many seasons to come.

 

2. "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (NBC). If there's a chance to buy a franchise stake, do so: Online fans seek out the cookbook, workout, and recipes. Not many television programs dare to take on a New Year Day's crowd, but its successful January 1st season debut clearly fit into viewers' resolutions... at least to sit and watch other people sweat.

    

3. "American Gladiators" (NBC). The brawny supersized entrant takes the lead among the newcomers... hardly fair considering it rode in on so much nostalgia. Still, its debut success means a renewal, and the second season will lead in to the summer Olympics… a surreal tableau to be contemplated later. One of the few reality competitions popular among males—indeed, resoundingly so, with guys making 75% of searches.

 

4. "The Amazing Race" (CBS). The long-lived reality show still floats on dreamy goodwill from fans and critics that its hoary peer "Survivor" can only dream of having. For as long as the Emmy award for the category has existed, the CBS program has taken home awards for "Outstanding Reality-Competition Program." Searches have already popped for season 14 applications. Just don't forget to update your passport.

 

5. "Celebrity Apprentice" (NBC). This triumphant Trump return appealed most to New Yorkers, Phoenix, and Boston, although the sight of celebrities doing menial corporate work heartened every state (except Vermont, curiously). Working stiffs aged 35-54 lead the interest in boardroom antics with a charitable twist. Then again, it could be the draw of yet another Baldwin brother on primetime. Mebbe not.

 

6. "Rock of Love 2" (VH1). How many dating faceoffs gives the "winner" the chance to kiss off the prize, i.e., canoodling time with Poison lead singer Bret Michaels? Last season's victor Jes still pulls in buzz for showing reality TV cojones (and why somebody hasn't already put her in a faceoff with the indecisive "Bachelor" confounds us). The Search favorite this round is Megan Hauserman—the former Playboy model and "Beauty and the Geek" familiar, er, face.

 

7. "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" (VH1). With celebrity news and blogs tracking every rehab in Hollywood, the concept was sickly overdue. Accordingly, searches ratcheted up an astounding 4,264% for the voyeuristic cable show, making it the fastest moving show this month. And yes, "Rehab" features yet another Baldwin, although shocked Search sympathy lay with Jeff Conaway and Ricco Rodriguez.

 

8. "Project Runway"(Bravo). Fueled by urbanites from New York, San Francisco, and Boston, the lookups for the behind-the-scenes fashion frenzy began long before the actual debut. It runs second only to "American Idol" in its teen allure, with 1 out of 10 searches coming from ages 13-17. Juicy news for fans: In a new show, the production team will be working with fashion kingpin Tyra Banks, in a "The Devil Wears Prada" with an "Apprentice" twist. All we can say is: Trump, watch out for a Tyra takeover.

 

9. "Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" (ABC). A shameless spinoff from successes like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance," the ABC incarnation takes an "Ultimate Fighter" approach to fancy footwork. Choreographers Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli school their own team of young'uns. Usually the women are the focus of Search inquiry, but in this round, Bruno's got the Buzz edge.

 

10. "Make Me a Supermodel" (Bravo). Squeaking into the top 10, the copycat has a long way to go before approaching the buzz of precessors such as "America's Next Top Model" and "Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency." In fact, the Tyra Banks vehicle pulls in 14 times as many searches as "Make Me," and it's not even on the air. Still, the Bravo venture offers a nice twist by mixing boys and girls together in the contest. Here's to equal-opportunity ogling on reality television.