This autumn, reality TV is alive and kicking

When it comes to guilty pleasures, reality TV is tops. As sure as sunrise, it gives us all something scorching to talk about besides the weather.

In 2011, as summer slides into autumn, reality television spins a skewed, gossip-filled universe, where obsessions both magnificent and madcap drive the story and the players risk shame and humiliation on the path to fame.

As well as giving producers the power to make people miserable for others' amusement, reality TV lets viewers experience tasty slices of how the rest of the world lives, to watch dreams come true, to safely navigate the extremes of human behaviour and celebrity mood swings from the comforts of the sofa.

The world over, reality feeds the need for escapism. The more unreal, the better. If the Hollywood recluse Greta Garbo were alive today, she might mutter: "I want to be alone... with my Ice Road Truckers." With this in mind, here's a sampler roundup of the most recent, increasingly bizarre offerings from North America.

New Jersey-fication

The Garden State existed in relative obscurity until The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo) came along in 2009, quickly followed by the Jersey Shore (MTV) phenomena, which flung us into the beachfront "guido" lifestyle of Seaside Heights with the likes of hardbody Mike "The Situation" DelVecchio and curvy but dim Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi who, in the most recent season, asked — "Where is Montana? Is that a state?" — in a live radio interview. In Montana.

As the Housewives enter their fourth season, comes a new spin-off — Boys to Manzo (Bravo) — which puts housewife Caroline Manzo's sons, Chris and Albie, in a new Hoboken home. Another new show from the Garden state, Tough Cookies (Food Network), sees sisters Linda Brand and Susan Adair, who own Crazy Susan's Cookie Company in Ocean City, invent banana-split cookies in a family that squabbles like macaws in heat. The icing on the Jersey reality cake is a new season of Jerseylicious (Style Network), which follows the snippy ways of stylists at the Gatsby Salon - making them big-haired stars in the process.

Family frolics

While likely to inspire few, if any, of her fellow Americans to vote her into the White House, Sarah Palin's Alaska (Discovery) makes great TV with eye-popping vistas of northern landscapes, flora and fauna, all nicely garnished with family moments (salmon fishing, white-water rafting, dog sledding).

There's more to urban life than being a rapper's "baby mama". Just ask Antonia "Toya" Carter — Lil' Wayne's ex-wife and mother of his daughter Reginae. Two years ago, she starred in Tiny and Toya (BET) with Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, also "baby mama" to two kids for rapper TI.

But baby-mama evolution is unstoppable; now Antonia has her very own show, Toya (BET), as she fights to keep her New Orleans clan together and to avoid the perils of street life. Also worth a peek, and available in the UAE: former Spice Girl Mel B: It's a Scary World (Style); The Family Crews (BET, rebroadcast in the UAE on MTV) and the lives of rock star wives in Married to Rock (E! Entertainment).

Special K to the max

It would be unthinkable not to mention the Kardashians, the gold standard for reality TV, the three sisters who shot to fame with Keeping Up with the Kardashians (E! Entertainment), with the sixth season to begin airing in the UAE this month.

Kim Kardashian — look for her wedding special sometime before the end of the year — will be featured along with new husband, professional basketball player Kris Humphries, sisters Khloe and Kourtney, brother-in-law basketballer Lamar Odom (Khloe's husband), her twin sisters Kylie and Kendall, brother Rob, parents Kris and Bruce Jenner and assorted other hangers-on.

E! seems rarely to be without some form of Kardashian show on. That includes the fourth and newest spin-off, Khloe and Lamar, and a new season of Kim and Kourtney Take New York. (Khloe and Kourtney already took Miami.)

The weird

My Mom the Centerfold (Discovery Health) features plastic-surgery model/mum Alicia Douvall, who has gone under the cosmetic knife 16 times.

Sister Wives (TLC) features a polygamist with four wives — Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn.

Then there is the riveting Toddlers & Tiaras (TLC), where preschoolers are dolled up with make-up, spray tans and wigs and pushed into beauty pageants.

Hard work? How amusing!

Imagine what it's like to drive an 18-wheeler across (hopefully) frozen northern lakes with Ice Road Truckers (History), wondering when you'll be dropped into winter's dunk tank. Or grab your vicarious chainsaw and rev up the deep-woods risks with Ax Men (History), a new dose of TV testosterone.

Then there are the two nut-stripping wrench-heads — father Paul Teutul, Sr and son Paul Teutul, Jr, on American Chopper: Senior vs Junior (Discovery) — who bring the entertainment as they feud while building custom bikes.

Ghastly gourmets

On Freaky Eaters (TLC), we meet folks such as Amber, who's on track to eat 20,000kg of French fries this year.

The real gross-out champ, however, is Charmissa, a 35-year-old financial counsellor from Texas, who chews dryer sheets on My Strange Addiction (TLC). "Most people use dryer sheets in the laundry," she says. "Me, on the other hand, I love the taste."

If you can't wait till this show comes to the UAE, watch Charmissa chow down on YouTube - search for "eating" and "dryer sheets".

Wheel of misfortune

Two separate shows, Flip Men (Spike TV) and Flipping Out (Bravo), tackle the cut-throat world of buying and selling real estate.

And then there's Pawn Stars (History Channel), where the not-so-well-to-do beg bucks from tight-fisted pawnbrokers for family heirlooms.

Also check out Storage Wars (A&E), where hustlers buy everything in storage lockers people can no longer afford to rent — and resell to clean up financially.

Cats & dogs

My Cat from Hell (Animal Planet) sees cat behaviourist Jackson Galaxy deal with everything "from spastic cats that break up relationships to violent felines that put their owners in the hospital". One woman's comment: "I love the cat, you know. He's one of those cats who takes a while to get to know."

Cats of Claw Hill (Animal Planet) enters the private world of domestic felines, following them as they move throughout their day. It promises a "cat's eye view".

Working the other side of the street with an iffy PR challenge is Pit Bulls and Parolees (Discovery). Marvel that pit bull trainer Tia Maria Torres still has 10 fingers and a face as she tries to challenge the bad reputation of pit bulls at her Villalobos Rescue Centre.

While you're here

Harvey Jones: The hunt for yield is harder for investors but opportunities continue to exist

Peter Cooper: The nine economic data points that should make investors more cautious

Harvey Jones: Is now the time for investors to return to China and emerging markets?

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.

Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.

Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”

Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.

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