REALITY TV WATCH | Folks with local ties

"SURVIVOR ALL-STARS"
When and where: 8 p.m. Thursdays, CBS.Contestant to watch: Amber Brkich.Hometown: Beaver, Pa.Connections: Brkich, 25, earned a degree in public relations at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.The scoop: Brkich is still living on the island. Tina Wesson, winner of "Survivor: The Australian Outback" in 2001, was the first All-Star to go at the end of Sunday's debut broadcast.
"AVERAGE JOE: HAWAII"
When and where: 10 p.m. Mondays, NBC.Contestant to watch: Michael Cardamone.Hometown: Hermitage, Pa.Connections: His parents still live in Hermitage, but Michael lives in Cleveland.The scoop: So far, this show has been about pretty Larissa Meek looking for love among a preselected group of men -- some of average looks, others not so average (including Michael). Next episode, Larissa will feel the heat of competition when Brooke Burns of another reality show, "Dog Eat Dog," shows up unexpectedly and turns the guys' heads.
"THE APPRENTICE"
When and where: NBC keeps toying with this show on its prime time schedule. NBC's Web site says it'll air at 8 tonight and at 8:40 p.m. Thursday, then repeat the same schedule next week.Contestant to watch: Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth.Hometown: Youngstown; she lives in Washington, D.C.Connections: She graduated from The Rayen School in 1992, then from Central State University, and soon will receive a doctoral degree from Howard University.The scoop: We're betting that Omarosa won't be summoned to Donald Trump's boardroom for dismissal anytime soon. She's on the cover of TV Guide for Feb. 7-13, along with contestant Ereka Vetrini and The Donald himself. Labeled as "The Outsider," TV Guide writers sums her up as follows: "She went from the projects to working in the White House, and she's not afraid of a fight." That's an understatement, considering her exchanges with Ereka on and off-camera. TV Guide reports that Omarosa characterized Ereka as "a basket case" for crying when business should be unemotional, and Ereka assessed Omarosa as lazy and a "lunatic." With a $250,000-a-year job in Trump's company at stake, you can bet that the gloves will remain off in this match.
Up close and personal: Omarosa will be at Jillian's in Southern Park Mall from 7-10 p.m. Thursday. She'll answer questions during commercial breaks of Thursday's broadcast of "The Apprentice."