Onslaught of recycled reality stars

There must be slim pickings in the topsy-turvy world of unscripted programming. With the continued onslaught of reality TV shows hitting the small screen, I’ve had a lot of déjà vu lately. Here’s my list of recycled reality stars:

*Vinci Alonso, the 26-year-old bad boy model from MTV’s "8th & Ocean," is starring in the new reality show "VH1’s Viva Hollywood."

*Megan Hauserman, a former contestant on the Season 3 of "Beauty and the Geek," recently vied for the affections of Poison's Bret Michaels on VH1’s "Rock of Love 2."

*Before Boston’s Status Quo made it into the finals of MTV’s "Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew," dancers E-Knock and Jamal auditioned for Fox’s "So You Think You Can Dance."

*Bethany Frankel, currently making waves on Bravo’s "The Real Housewives of New York City," was a finalist on the ill-fated Martha Stewart edition of "The Apprentice."

*Theo Van, former contestant on MTV’s "Road Rules" and comic on NBC’s "Last Comic Standing," is now on the prom committee of ABC Family’s "America’s Prom Queen."

*Blake McGrath, a finalist on the first season of NBC’s "So You Think You Can Dance," was also a featured dancer on Jennifer Lopez’s reality show "DanceLife."

*Alison Irwin, the bad girl from "Big Brother 4" and "Big Brother All Stars," also competed on "The Amazing Race 5."

*Adrianne Curry, the winner of "America's Next Top Model: Cycle 1," appeared on "The Surreal Life," "My Fair Brady" and "My Fair Brady ... Maybe Brady."

*Toccara Jones, the fab plus-size model from "America's Next Top Model: Cycle 3," is now kicking butt on the "Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp" and has appeared on VH1 "Celebrity Paranormal Project."

Boston’s Status Quo makes it to MTV finals

It’s been a guilty pleasure of mine for the past month, but "Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew" has become a late-night ritual I simply can’t shake.

While I was initially smitten by the moves from the recently booted crew called Kaba Modern, Boston’s own Status Quo has won me over with their hunger and tenacity.

Their overnight rise to fame is a true underdog story.

Hailing from rough neighborhoods ranging from Dorchester to West Roxbury, this troupe of young dancers literally didn’t have enough money to make the trek home after auditioning for the show in Los Angeles. While I wasn’t blown away by their ode to the evolution of hip-hop showdown last Thursday, Status Quo killed it with their insane clown posse dance they called "Jack in the Box."

Their work on the MTV show is a testament of how far passion, hard work and a little luck can take you in life.

Anyway, Status Quo has made it into the finals of the "Best Dance Crew" and voting continues until the live finale 9 p.m. Thursday, March 27. The troupe is up against the insanely talented crew known as JabbaWockeeZ for the $100,000 top prize.

Click here to vote for the homegrown talent.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, Status Quo didn't take home "America's Best Dance Crew" top prize last Thursday. However, congrats to the locals for putting up a good fight.