I think the third wave of reality shows are much more tolerable and enjoyable to watch. Project Runway, Top Chef, and Design Star are less scripted than the gameshow or startracker shows, and at times a little less exciting, but I think watching any person go through the creative process under fire is interesting.

Second: I agree with Foster's Home. It's a breath of fresh air for kids shows. There's this interesting little wave of new kids shows that my toddler son got me hooked on. They're a little younger than the Foster's audience, but I don't get bored watching them with my kid:

Peep (TLC): It's heavily veiled science lessons for preschoolers. Every so often the characters start in on each other just for the sake of the adults watching, and it's fun.

The Wonder Pets (Nick): Flash animation that makes you forget about dancing hamsters. Imagine a show that teaches problem solving, geography, and some basic animal biology all in 12 minutes, in operetta form. Yes, I said operetta. You have to check it out. If you've ever been a fan of spotting Doonesbury last-panel changes, you'll get a kick out of what the producers do with the sets.