Reality TV: Melting Under The Summer Sun

This summer has not been a good one for reality television in the States. With the fall season just weeks away, the broadcast networks have failed to come up with one new breakout reality hit on the same level of "Survivor" in 2000 and "American Idol" in 2002.
Consider the plight of poor ABC. Just about every one of its new or returning reality shows this summer have failed: "Fat March," "The Ex-Wives Club," "The Next Best Thing," "Fast Cars and Superstars," "Shaq's Big Challenge," "Set For Life," and "National Bingo Night." Only "Just for Laughs," a clip show of blunders and bloopers, had some staying power.
At CBS, the return of "Big Brother" did so-so, while Mark Burnett's latest entry, "Pirate Master," was a total flop.
NBC had better luck with its new "Age Of Love," along with returnees "Last Comic Standing" and "America's Got Talent." It also had a moderate hit with the karaoke-inspired "Singing Bee."
Fox probably did the best overall this summer. "Hell's Kitchen," "So You Think You Can Dance," "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" and newcomer "Don't Forget The Lyrics" (similar to "Singing Bee") did well with viewers. But not even Fox could score every time; the film school-esque competition "On The Lot" was a quick flop, even with Mark Burnett's name on it. (See "Pirate Master." Fortunately, Burnett's "Fifth Grader" has been a solid hit for Fox, and ironically one of the few true family shows on broadcast television.)
One genre that has been on the decline this summer is the celebrity-reality show--sparked by the success of MTV's "The Osbournes" back in 2002. This year, a number of reality shows centered around current or former celebrities have bitten the dust--especially Bravo's ill-considered "behind the scenes" look at "Idol" co-host Paula Abdul. "Hey Paula" was a mishmash of production and worst of all, Abdul herself was a snooze. After ten minutes of watching Paula's navel-gazing and seeing her ill-mannered dog chew up the scenery, I was ready to throw my remote at the TV set. (By contrast, Bravo's "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" is far better, more introspective and a wonderful fit for its comic star. That's how to do a celeb-reality series!
This fall, the five US broadcasters will air about 18 hours of reality in prime time every week. And that doesn't even include the cable networks, most of which have at least one or two signature reality entries. Will it be overkill, or will viewers take to the newest entries and return to old favorites? The Nielsens will tell.

HERE SHE COMES...ON ANOTHER NETWORK:

I don't make these things up, folks. First, here is the official news release, followed by my take:
"The Miss America Organization today announced a multi year agreement with TLC, its new network home, which will telecast the distinguished "Miss America Pageant" on Saturday January 26, 2008...(with broadcast rights)through 2010.
"We're thrilled to partner with the Miss America Organization and to broadcast the next generation of the Miss America Pageant," said (TLC President/General Manager Angela) Shapiro-Mathes. "In addition, through a new reality series, we'll get to know 52 of the country's smartest and most beautiful women as they prepare for a competition they've dreamed of their entire lives. The series will culminate in the ultimate pay-off - the Miss America 2008 Pageant itself (to be presented at Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas). This collaboration is a tremendous opportunity for us to present this scholarship pageant and great American tradition to our viewers with a contemporary production style unique to our channel."
AS I SEE IT: Following ABC's cancellation of "Miss America" in 2005, the pageant was picked up by Country Music Television (cable) a year later; the initial ratings were good by CMT standards but far below the final year on ABC. (Miss America first aired on national television in 1954; NBC had rights to the once-high rated event for decades until ABC obtained the rights.) But last year's "Miss America" was the lowest-rated in history--prompting CMT not to pick up the pageant's rights, and allowing TLC--best-known for such reality shows as "Miami Ink" (tattoo artists) and "Big People Little World" (a family of mostly little people), not to mention the US versions of "What Not To Wear" and "Changing Rooms (Trading Spaces)." What's next--"Miss America Ink?" Can't wait!
Until next time, happy viewing!