Post by Forever Xena on Jan 5, 2006 2:24:06 GMT -6
A rundown of new reality TV shows
By TARA MERRIN -- Calgary Sun
Out with the bad and in with the been-there, done-that.
After a year of disappointing, unbelievably boring and utterly unoriginal reality TV (think The Cut, The Scholar and I Want to Be a Hilton), the network puppeteers seem to have all agreed on one thing — let’s stick with the tried and tested hits and forgo the rest.
Yes, with the exception of Rock Star: INXS, Dancing with the Stars and Beauty and the Geek, 2005 was a banner year for bad new reality.
During 2005, the ratings for most of the big networks’ new unscripted shows suffered greatly, resulting in a few cancellations (The Law Firm, The Princes of Malibu) and the declaration reality TV was dead.
But the old faithfuls such as Survivor, The Bachelor and the Idols continue to attract a huge number of couch potatoes, ensuring at least one more go:
Biggest Loser: Special Edition — tonight on NBC/RDTV
Basically this is a fast-forward version of The Biggest Loser with smaller teams. Instead of waiting for months to see the incredible weight-loss transformations, contestants go from fat to fit in just two episodes. But the $1-million US prize has been reduced to a measly $50,000.
Dancing with the Stars II — tomorrow on ABC
Get ready to rumba. The new season of last year’s surprise hit boasts an expanded lineup of celebrities who’ve signed up to waltz, fox trot and cha cha cha their way into living rooms across North America.
Actors Tia Carrere, George Hamilton, Tatum O’Neil, Lisa Rinna and recording artist Drew Lachey are among the 10 B-list stars who’ll hit the dance floor in an attempt to breathe new life into their dying careers.
Bathroom Divas — Jan. 7 on Bravo
It may not be unique (basically Canadian Idol for opera singers) but Bravo Canada’s new reality show should help ward off some of those January blues. Bathroom Divas will see 200 singers cut down to six finalists, who’ll then be forced into a three-week boot camp of vocal training for the chance to perform in a nationally televised concert.
The Bachelor — Jan. 9 on ABC/Citytv
Travis Stork, a handsome 33-year-old ER doctor from Nashville, has been named the piece of meat who’ll be ripped apart by 25 beautiful women this season. While there will be no well-endowed Alberta girls this time around, The Bachelor is promising something almost as exciting — it’s heading to Paris.
Project Runway II — Jan. 9 on Life
Sixteen new contestants get a shot at becoming the next big name in fashion design when they take their creativity to the catwalk in the second instalment of the Emmy-nominated reality series, hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum.
It’s already on in the States so make sure not to tune into The View, Regis and Kelly, Entertainment Tonight, and about 100 other American shows if you don’t want to know who’s already been declared “out.”
Beauty & the Geek — Jan. 11 on The WB
The lesson behind this show is simple. You can take a geek, get him a new hair cut and some trendy clothes and he’ll pass for an average Joe, but stupidity is forever. Sorry girls.
The second season of Ashton Kutcher’s social experiment will once again pit teams of socially challenged male geniuses against cute, dim and pathetically uneducated females. The mixed pairs will compete in varying tests of brains and social skills for $250,000 US.
American Idol — Jan. 17 on Fox/CTV
Why won’t this show go away? Once again Simon, Paula and Randy will pick a bunch of finalists to compete in a national singing contest to be judged by the American public. I may be wrong, but it’s my guess the only people who are looking forward to the latest instalment of Idol are the good folks at votefortheworst.com
Skating with Celebrities — Jan. 18 on Fox
If you thought dancing was hard, wait until you see Todd Bridges hit the ice in a figure skating competition. It’s essentially the same as Dancing with the Stars but the skaters are equally, if not more, famous as the “celebrities.”
MuchMusic VJ Search — Jan. 30 on MuchMusic
MuchMusic calls it “a gruelling experience for an eclectic crop of fame seekers thrust headlong in front of cameras 24/7 in the toughest, most emotional job interview they will ever face.” In plain English, the show will follow 10 finalists, who’ll live in a luxurious T.O. penthouse and compete in job-related challenges.
The Amazing Race 9 — Feb. 28 on CBS/CTV
The Family Edition crashed and burned with its annoying players and dull locations so CBS is going back to its roots. Eleven teams of two will race around the world for a cool $1 million.
Survivor 12 — February or early March on CBS/Global
Survivor is returning to Panama in a series entitled Survivor: Panama - Exile Island. Rumour has it the twist this time is that every week a contestant will be exiled to an island all alone so the others can freely talk about voting them off.
By TARA MERRIN -- Calgary Sun
Out with the bad and in with the been-there, done-that.
After a year of disappointing, unbelievably boring and utterly unoriginal reality TV (think The Cut, The Scholar and I Want to Be a Hilton), the network puppeteers seem to have all agreed on one thing — let’s stick with the tried and tested hits and forgo the rest.
Yes, with the exception of Rock Star: INXS, Dancing with the Stars and Beauty and the Geek, 2005 was a banner year for bad new reality.
During 2005, the ratings for most of the big networks’ new unscripted shows suffered greatly, resulting in a few cancellations (The Law Firm, The Princes of Malibu) and the declaration reality TV was dead.
But the old faithfuls such as Survivor, The Bachelor and the Idols continue to attract a huge number of couch potatoes, ensuring at least one more go:
Biggest Loser: Special Edition — tonight on NBC/RDTV
Basically this is a fast-forward version of The Biggest Loser with smaller teams. Instead of waiting for months to see the incredible weight-loss transformations, contestants go from fat to fit in just two episodes. But the $1-million US prize has been reduced to a measly $50,000.
Dancing with the Stars II — tomorrow on ABC
Get ready to rumba. The new season of last year’s surprise hit boasts an expanded lineup of celebrities who’ve signed up to waltz, fox trot and cha cha cha their way into living rooms across North America.
Actors Tia Carrere, George Hamilton, Tatum O’Neil, Lisa Rinna and recording artist Drew Lachey are among the 10 B-list stars who’ll hit the dance floor in an attempt to breathe new life into their dying careers.
Bathroom Divas — Jan. 7 on Bravo
It may not be unique (basically Canadian Idol for opera singers) but Bravo Canada’s new reality show should help ward off some of those January blues. Bathroom Divas will see 200 singers cut down to six finalists, who’ll then be forced into a three-week boot camp of vocal training for the chance to perform in a nationally televised concert.
The Bachelor — Jan. 9 on ABC/Citytv
Travis Stork, a handsome 33-year-old ER doctor from Nashville, has been named the piece of meat who’ll be ripped apart by 25 beautiful women this season. While there will be no well-endowed Alberta girls this time around, The Bachelor is promising something almost as exciting — it’s heading to Paris.
Project Runway II — Jan. 9 on Life
Sixteen new contestants get a shot at becoming the next big name in fashion design when they take their creativity to the catwalk in the second instalment of the Emmy-nominated reality series, hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum.
It’s already on in the States so make sure not to tune into The View, Regis and Kelly, Entertainment Tonight, and about 100 other American shows if you don’t want to know who’s already been declared “out.”
Beauty & the Geek — Jan. 11 on The WB
The lesson behind this show is simple. You can take a geek, get him a new hair cut and some trendy clothes and he’ll pass for an average Joe, but stupidity is forever. Sorry girls.
The second season of Ashton Kutcher’s social experiment will once again pit teams of socially challenged male geniuses against cute, dim and pathetically uneducated females. The mixed pairs will compete in varying tests of brains and social skills for $250,000 US.
American Idol — Jan. 17 on Fox/CTV
Why won’t this show go away? Once again Simon, Paula and Randy will pick a bunch of finalists to compete in a national singing contest to be judged by the American public. I may be wrong, but it’s my guess the only people who are looking forward to the latest instalment of Idol are the good folks at votefortheworst.com
Skating with Celebrities — Jan. 18 on Fox
If you thought dancing was hard, wait until you see Todd Bridges hit the ice in a figure skating competition. It’s essentially the same as Dancing with the Stars but the skaters are equally, if not more, famous as the “celebrities.”
MuchMusic VJ Search — Jan. 30 on MuchMusic
MuchMusic calls it “a gruelling experience for an eclectic crop of fame seekers thrust headlong in front of cameras 24/7 in the toughest, most emotional job interview they will ever face.” In plain English, the show will follow 10 finalists, who’ll live in a luxurious T.O. penthouse and compete in job-related challenges.
The Amazing Race 9 — Feb. 28 on CBS/CTV
The Family Edition crashed and burned with its annoying players and dull locations so CBS is going back to its roots. Eleven teams of two will race around the world for a cool $1 million.
Survivor 12 — February or early March on CBS/Global
Survivor is returning to Panama in a series entitled Survivor: Panama - Exile Island. Rumour has it the twist this time is that every week a contestant will be exiled to an island all alone so the others can freely talk about voting them off.
Source Jam Television