The Next Best Thing?

What do you get when you mix a panel of judges (1-affable likable 'dawg', 1-sweet passive aggressive flower and 1-brutal realist), a loquacious host, amateur talent, and a voting public?

American Idol.

Not exactly, that's just the "Talent" competition formula and ABC's new show, "The Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?" is trying to be the next Idol style show to vie for your "I can be a part of the show by voting" attention.

Let The Impersonation Begin
I have several friends, some celebrity and some not. The funny thing is that my non-celebrity friends are often mistaken for the real ones and the real ones go to a great extent NOT to be recognized.

So, naturally that leads me to conclude that REAL celebrities do not make a spectacle of themselves and try their best to lead normal lives. Okay, this has nothing to do with ABC's new show and really could be an entirely different post, so I will get back on track...

According to the ABC Press Release: "The Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?, a diabolically outrageous and raucously entertaining new show"

Not So Fast
First I love the word "raucously", just never have a chance to use it in a sentence. Typically the word "diabolically" (An adverb of the adjective Diabolical) means bad in a scheming sort of way let's just say, does it not? Why would anyone admit this from the start? Perhaps the marketing department was attempting to be 'tongue and cheek' in the slick grandiose choice of words - the viewers will ultimately decide and that's guaranteed.

Really, the idea is nothing new - we all have been to talent competitions and chances are you may have been to a celebrity impersonation show in your city or while on vacation. However, have you EVER been to a celebrity impersonation talent competition that was televised?

The Sanjaya Factor
Yes, footage from the open auditions will be televised - because what fun would any of this be? Early contestants will be impersonating well known celebs such as James Bond(-?), Superman(-?), Dolly Parton, Bono, Lucille Ball, Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie and will perform an "Act" in front of a panel judges. Sound familiar?

The invited contestants will be performing another "Act" before a live studio audience with commetary from the gallery (aka panel of judges). The finalists will be whittled down (As always) for a chance to win $100,000 - the winner will be determined by the viewers at home (Of course). If the show does well, you can expect ANOTHER season, but let's just get through this one.

The show airs Wednesday night on ABC.