Summer of Celebreality

Although we are just a few weeks away from the official start of the summer season, we can look forward to a plethora of celebrities we have not seen for a number of years making a return to the small screen.

Career Revival
As I always say, "Television is where it's at - it's the steady gig and no matter who you are, everyone wants to be on TV." Nothing can revive an ailing career like a steady gig on TV - You will see exactly what I mean and after this summer, you will be a believer.

Welcome to Celebreality. You know those beloved shows that feature your favorite celebs of the past, now competing for something (Dancing/Skating with the Stars, Surreal Life, et al).

Unlike the interchangeable casts of the competition shows before mentioned, your new selection of shows actually contain plots and storylines around the central character.

For example, Flavor of Love was good example of a celebrity starring in a show with a purpose of trying to find a compatible (-?) companion. The viewing audience tuned in each week to watch the outrageous experience and it was VH1's highest rated show for a number of weeks. I credit Cris, Mark and Ben at 51 Minds(less) Entertainment for the success of the program and of course for William Drayton (aka Flavor Flav) for this great faux talent competition.

The good news is that you don't have to wonder any more about what happened to your favorite stars of the 80's - this is a summer filled with many new treats:

• Kirstie Alley stars in a new show called, Write & Wrong (Lifetime) about an aspiring Hollywood writer. This is not a really a reality show, per se, but it is along the same line.
  
• Scott Baio (45 and Single) and Bret Michaels (Rock of Love), will star in new Celebreality dating shows on (VH1) which are about helping the 80's "Chachi" and pop metal band Poison frontman find date(s). I guess Flavor Flav and his minions of brilliant spin-offs are finally reaching an end?
  
• Paula Abdul will star in the greatly anticipated Hey Paula! (BRAVO) and speaking of the network, they are also scheduling a third season of comedian Kathy Griffin's show My Life on the D-list.
  
• Remember The Lost Boys, the two Coreys? The Two Coreys, featuring former troubled-teen '80s pinup boys Corey Haim and Corey Feldman living together. Last I checked, they are both now in their late 30's and either one or both were with wife and children. I have a great title for the show, "Still Lost"- I better call A&E.
  
• Former tennis pro Mark Philippoussis will be attempting to date twenty and forty something "kittens and cougars" in a new network dating show called Age of Love (NBC). Just when you thought there was no one left to date. Funny thing, my business partner says no more dating shows, but they are still selling - go figure...
  
• NBA basketball star Shaquille O'Neal's Shaq's Big Challenge (ABC), a fitness show that will attempt to get obese middle-schoolers to give up soda pop and chips to slim down. Kids...
  
• For car racing enthusiasts, there will be a new driving competition Fast Cars and Superstars with William Shatner (ABC). What, no Spock?! Lieutenant Uhura would win anyway.

What's The Appeal?
Comedian Kathy Griffin says, "I think people just like seeing celebrities being humiliated. There's something juicy about watching celebrities who are out of control, not very bright and unbelievably self-centered."

One enthusiastic reader wrote, "It's a train wreck that people love to watch." That really says it all...

Nonetheless, Celebreality shows are easy and inexpensive to produce. In the long run, the shows provide a great marketing vehicle that always coincides with whatever projects the celebrity may have in addition to a much needed jump in the 'ol career. So, when all is said and done the show can provide recognition and some level of resuscitated longevity. This should be good fun.