About Your Reality TV Show Idea...

You're Here!

Welcome to the end of another great week - yes, they are all 'Great' in their own unique and special way...

As you can imagine and as you have read my mention within previous posts, each and every day I receive hundreds of email messages, in each of my 12 email boxes. Admittedly, I am unable to read such a large volume of email messages and most are largely unaware that I do not receive messages directly. Unless I contact someone specifically or am expecting a specific communication - I am oblivious to most (Ah, let this serve as written notice to those that ask what I thought of their email).

Having said, a large number of messages are inquiries - usually questions about upcoming shows, casting referrals, request for pitch or ideas for Reality Shows. Primarily for this reason, there are people that filter, read and respond accordingly to every message.

For those that need to reach me personally, it is suggested that you contact me via one of my 5 mobile phones, 3 office phones, or at my 2 fax numbers, or my other 5 personal email boxes (Checked by one of 2 assistants), or resort to billboard or skywriting (Of course, I am only kidding on the last two options - chances are I would not even be in town to see it and that would be thousands of dollars gone to waste and that would be a bummer).

Anyway, returning to our subject...Reality Show Ideas.

Show Us Your "Life"
If you are a regular viewer of reality television, you are aware there are several types of Reality Shows (Chad Gervich teaches a tremendous course on this subject, with tons of amazing information). Of the latest group of popular shows, we are seeing more Celebrity based reality shows.

Within the past week you may have heard or read that Pam Anderson, Sarah Jessica Parker, P. Diddy (And long-time girlfriend also has her own a new show), George Foreman, Ewan McGregor, Tommy Lee, Tiffany 'New York' Pollard, Brett Michaels (Again!), Janet Jackson, and I am sure there are tons of other pseudo-celebs not within immediate recollection, all have new or soon to be reality projects.

These celebrities are willing to allow cameras into their perceived "Lives" because of 1) The Money and 2) Publicity and 3) The Money.

The economics are fairly simple, the Production Company believes that they can sell the show to a Network because of a bankable (You decide) fans of said celebrity.

The general rule of thumb and Big Secret is that if you are making headlines (Or have in the past), chances are you will or are in contemplation of working your agent to get out there and shop your version of reality to someone.

Further, Networks do not need to approach celebrities (Despite popular belief) - Agents and Production Companies are largely responsible for shopping ideas who in turn, shop the Networks. Perhaps you can determine where this logic is progressing....

A good Agent is always THE BEST place to begin - just as a job recruiter, the Agent is your champion (More or less). Ah, but similar to the rule of experience in the working world, so to is this true in television. For this is the problematic 'Catch 22'...Read on.

The 'You Should' Reality Show
Given the above, it is truly astonishing that each time I meet someone or someone that I have not seen for some time, the subject of "You should do a reality show about...(Insert topic, usually related around them, here) or "I have an idea for a reality show" (Again, followed by inserted topic about them here). My usual response is simply a big smile.

Why just earlier this week a friend (Who shall remain nameless) said, "They have got to be running out of ideas for reality shows by now!" Which prompted another great smile as my response.

First, "They" will never run out of ideas for reality shows - that is completely naive and absurd. For it is like saying, "Well, Star Search and Gong Show already existed so there is no reason for a show called American Idol" or "Well, a game show already exists, so there are no more ideas for other types of game shows"; So much for Jeopardy, Deal or No Deal, Fear Factor, Wheel of Fortune, Singing Bee, Moment of Truth, 1 vs 100, Match Game, Dating Game, and thousands of other game shows over the past 50+ years.

Alas grasshopper, so you see it is not possible for "They" to run out of ideas for reality shows. It is possible to notice trends in reality show interests (American Idol, America's Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars, American Inventor) according to ratings and audience interest - new show ideas can be created at any moment from any event, pop culture, or audience interest.

The before mentioned are only big Network shows - there are literally hundreds of Cable reality shows on great channels (My personal favorites) such as Bravo, A&E, Oxygen, TLC, History Channel, MTV, and watch out for Broadband networks such as LifetimeTV, On Networks, MOJO, LXTV and others.

There are more than enough venues for distribution of your ideas. So my point (Yes, there is one) is rather than tell "They/Them" about your latest idea of why you should have your own show - SHOW us!

Get out there and put together your show as closely as you imagine watching it on television. If it is simply not possible - at least write it out on paper with complete details as if you were going to film the show and include day-to-day unusual scenarios of interest. Even more, tell us who is your audience (This question alone is always where the aspiring leave the table).

Yes, you will need to conduct research and homework - but, this action indicates that you have thought through the complexities of your show (Ideas are a dime a dozen - it's the execution that matters - I relearn this daily), that you are serious and willing to commit to the project (It is hard work), and thus will reveal your level of true motivation.

Now let's get to work on some new shows!