The Reality Departed of 2007

Ah, I am finally getting up-to-date, thank you for all of your email messages and holiday wishes!

While I was busy discussing all of my favorite things last week, Entertainment Weekly published it's list of Best/Worst of 2007. Some of the items were deserved of being deemed "Best" while others were relegated to the Junk pile.

So....I started thinking about some of the "Disappointments" last year in the world of reality television. I know it is difficult to believe that there could possibly be reality TV show casualties, but alas there were some real ("Insert words here"), in 2007.

Allow me to refresh your memory with the following:

1. On the Lot (Fox). What happened with this show?! I have had many conversation about this show with numerous people. Although the show had all of the right American Idol type ingredients (3 credible judges, a host, amateur talent, and a public voting system), something just did not keep the interest. Even Mark Burnett does not even know what happened!

2. The Next Great American Band (Fox). Again, another AI scenario - One foreign judge with an accent, 80's Diva (Sheila E. this time), cutie pop rocker Johnny Rzeznick (Goo Goo Dolls) and some dude who was trying to be Ryan Seacrest = Snoozefest.

3. The Apprentice (NBC). Well, we know what happened here (Mass commercial product placement disguised as 'tasks').

Quite frankly, Don does not even know the names of the marketing executives who commandeer being written into the show (It's tough to believe that some nameless marketing execs at some corporation are "Good friends" of Trump). Even more, the 'tasks' always involve a plug for Trump's latest project (Golf course, casino, condo, shuttle, business suits, cuff links, steaks, water, et al). So far, the success of this new season will be subjective.

4. The Great American Dream Vote (ABC). This show seemed like a good idea - who does not want their dreams to come true? You mean, Donnie Osmond could not appeal to the masses? Or, maybe the problem was the show...Viewers commented that the said 'Dreams' of the contestants were the issue (Guy who wanted hair plugs to propose to his girlfriend). The dreams just were not big enough...

5. The Bachelor (ABC). Oooh, apparently many of you are still discussing the final episode in which Bachelor Brad did not pick either of the two remaining hopefuls - I still think he made the best choice by choosing to remain single...We do not want to see yet ANOTHER failed Bachelor.

Well, the good news is that despite a lousy track record for The Bachelor, ABC is already working on The Bachelor 12. My suggestion is that they consider bringing in a professional matchmaker or relationship counselor - but, that's a different show.

6. Hey Paula! (Bravo). Yes, this deserves yet another mention. Paula announced that she will not be returning for another season of her version of reality, claiming that it was too painful for her to watch - many would agree.

7. National Bingo Night. Come on, your grandparents probably played it - why would it not work on prime-time network television?

8. Armed & Famous (CBS). Celebrities as Police Officers....In Muncie, Indiana. This should could have gotten lively had the location been here in Tinseltown, but I digress. You proved a point that we cannot mix 'D-List' celebs as Police Officers in a small town on a national network - Got it!

9. Nashville (USA). Have I mentioned American Idol too many times within this post? You cannot use the same ingredients and expect to have something unique in every dish...Huh?

Finally, last place goes to not one, but two One-hit wonders:

10. Anchorwoman (Fox) and The Victoria Beckham Show (NBC). Anchorwoman (About a former something or other who moves across country to a small town to work at a TV station) - yanked after one episode.

As for the Victoria Beckham Show - a similar tale about another former something moving across country (Literally) to a small town (L.A.) to work on a reality show. Only her show was pared down from a full blown reality series, to an hour special.

I like Victoria Beckham fine, and am looking forward to the Spice Girls reunion. However, British Press was over embellishing that American Producers were 'Clamoring' or in this case 'Clamouring' and falling all over ourselves to sign Beckham to a deal....Not quite. Most people on this side of the pond do not even know of Victoria Beckham. This could easily go down as the most expensive $10 Million dollar one-off reality show deal in recent history.

Let's look forward to more reality show departures in 2008 - Just go easy on the ones that are mine!

All Is Spice With The World

Well, we had a very busy week last week:

Die Hard 4 opened, a certain someone was released from jail (Vows to prove everyone wrong - which really means that she will prove everyone RIGHT), Rosie O said, "It ain't gonna happen" - the deal to host the long time game phenom The Price is Right fell through with CBS, PETA named Carrie Underwood as the sexiest vegetarian (Uh, hello - I think they forgot yours truly), AND the Spice Girls announced a reunion!

Anyone following reality has heard that Victoria "Posh" "I never had a last name until I married David" Beckham had been shopped by Simon Fuller (Pop Idol/American Idol Exec. Producer and former Spice Girls manager) for a new reality series here in the States.

Double Take

It was also reported by the British Press that we (Producers & Networks) were "Falling all over ourselves" to sign Posh's new reality show. We do this all the time and I had to smile when reading this as the claim may have been a bit exaggerated - most people in the states do not even know Posh Victoria Beckham.

NBC paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 Million for the show and the show was well into production taping PVB all over town shopping for everything (Houses, clothes, cars) and document her efforts to settle into her new Los Angeles home as her family prepares to move to the city this month when David begins his contract with LA Galaxy, later this month.

The Posh Is Over

Last month, Mrs. Beckham decided to pull the plug on her show - so she can watch her soccer star husband David B. make his return to the England team (What was all that talk about Girl Power?).

Victoria's spokesperson said, "Victoria has had great fun filming the show. However, the schedule was incredibly tight and it is up to the network what happens next."

Not to worry, friends at NBC responded by saying:

“Victoria Beckham is set to make a splash on U.S. television when we [NBC] air her one-hour special titled “Victoria Beckham: Coming to America” on July 16.”

...Great a $20 Million dollar one-hour special!

On top of all of that good news - last week the SPICE GIRLS announced they were reuniting after 6 years. Now, could this have been a unique coincidence or a strategic move? Watching a reunion of Britain's most-famous all female 'band' would have been great content for the show. I mean if the Rolling Stones can rock well into their advanced 60's - why not a Spice Girl reunion tour for the next 30 years? Well, it would certainly be a first...