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Reality TV Update
By Michelle Tan • UrbanWire
Within a week, TV and cable viewers in Singapore were introduced to no less than 3 new reality shows. UrbanWire figures it’s time to check out the brand new shows, the ones that are in the midst of their run, the ones that have just ended and more importantly, the ones that are to come.
Just starting out... anything goes
Still playing out… what more could happen?
Over... and out?
Coming up
Just starting out… anything goes.
The Apprentice – 16 high flyers in the corporate world risk it all for a US$250,000 (S$427 million) annual paycheck in real estate mogul and billionaire Donald Trump’s corporation. What would they do to have it all? Looks like they’ll go by the ABC rule: Accuse, Backstab, and Claw their way to the very end.
Thurs, 10pm, Channel 5 (Picture courtesy of the official 'The Apprentice' site)
The Simple Life – Can 2 of Hollywood’s richest and most pampered ladies of leisure survive the real world in middle-class America? Truly, it’ll be a treat to watch socialite Paris Hilton and her best friend, Nicole Richie – who have never worked a day in their lives – slog on a farm, while being stripped of all extra privileges (no mobile phones, credit cards or cash.). What would be extra priceless would be listening to their honest-to-goodness innocent quips, a la Jessica Simpson in MTV’s Newlyweds. Viewers hooked on the formula can continue to look forward to many more eye-rolling moments as the show’s second season (The Simple Life: Road Trip) just debuted in the States.
Sat, 10pm, Channel 5 (Picture courtesy of the official 'The Simple Life' site)
Race To The Altar – This is yet another show that tests a couple’s mettle. However, instead of applying the overused forbidden-fruit-seduction methods (think: Temptation Island and Paradise Hotel), the couples are put through grueling physical challenges and are tested on how well they know their partners. At the end of the first round, couples were already crying unabashedly, who knows if that was from relief that they weren’t eliminated already, or from guilt of cutting a sweet couple out? Definitely a breath of fresh air.
Thurs, 8pm, Star World (SCV Channel 18) Picture courtesy of the official 'Race To The Altar' site)
Still playing out… what more could happen?
The Bachelor – Undoubtedly the most dramatic season to date, season 4 of The Bachelor has seen much clawing and hissing from the ladies (and tears from contestant Lee Ann) in the tussle for eligible bachelor Bob Guiney. The girls aren’t going to let up on their man anytime soon though. Young women at their ugliest are possibly the reason to continue watching even though we know Bob’s got engaged, having split up from the girl he chose, like all 3 Bachelor couplings before.
Fri, 10pm, Channel 5 (Picture courtesy of the official 'The Bachelor' site)
As of the early 90s, reality television was still very much an unknown concept. The only shows that were really considered as ‘reality-based programming’ then were hidden-camera shows like Candid Camera and America’s Funniest Home Videos (Side note: where is host Bob Saget now?).
In 1992, MTV launched The Real World. Hailed by The Internet Movie Database as “the pioneer of reality TV”, the show documents the daily happenings of 7 20-something strangers made to live together in a major city. With the last episode of its 14th season in San Diego playing next week, The Real World continues to remain popular with the MTV viewers.
When CBS premiered the now-legendary Survivor in the summer of 2000, the show sparked a major TV show genre revolution, turning ordinary contestants into overnight stars. Today, reality TV has slowly taken over the likes of other show genres to be one of the most popular in TV today. From dating shows like For Love Or Money, competition shows like Fear Factor, or just plain ‘voyeur-esque’ shows like Big Brother, reality shows just keep on coming, with new concepts each time. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon. |
The Next Joe Millionaire – The original Joe Millionaire didn’t dazzle me, and neither does this one. New ‘Joe Millionaire’ David Smith is just as clueless as the 14 European beauties that are after him, but the American audience obviously wasn’t falling for that old gag again. And for some strange reason, the show hasn’t finished its run on Channel 5, despite premiering earlier this year and us knowing who he picked last year. So hit the road already, cowboy. You’ve been on the tube for much too long.
Sat, 11pm, Channel 5 (Picture courtesy of the official 'The Next Joe Millionaire' site)
Extreme Makeover – EM continues to remain everyone’s favourite makeover show. The results and the after-effects of the dramatic makeovers are spectacular enough for viewers to consider paying their friendly, neighbourhood plastic surgeon a visit for a possible face and body lift. But, I’d much rather watch other people go under knife.
Mon, 10.30pm, Channel 5 (Picture courtesy of the official 'Extreme Makeover' site)
Over… and out?
American Idol – It’s final: America has crowned North Carolina lass Fantasia Barrino their newest American Idol. She now joins previous AMI winners Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard in the winners’ circle. Watch out for Fantasia’s debut single, ‘I Believe’, on the radio and at record stores. (Picture courtesy of fantasiabarrinofan.com)
Average Joe – So the average joes were just that after all – average. At the end of season 1, ex-cheerleader Melana Scantlin chose student Jason Peoples, one of the 3 hotties added into the show in a twist, over wealthy Wall Street trader Adam Mesh. Adam’s finding out that in the reality TV world, there are few real losers. Like ex-bachelorette Trista Rehn (now Mrs. Ryan Sutter) and bachelor Bob Guiney, he too is bouncing back as the eligible bachelor on the third season of Average Joe: Adam Returns.
Average Joe 2: Hawaii is now airing on Channel i on Thurs at 10pm. (Picture courtesy of nbc.com)
The Restaurant – As the first season of this unscripted reality/drama series came to a close, master chef Rocco DiSpirito’s restaurant, Rocco’s on 22nd, thankfully didn’t. He managed to rise up to the challenge of opening a New York City restaurant in a mere 5 weeks – and have it remain in business. The second season of The Restaurant has just finished its run in the US, and it looks set to be even more emotionally charged than the first. (Picture courtesy of the official 'The Restaurant' site)
Coming up:
The Amazing Race 5 – More excitement, drama and visual feasts from the 5th installment of this race around the world. Surprise, surprise though – there are no gay contestants this season. Maybe potential contestants saw how detrimental the game was to the relationship of Season 4 winners Chip and Reichen. Nevertheless, I’m still looking forward to the show’s return. From July 7.
Wed, 10pm, Channel 5 (Picture courtesy of the official 'The Amazing Race 5' site)
Singapore Idol – They came, they queued, and they sang. Who got into the nation’s very first Idol competition? We’ll have to wait till August to find out. Meanwhile, check the Channel 5 website for periodic updates. (Picture courtesy of the official 'Singapore Idol' site)
Survivor: Vanuatu – The grandmother of reality shows is still going strong. Catch the 9th installment of Survivor when it airs on our shores in September. (Picture courtesy of the official 'Survivor: Vanuatu' site)
American Elections 2004 – The world’s favourite on-going reality series. Watch for the grand finale at the end of the year, as the 44th President of the United States of America is (cough Kerry cough) sworn in. |