Sunday, June 8, 2008

The Anti-Show

I love watching TV, but the networks are getting a little ridiculous with their parade of silly reality shows, which I've dubbed "the anti-show."

While I was flipping through channels earlier today, I came across a commercial for "The Singing Office," where co-workers face off in singing challenges for an ultimate $50,000 prize. Can you imagine competing, via Broadway show tunes, with the copy guy, the girl who gets your coffee or your cubicle buddy? I can't and don't want to. Just because you come up with an idea, doesn't make it a good one. The writers need to go back to the drawing board.

The show doesn't premiere until June 29 (on TLC if you want to check it out), so I can't report what I think will be low viewership numbers. But I can't fathom who would watch this. And, it's an hour long!

All reality shows aren't as awful as "The Singing Office" appears. I've been hooked on "America's Next Top Model," "Last Comic Standing" and yes, I admit it, "The Real Housewives of NYC." And while I'm probably the only person who doesn't watch "American Idol," I can't deny its success. But shows, like "To Tell the Truth," "Date My Ex" and Denise Richards' "Complicated" make me think the writers have just become lazy.

They come up with an idea, advertise for people who are looking for their 15 minutes of fame, throw in a cash prize and voila - you have a new show! There's no creativity, real actors or substance.

There's proof that desperation TV doesn't work. Head to http://realityshows.com/prioryr.htm to see the list of hundreds of failed reality shows, from "Amish in the City" to "Fatty Koo."

I don't wish failure on "The Singing Office" - hosts Mel B (Spice Girls) and Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) need steady paychecks just like the rest of us. But when networks promote these shows like it's must-see TV, it makes me wonder what were they thinking?!





2 comments:

Muze said...

i love ANTM. i love modeling. i think it's much better now, than it is now.

Torri Bradshaw said...

I agree with "the anti-show". Television has gotten a bit ridiculous, so I charge everyone with turning the TV off (with the exception of your fav shows - I have some too) and opening a book. Expand your minds.