ABC to air "sexiest" reality show, defends taste

mrpayroll · 01-16-03, 11:40 AM

http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030115/leisure_abc_1.html

Wednesday January 15, 7:27 pm ET
By Peter Henderson

LOS ANGELES, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Third-ranked ABC Television hopes that a search for the sexiest people in America plus a show putting minor celebrities in peril will re-energize its turnaround as network executives on Wednesday showcased midseason and summer shows for critics.

By the time fall rolls around, ABC plans to have aired a dozen reality-based shows, including ones featuring a hunt for sexpots, a prime time beauty contest and plastic surgery make-overs, but executives promised to maintain standards at the network known for family entertainment.

"It is a very nice way to heat up a cold time period," Susan Lyne, president of ABC Entertainment Television, told critics as she outlined the network's midseason strategy.

Would-be hunks and babes open competition in "Are You Hot: The Search for America's Sexiest People", from the producers of "The Bachelor" on Thursday, Feb. 13.

"This is a contest where intelligence, achievement have absolutely no bearing, but it will be a very entertaining show," Lyne said with a laugh.

Real people will get tummy tucks and nose jobs free for showing audiences the transformation process in "Extreme Makeover", which will air for six episodes in the same time period beginning on April 3.

'GET ME OUT OF HERE'

ABC will also debut a special reality-based show in the crucial February "sweeps" period, which is key for setting advertising rates: "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here" will air 15 nights in a row, beginning on Wed., Feb. 19.

It pits a group of minor celebrities including video jockey "Downtown" Julie Brown and Olympian Bruce Jenner against nature in the Australian outback. The audience can eliminate contestants and the winners take home money for charity.

Ratings at the Walt Disney Co.-owned (NYSE

IS - News) network have improved since the fall with the success of its comedy "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" and reality hit "The Bachelor", but it is still coming from behind, especially on Thursday nights.

That is where the company expects to gain momentum quickly, especially among younger viewers, with two reality shows.

Reality shows -- relatively cheap to produce and easy to promote -- are like crack cocaine for networks, Lyne said. But she and ABC Entertainment Chairman Lloyd Braun said they had avoided mean-spirited shows to maintain quality and would not overdose on the genre.

"You are not going to see a schedule littered with reality," Braun told reporters. "There are shows that we will not do, and you sort of know them when you see them. But I absolutely believe a show like 'Extreme Makeover' can coexist with "The Practice", he added referring to the hit legal drama.

REALITY AND DRAMA

ABC has a history of family shows, such as "Happy Days," "Roseanne" and "Home Improvement", and executives last year had hoped to ride that wave again as they righted the network, which had fallen to third place behinds CBS and NBC.

This season's "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" followed the family-oriented trend, and ABC will debut situation comedy "Regular Joe", starring Daniel Stern as a single parent, at a still-to-be-decided date.

More traditional dramas also are in store, such as an updated version of the classic crime drama "Dragnet," starring "Married With Children" star Ed O'Neill as police detective Joe Friday. It begins on Feb. 2.

"Veritas: The Quest", a father-and-son archeological thriller, and the supernatural thriller "Miracles" both premier on Jan. 27.

But ABC has had a taste of reality-show success with the new franchise "The Bachelor", which follows a young man choosing a mate from a bevy of female contenders, winnowing the field each week. The follow-up "Bachelorette" has proved to be a smash, too, and the next Bachelor edition begins March 26.

Critics pressed the ABC executives to defend the taste and volume of new reality shows, such as "Are You Hot" and "All American Girl," a beauty-pageant-style show which debuts Wednesday, March 19 at 9 p.m. ET.

"'All American Woman' doesn't have the same ring," Lyne joked. But she said the show would test all aspects of contestants' characters. "Whoever ends up winning it, I would put against any man in the country," she said.

So many choices, so little time, and only 6 tuners from my 3 Directivo's.

Chris

Red Dog · 01-16-03, 11:42 AM

1st one sounds interesting.

das Monkey · 01-16-03, 12:07 PM

• Quoth mrpayroll •
'GET ME OUT OF HERE'

ABC will also debut a special reality-based show in the crucial February "sweeps" period, which is key for setting advertising rates: "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here" will air 15 nights in a row, beginning on Wed., Feb. 19.

Great. This worked well for Millionaire too.

You'd think ABC would realize that putting all their eggs in the fad basket is what sank them into 3rd place to begin with when they yanked SportsNight and shuffled Once & Again out of its own audience to make room for more game shows.

If you're not careful, 4th place isn't too far off.

das

RoyalTea · 01-16-03, 12:12 PM

Quote:

But she and ABC Entertainment Chairman Lloyd Braun said they had avoided mean-spirited shows to maintain quality and would not overdose on the genre.

serenity now, insanity later.

madara · 01-16-03, 01:43 PM

reality crap, main reason why I dont miss my local with dish network in least.

Morf · 01-16-03, 01:54 PM

... and the dead horse gets another whack.

slop101 · 01-16-03, 03:22 PM

we're in hell...

UAIOE · 01-17-03, 03:21 AM

Looks like FOX now has some competition for "stupidest reality TV series"

adamblast · 01-17-03, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by UAIOE
Looks like FOX now has some competition for "stupidest reality TV series"

Yeah, but we haven't seen Fox's plans for the fall yet. Never, ever underestimate the ability of Fox to produce stupid shows.

I think their barrel still has lots of bottom...

That being said, I'd love to see them walk over the corpse of ABC and into 3rd...

SirPablo · 01-17-03, 12:26 PM

I'd actually be interested in the "Are you hot?" because...well...I enjoy hot women. Other than that, I'll stick by my successful three year boycott of reality shows.

Pants · 01-17-03, 12:44 PM

I love how "Are you Hot?" just ripped off rateme.com

Wow ABC, that's original.

clemente · 01-17-03, 09:45 PM

Or they simply license AmIHotorNot?

UAIOE · 01-18-03, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by adamblast
Yeah, but we haven't seen Fox's plans for the fall yet. Never, ever underestimate the ability of Fox to produce stupid shows.

I have a strong feeling they will use my idea for a "Man vs. Beast" dance-a-thon.

Although breakdancing chimps would be more entertaining than most of the shows they have on.

Nah, my idea isnt stupid enough to qualify for FOX primetime.

Steve Phillips · 01-21-03, 02:06 PM

Actually, ABC is ripping off HOWARD STERN. He's been doing this for years on his radio show (with segments on E as well). One of his former producers is working on the ABC show, and freely admits Howard should be upset. He is. He's been ranting about it all morning on the radio........

alloy2 · 06-26-03, 09:12 AM

Im guessing that ABC has stared with the reality kick, because when i was watching All My Children they were doing a search for the sexiest man in america. I personally think that it's helped out the show...adding quite a bit a spice! They showed head shots...or heat shots is what I call em

And its just made the show that much more interesting. I've also been hearing about Greenlee and Kendall going around to clubs to recruit. Sounds good to me...All My Children stars and all the hot men...i think ABC is headed in the righ direction.

Iron_Giant · 06-26-03, 03:11 PM

Shows like this one always fail and ABC will really be hurting.

bboisvert · 06-26-03, 03:24 PM

Wow, blast from the past...

mwj · 06-26-03, 08:12 PM

Quote:

stupidest reality TV series

I think "stupidest reality TV series" became an oxymoron a long time ago.

alloy2 · 06-27-03, 10:21 AM

Honestly now...How many of you guys actually watch All My Children? From the looks of things I assume many of you aren't fans. I like the idea they've come up with. It adds to the other drama on the show nicely. It was especially funny to see Bonnie Fuller, the editor of US Magazine on the show. Her acting skills could use help, but that just added to the scene.

01-16-03, 11:40 AM	#1
mrpayroll Guest Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Glendale, next to L.A. Posts: 18,487	ABC to air "sexiest" reality show, defends taste http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030115/leisure_abc_1.html Wednesday January 15, 7:27 pm ET By Peter Henderson LOS ANGELES, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Third-ranked ABC Television hopes that a search for the sexiest people in America plus a show putting minor celebrities in peril will re-energize its turnaround as network executives on Wednesday showcased midseason and summer shows for critics. By the time fall rolls around, ABC plans to have aired a dozen reality-based shows, including ones featuring a hunt for sexpots, a prime time beauty contest and plastic surgery make-overs, but executives promised to maintain standards at the network known for family entertainment. "It is a very nice way to heat up a cold time period," Susan Lyne, president of ABC Entertainment Television, told critics as she outlined the network's midseason strategy. Would-be hunks and babes open competition in "Are You Hot: The Search for America's Sexiest People", from the producers of "The Bachelor" on Thursday, Feb. 13. "This is a contest where intelligence, achievement have absolutely no bearing, but it will be a very entertaining show," Lyne said with a laugh. Real people will get tummy tucks and nose jobs free for showing audiences the transformation process in "Extreme Makeover", which will air for six episodes in the same time period beginning on April 3. 'GET ME OUT OF HERE' ABC will also debut a special reality-based show in the crucial February "sweeps" period, which is key for setting advertising rates: "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here" will air 15 nights in a row, beginning on Wed., Feb. 19. It pits a group of minor celebrities including video jockey "Downtown" Julie Brown and Olympian Bruce Jenner against nature in the Australian outback. The audience can eliminate contestants and the winners take home money for charity. Ratings at the Walt Disney Co.-owned (NYSEIS - News) network have improved since the fall with the success of its comedy "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" and reality hit "The Bachelor", but it is still coming from behind, especially on Thursday nights. That is where the company expects to gain momentum quickly, especially among younger viewers, with two reality shows. Reality shows -- relatively cheap to produce and easy to promote -- are like crack cocaine for networks, Lyne said. But she and ABC Entertainment Chairman Lloyd Braun said they had avoided mean-spirited shows to maintain quality and would not overdose on the genre. "You are not going to see a schedule littered with reality," Braun told reporters. "There are shows that we will not do, and you sort of know them when you see them. But I absolutely believe a show like 'Extreme Makeover' can coexist with "The Practice", he added referring to the hit legal drama. REALITY AND DRAMA ABC has a history of family shows, such as "Happy Days," "Roseanne" and "Home Improvement", and executives last year had hoped to ride that wave again as they righted the network, which had fallen to third place behinds CBS and NBC. This season's "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" followed the family-oriented trend, and ABC will debut situation comedy "Regular Joe", starring Daniel Stern as a single parent, at a still-to-be-decided date. More traditional dramas also are in store, such as an updated version of the classic crime drama "Dragnet," starring "Married With Children" star Ed O'Neill as police detective Joe Friday. It begins on Feb. 2. "Veritas: The Quest", a father-and-son archeological thriller, and the supernatural thriller "Miracles" both premier on Jan. 27. But ABC has had a taste of reality-show success with the new franchise "The Bachelor", which follows a young man choosing a mate from a bevy of female contenders, winnowing the field each week. The follow-up "Bachelorette" has proved to be a smash, too, and the next Bachelor edition begins March 26. Critics pressed the ABC executives to defend the taste and volume of new reality shows, such as "Are You Hot" and "All American Girl," a beauty-pageant-style show which debuts Wednesday, March 19 at 9 p.m. ET. "'All American Woman' doesn't have the same ring," Lyne joked. But she said the show would test all aspects of contestants' characters. "Whoever ends up winning it, I would put against any man in the country," she said. So many choices, so little time, and only 6 tuners from my 3 Directivo's. Chris

01-16-03, 11:42 AM	#2
Red Dog DVD Talk God Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV) Posts: 104,503	1st one sounds interesting. __________________ "A question for you. Would you rather Bucknell make the NCAA's once every 20 years or so and get ass raped by teams like Kansas in the first round or have them drop down a rung to a confernce where they can compete for a title?" - Josh Hinkle 1st Round Final Scores: Bucknell 64 Kansas 63 \| Bucknell 59 Arkansas 55

01-16-03, 12:07 PM	#3
das Monkey DVD Talk Hero Join Date: May 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 35,881	Re: ABC to air "sexiest" reality show, defends taste • Quoth mrpayroll • 'GET ME OUT OF HERE' ABC will also debut a special reality-based show in the crucial February "sweeps" period, which is key for setting advertising rates: "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here" will air 15 nights in a row, beginning on Wed., Feb. 19. Great. This worked well for Millionaire too. You'd think ABC would realize that putting all their eggs in the fad basket is what sank them into 3rd place to begin with when they yanked SportsNight and shuffled Once & Again out of its own audience to make room for more game shows. If you're not careful, 4th place isn't too far off. das __________________ DragonCon 2004 - 2005 - Lost in Hawaii - DVD Reviews You are not* entitled to your own opinion. You are only entitled to your own informed opinion.** -- Harlan Ellison quoting Gustave Flaubert

01-16-03, 01:43 PM	#5
madara DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: union grove, wi Posts: 1,536	reality crap, main reason why I dont miss my local with dish network in least. __________________ " I wanna believe!"

01-16-03, 01:54 PM	#6
Morf DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: IL Posts: 3,507	... and the dead horse gets another whack. __________________ I've tried 1000 different beers. How 'bout you? RateBeer.com

01-16-03, 03:22 PM	#7
slop101 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Cali Posts: 17,101	we're in hell...

01-17-03, 03:21 AM	#8
UAIOE DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: LV-426 Posts: 6,169	Looks like FOX now has some competition for "stupidest reality TV series" __________________ Coilette: Congo Jack! Fry: Yes. And I have a message for you from Colonel Mitumbay! He says....this is from Congo Jack!

01-17-03, 12:26 PM	#10
SirPablo DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 1,990	I'd actually be interested in the "Are you hot?" because...well...I enjoy hot women. Other than that, I'll stick by my successful three year boycott of reality shows. __________________ "They're heading for the old mill!"

01-17-03, 12:44 PM	#11
Pants Banned Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: "Sitting on a beach, earning 20%" Posts: 6,154	I love how "Are you Hot?" just ripped off rateme.com Wow ABC, that's original.

01-17-03, 09:45 PM	#12
clemente DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,167	Or they simply license AmIHotorNot?

01-21-03, 02:06 PM	#14
Steve Phillips DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,518	Actually, ABC is ripping off HOWARD STERN. He's been doing this for years on his radio show (with segments on E as well). One of his former producers is working on the ABC show, and freely admits Howard should be upset. He is. He's been ranting about it all morning on the radio........

06-26-03, 09:12 AM	#15
alloy2 Suspended Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Washington DC Posts: 47	Reality Kick in Effect Im guessing that ABC has stared with the reality kick, because when i was watching All My Children they were doing a search for the sexiest man in america. I personally think that it's helped out the show...adding quite a bit a spice! They showed head shots...or heat shots is what I call em And its just made the show that much more interesting. I've also been hearing about Greenlee and Kendall going around to clubs to recruit. Sounds good to me...All My Children stars and all the hot men...i think ABC is headed in the righ direction.

06-26-03, 03:11 PM	#16
Iron_Giant DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 4,797	Shows like this one always fail and ABC will really be hurting.

06-26-03, 03:24 PM	#17
bboisvert DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Docking Bay 94 Posts: 14,216	Wow, blast from the past...

06-27-03, 10:21 AM	#19
alloy2 Suspended Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Washington DC Posts: 47	Honestly now...How many of you guys actually watch All My Children? From the looks of things I assume many of you aren't fans. I like the idea they've come up with. It adds to the other drama on the show nicely. It was especially funny to see Bonnie Fuller, the editor of US Magazine on the show. Her acting skills could use help, but that just added to the scene.