Archive for September, 2010
Australia’s Next Top Model: The Wrong Winner Is Announced!
Sep 28th
Here it is – the clip EVERYONE is talking about today – the model mix up on the live finale of the current season of Australia’s Next Top Model.
So here’s the story (cue Tyra style voice!) Two contestants remained in the running to be Australia’s Next Top Model – Kelsey and Amanda. Host Sarah Murdoch – yep a member of the Murdoch clan (hmm I wonder how she got the job) – announced Kelsey as the winner. Kelsey celebrates and starts giving her acceptance speech… and suddenly Sarah has to admit she’s not the winner – it’s Amanda instead. What a fiasco!
From a TV producer’s point of view I have to say this is shambolic on every level. Sure it’s live TV and things do go wrong – but not like this.
Here’s the issue – you should NEVER tell your presenter a result via an ear-piece – it’s just too prone to error. Sarah’s on stage in front of a live studio audience while the producer is in a busy gallery – it’s all too easy to be misheard.
What they should have done is stop the voting lines a few minutes before the live result. Then you throw to a More >
Is The Era Of Weight Loss Shows Over?
Sep 27th
So recently I took a look at Thintervention, Bravo’s new weight loss show, anchored by lesbian gym owner Jackie Warner.
In typical Bravo fashion it was a very polished and well-produced show – full of upscale contestants with strong personalities, tightly edited and with some nice touches (I liked how Jackie would literally turn up on contestants’ doorsteps at just the worst moments)
But as much as I liked the show I can’t help but shake the feeling that weight loss as a whole is a really played out genre on TV today. And it seems I’m not alone. Lifetime’s Diet Tribe and Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off both collapsed in the ratings from series 1 to 2, Losing It With Jillian could only scrape together 3-4 million an episode in its summer slot on NBC, and over on Vh1, Money Hungry has the dubious distinction of being one of the lowest rated shows of the year – just 225,000 viewers tuned in for the show’s last installment!
The X Factor: Nicolo Festa’s Boot Camp Performance
Sep 26th
Mr Attitude is back!
Remember Nicolo Festa from a couple of weeks back, the Italian student whose arrogant attitude repelled million of viewers (and potential voters!)
But of course Nicolo is great TV and Simon Cowell is nothing but media savvy… he knows Festa is the contestant we’re all going to love to hate – so he made it through to the Judges’ Houses round… and the editing of this week’s show clearly plays up Nicolo’s diva demands!
As for Festa’s singing… well let’s just say it’s a good job he has a memorable personality as his cover of David Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars’ was hideous… just check out that awful, strangled end note…
Your thoughts? Do you think Nicolo will actually make it through to the live shows? Or will his attitude be his undoing? Start weighing in folks!
The X Factor: Storm Lee’s Boot Camp Performance
Sep 25th
One more contestant from tonight’s X Factor Bootcamp – and it’s Storm Lee – the highly irritating wannabe rocker who’s clearly already on the wrong side of Simon Cowell.
And who can blame him – everything about Storm is off – the outfit, the overconfidence, the faux rock star swagger and the superhero like name. Doubtless Simon is having flashbacks to Steve Brookstein – the arrogant first season winner who can now be found playing pizza restaurants around London (see my Before and After posting for more)
Check out Storm’s creepy comments to Nicole, his bizarre pre-song ramblings, and the song itself, a cover of Sweet Child Of Mine – which to be fair he sings pretty well… but I’m just not buying the whole package…
But what do you think? Are you a fan of Storm… and can he ever win over Simon?
The X Factor: Matt Cardle’s Boot Camp Performance
Sep 25th
Here’s someone new to add to the mix on this year’s X Factor – 27 year old painter and decorator Matt Cardle.
Matt still lives at home with his parents and is pinning all his hopes on the show – but up to now he’s kind of flown under the judges’ radar.
But at the Boot Camp stage Matt took to the stage with his version of Roberta Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Simon and Louis loved it… instantly making him a front-runner…
Personally Matt’s performance washed over me a bit… I like Matt and quite like his voice – but he has zero stage presence and the big lesson we’ve learned from Idol, X Factor and Talent over the years is that bravado and charisma count just as much as singing ability (case in point Adam Lambert versus Kris Allen)
But what did you think? Were you wowed by Matt… and can you see him in the finals… start weighing in…
The X Factor: Chloe Victoria’s Boot Camp Performance
Sep 25th
Next up here’s Chloe Victoria – the hilarious Jersey Shore like contestant who’s infatuated with make-up, tanning and hair products…
If you remember last time, Chloe barely made it through, with Simon in her corner but Louis vehemently opposed. Well since that memorable appearance Chloe has been making all kinds of headlines in the UK – with stories alleging she’s a 250 pounds an hour prostitute (yet another scandal for an already headline making series!)
And Chloe doesn’t do herself any favors at the Boot Camp stage either – turning up late for rehearsals and reeking of alcohol. When she finally takes to the stage her rendition of Wishing On A Star is utterly atrocious… surely she can’t get any further in the competition? And yet that’s what we were all saying about Jedward last year weren’t we – and look what happened there…
Anyway here’s Chloe in action… be warned – your eardrums may not be able to take it…
The X Factor: Cher Lloyd’s Boot Camp Performance
Sep 25th
Over in England, it’s Boot Camp stage on The X Factor - and first up, here’s Cher Lloyd – the hotly tipped contestant from a few weeks back.
In case you don’t remember Cher – her original audition video is below. She’s the girl who wowed the judges with her streetwise style, covering Keri Hilson’s Turn My Swag On (Cheryl was especially impressed since she’s desperate to be seen as cool and urban)
Unfortunately Cher seems to have no real idea how to tailor her skills – and absolutely massacres Coldplay’s Viva La Vida… In my opinion, Viva is one of the best songs of the last couple of years, and the last thing it needs is a 16 year old girl rapping at the start… it’s just a train wreck!
But what do you think… Cher is the bookies favorite at the moment – even after this performance – but can she really go on to win the whole shebang? Start weighing in guys…
Coming Soon: No Ordinary Family
Sep 24th
When Does It Start: Tuesday September 28th at 8pm / 7c on ABC
In A Nutshell: It’s The Incredibles – The TV series
What’s It About: The Powells are an average family just trying to get through the day. Dad Jim (Michael Chiklis) is feeling disconnected from his workaholic wife Stephanie (Julie Benz), while kids Daphne and JJ are dealing with the usual high school hassles. Trying to reconnect, the family take a trip to Brazil where their plane crashes into the Amazon river and the Powells find themselves imbued with special superpowers… but do they want their new gifts and how will these changes affect their lives back in suburbia?
Lone Star Flops!
Sep 23rd
Wow! This is turning into a very interesting TV week – as the big networks launch a non-stop volley of new shows at viewers – and either win big (Glee, Moderm Family) or fall hard (The Whole Truth)
Three days into the new TV year and the biggest blowout of the season so far has to be Lone Star, Fox’s Monday night drama which found itself utterly crushed by the combination of Dancing With The Stars, The Event and CBS’s comedy block. Lone Star managed just 4.06 million viewers and a 1.3 18-49 share. Those are truly pitiful numbers, and the latter figure is barely above the CW average. Ouch!
Already speculation is rife as to when Fox will yank the show – with a rumor (now debunked) going round today that the series wouldn’t even air another episode. The problem for Fox is that it has few options to replace the flailing show – Lie To Me, Human Target and The Good Guys hardly fare better themselves… oh if only they hadn’t cancelled 24, king of the Monday at 9pm slot!
Why Are So Many Reality Shows So Similar?
Sep 23rd
Hi everyone!
Hope you’re all still enjoying the site. As you might know I write a regular recap for the Atlantic Monthly website every Monday morning, reviewing the previous night’s Mad Men.
Well recently the guys over at The Atlantic invited me to write a posting about reality TV – and why so many shows on TV feel so familiar. Below is the piece I put together in case you missed it…
Don’t forget if you run a website, magazine or TV show and are looking for an opinion / writer / speaker – just drop me a line via the How To Book Richard button on the left!
Enjoy the piece… and start commenting below!
