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REALITY SHOWS I’VE LEARNED TO LOVE (OR AT LEAST ADMIRE)
The reality format has become as familiar as the crime drama and the situation comedy in the U.S. relatively cheap to produce with the potential to generate big ratings, reality has become a workhorse of American television: If a new scripted series fails, plug in a reality show and get some cover. Some shows have gone on to become popular and cultural classics, while others (“Chains Of Love” and “Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire?” to name just two) were simply embarrassments. Then again, scripted TV is much like that.
It has been more than a decade since the first modern reality series hit American television. Since then, there has been enough of a history to begin ranking the best of the genre. Some come from network television; others from the world of cable. But each has pushed the format in a new and interesting direction. Here is my list of the ten best American reality shows ever (which include US series adopted from formats first developed in other countries), but not pure quiz shows such as “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” and “Deal Or No Deal”):
 “Survivor”– Originally known as “Expedition Robinson” when it aired on Swedish television in 1997, it would take the determination of producer Mark Burnett to sell the idea to CBS, the most conservative of the US broadcast networks. Not even CBS executives were ready for a cultural phenomenon. Dismissed as “summer filler,” “Survivor” blasted into America’s consciousness in May 1990. The idea of a group of different people living on a remote island, competing for a one million dollar prize, was unusual. But it was the concept of contestant elimination (“The tribe has spoken”) that helped “Survivor” live up to its name. Host Jeff Probst managed to walk the fine line between objectivity and participation, and the format proved a boon for advertisers who liked the idea of “product placement.” On August 23rd, 2000, more than 51 million viewers watched as scheming Richard Hatch became the first “Survivor” winner. (Ironically, he is now serving prison time for tax evasion.) Subsequent seasons have had their ups and downs, but “Survivor” continues to thrive in the cutthroat world of broadcast TV. It also proved the reality format could click with audiences, if it had the right ingredients. “Survivor” showed American television executives that reality was no programming castaway.
 “The Amazing Race”– A well-produced travelogue disguised as cutthroat competition, “Amazing Race” is arguably the best of its genre with four Emmy awards to prove it, more than any other reality series. “Race” pits about a dozen teams of two in a world-wide challenge to win one million dollars. Detours, roadblocks and fate all determine which teams make it to the finish line, and which ones are eliminated. And this is one show that looks like America. The teams include traditional married couples, best friends, siblings, parent and offspring, gay partners and those dating or engaged. All this is made even better by Phil Keoghan, one of the best reality series hosts ever. Like “Survivor,” “Race” has had its ups and downs; a slow starter in the ratings when it debuted just after 9/11, CBS kept the faith and “Race” has become one of the network’s signature series. It’s also one of the oldest reality shows on US television, along with “The Real World” and “Survivor.” “The Amazing Race” remains timeless entertainment.
 “American Idol”– The US version of UK’s “Pop Idol” is nothing short of a phenomenon here in the States. It has done what its creators had hoped–attracted a large audience while making stars out of unknown singers. Some have done better than others (Carrie Underwood has probably been the most successful “AI” contestant to date) but it’s the process that keeps viewers riveted. While there have been plenty of talent shows in America’s television history–from “The Original Amateur Hour” to “Star Search”–“Idol” was the first to show what happens behind the scenes, from the gruelling audition just to get on the show, to the elimination of contestants by audience vote week after week. It also gave us a new type of judge–one who pulls no punches. Fox was wise to keep “Pop Idol” judge Simon Cowell doing double duty on “American Idol;” he may be blunt but his comments are usually dead on. (And because Cowell must split his time between the UK and the States, there is only one season of “American Idol”–running from January through May–helping to prevent viewer burnout.) It’s a formula that has made “American Idol” the most-watched television series in the US, and even with complaints that Simon, Paula and Randy have become nastier in their judgements during the current season, there are no signs that popularity will fade anytime soon.
 “The Real World” – The longest running program in the history of music channel MTV, “Real Word” first hit the airwaves in 1992–well before the current crop of reality shows. The concept was simple: Put seven twenty-somethings together in one home for several months, and see how they relate to each other. The results have seldom been disappointing: “Real World” brings together people of different sexes, races, religions, sexual orientations and so forth. Each week, the roommates enter the “confessional,” where they discuss their own problems and the behaviors of the other roommates. The image of a “fishbowl” existence was unsettling more than a decade ago; now it’s the norm–and much cruder as the various versions of “Big Brother” have proven. At least with “Real World,” those human failings more often than not lead to serious discussions about serious issues. When it comes to documentary-style reality. “The Real World” is the real thing.
 “Project Runway” – Currently the most successful series on cable’s Bravo channel (owned by NBC-Universal), “Runway” is more interesting than CW’s “America’s Next Top Model.” That’s because in my opinion, it’s harder to design the right clothes than to display them for hundreds of critics. Hosted by Heidi Klum, “Runway” pits about a dozen would-be designers against each other. Each week brings a new challenge, judged by such famous fashion names as Michael Koors and Vera Wang. At the end of every show, someone goes home (“You’re out” is “Runway’s” version of “The tribe has spoken.”) “Runway’s” secret weapon is Tim Gunn, the fashion chair at Parson’s The New School of Design in New York City; he’s the confidant and advisor to the contestants. (“Make it work,” he tells a designer if he thinks the outfit is in need of shape or substance.) There are enough catfights and bitchy turns behind the catwalk to make “Dynasty’s” Alexis and Krystal green with envy. “Project Runway” is a treat for the eyes that’s also fun to follow. (The producers have come up with spinoff shows for Bravo such as “Top Chef” (cooking) and “Top Design” (interior decorating). But for now, the original remains the best.
 “Queer Eye” – Personal “makeover” shows were not new in the summer of 2003, but “Queer Eye” put a new spin on the genre, and for a time because a cultural touchstone in the U.S. Originally titled “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,” it brought together five gay men (aka the “Fab Five”) who helped a helpless heterosexual man improve his looks, clothing sense, romantic instincts and home decor. Flamboyant “fashion savant” Carson Kressley became the breakout star of the “Fab Five,” and “Queer Eye” put Bravo on the map. The show also aired on parent NBC as a series of specials, one of the few times a cable hit migrated to broadcast television. “Queer Eye” also sparked a new wave of “make better” shows–home, fashion, what have you–for everybody. (A spinoff, “Queer Eye For The Straight Girl,” didn’t do as well.) Declining ratings mean “QE’s” final season will air in the summer of 2007. But “Queer Eye’s” contribution to the makeover reality genre remains (pardon the pun) straight-on.
 “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”– This is the modern version of the radio and television hit “Queen For A Day,” where one lucky woman received her wish for something to improve her or her family’s lot. A spinoff of ABC’s plastic surgery series “Extreme Makeover,” the “Home Edition’s” purpose is to tap into the “American Dream” of home ownership. The show’s design team (led by manic carpenter Ty Pennington with such designers/carpenters as Paul DeMio, Paige Hemmis, Michael Moloney and Brit Ed Sanders) build a family a brand-new home in just seven days while the homeowners go on vacation. The families are chosen from application videos; when the family returns from their holiday, Ty shouts out the magic words, “Bus driver, move that bus!”. The big bus drives off and the family sees the new home for the first time. Even the most stoic viewer can’t be helped but moved at the combination of heartfelt stories and deserving families. It’s no surprise “EM: HE” is a major hit, even though the show is partly a commercial for the products used to help build the house. Retail giant Sears is a major sponsor; the designers are seen shopping at a Sears every week and the family always gets a new top-of-the-line kitchen filled with Sears’ Kenmore-brand appliances. Plugs aside, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is the perfect reality show–hitting you in both the gut and the heart.
 Supernanny: In 2004, Jo Frost brought her no-nonsense brand of child rearing to UK’s Channel 4. A year later, Frost and “Supernanny” was adopted by ABC here in the States with the same format: Jo helping clueless parents deal with their out-of-control kids through example and teaching. (The “naughty corner” and telling a parent to look into the child’s eyes when he/she is speaking to the youngster are just some of Jo’s better tips.) The show did well enough for rival Fox to air its own clone, “Nanny 911.” But as usual, the original is the best. Kindly but no-nonsense Joe Frost has become the Mary Poppins of the new millennium, giving both parents and kids something to think about.
 The Apprentice: Billionaire and real estate mogul Donald Trump was already well-known when this reality show first aired on NBC in 2004. But his catchphrase “You’re fired” became a national obsession much as ‘Survivor’s” “The tribe has spoken.” Twelve hopefuls are split into two teams that perform a series of tasks for Trump; each week the losing team heads to the “boardroom” where The Donald gets rid of someone. The winner gets a year-long job with salary for one of Trump’s organizations. Another reality concept from the mind of Mark Burnett, “The Apprentice” was an instant hit in the US (and spawned a popular UK version ,with Sir Alan Sugar of electronics firm Amstrad fame). Other networks tried to copy the format (Richard Branson’s “The Rebel Billionaire” and “The Benefactor” with sports team owner Mark Cuban were two notable flops), but “The Apprentice” held its own for a time. A misguided second version with home diva Martha Stewart failed and hurt the original, as did Trump’s insufferable bravado and public behaviour. (He publicly fired one of his associates, Carolyn Kepcher in 2006; near the end of the year, he engaged in a war of words with “The View’s” Rosie O’Donnell in what may have been a stunt to generate interest for his latest season, which seems to be running out of steam. Still, “The Apprentice” is an interesting show to watch–as long as you can tolerate the antics of Donald Trump.
 Dancing With The Stars: Again, the US must give thanks to the UK for the format. (In this case, “Strictly Come Dancing” was the basis for the American version, which premiered in June 2005 on ABC.) The inaugural summer season–which featured celebrities performing various dances with the results split between a panel of judges and votes from the viewing audience–was a solid hit. It also led to one of the more unusual outcomes in reality TV history: The final episode of Season One ended with actress Kelly Monaco and her partner Alec Mazo defeating former “Seinfeld” regular John O’Hurley and his partner Charlotte Jorgensen. The results sparked so much controversy, the producers and ABC aired a special “dance off” between the two teams in September 2005, with the final decision totally up to the viewers. This time, Hurley and Jorgensen won the vote. When the second season premiered in early 2006, it put ABC in competition on Thursday nights for the first time since the late 1970's, when it aired “Mork & Mindy.” (A results show aired on Fridays.) Again, Fox took note and aired its own versions, “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Skating With Celebrities.” But again, “Dancing With The Stars” remained the viewer favourite, managing to balance that fine line between athletic competition and celebrity farce.
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Review: Mike Spadoni 2007
http://www.teletronic.co.uk
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