Are You Tired of Watching Celebrities on Reality Shows?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:30:14 -0700

CBS today announced the lineup for its Secret Talents of the Celebrities series, which, if you hadn't heard of it before now, is exactly what you think it is: a reality show with celebrities (of the George Takei/Mya/Danny Bonaduce class) showing off their secret talents for America in a series of weekly competitions. Other than the little thrill I got from learning Takei would be singing country, my general reaction was a weary "eh." I suppose I'm just tired of the whole "watch celebrities do stuff you didn't know they could do" genre - and of celebrities on reality TV in general.

But are viewers at large also over it? The 20 million people who watched the premiere of Dancing with the Stars on Monday don't seem to be. Plus, there are some celebrity circus shows in the works for this summer, as well as the normal spate of VH1 and MTV fare like Celebrity Fit Club and That's Amore, so it seems like programmers are banking on this genre working for a while.

Are you in the weary sigh crowd - or the "Sheila E. juggling? I'm so there!" camp?

CBS Trots Out Three New Reality Series

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:35:52 -0800

As the writers' strike rolls on, networks are turning to more and more reality series to keep primetime feeling fresh. So far, the strategy seems to be working: In general, viewers are embracing reality shows, with American Gladiators having one of the best premieres this season and other series, including The Biggest Loser, getting great ratings.

So it shouldn't be surprising that there's even more reality coming our way. CBS announced three of its upcoming reality series today, and they're getting closer and closer to the faux programs 30 Rock's Jack Donaghy supposedly bought for NBC. No, there's no Are You Stronger than a Dog - but these series aren't far from it. To see what they are, just read more.

Secret Talents of the Stars - CBS claims this show will "uncover some of the most fascinating and unique secret talents of your favorite film and television stars, whether it be singing, dancing, magic or even acrobatics." Viewers' votes will determine who stays and who goes. Sure, I want to know Jennifer Aniston's hidden talents as much as the next girl, but I'm guessing these "stars" will be more along the lines of, say, The Celebrity Apprentice roster.
Game Show In My Head - Ashton Kutcher's return to reality TV after the flop of The Real Wedding Crashers will send contestants out into the city wearing an earpiece that delivers instructions to perform ridiculous, embarrassing tasks in public. Contestants earn money for each task they perform, but they'll lose it all if they fail to adequately complete any of the tasks. I have to give this one the prize for best title.
America's Top Dog - Now this one would make Jack Donaghy proud. It's exactly what you'd imagine it to be: Dogs and their owners live in a house together and "battle it out in a dog competition that puts the dog's relationship with the person who has raised and trained it to the test." Hey, did anyone else ever watch That's My Dog! on the Family Channel back in the early '90s? I can't deny that it was fun . . . when I was 11 years old.

Would you watch any of those reality shows? And, in general, have you been watching any of the networks' new reality fare - or are you just keeping the TV off these days?