Reality TV - Reality Show News - Page 4

jennarose · 05-19-2007, 08:54 AM

Donald Trump to NBC: "You can't fire me, I quit" - Yahoo! News

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By Steve Gorman Fri May 18, 8:20 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Donald Trump, whose low-rated reality show "The Apprentice" was left off the new prime-time schedule unveiled this week by NBC, says the network can't fire him -- he quits.

The real estate mogul issued a statement on Friday saying he has informed the U.S. television network he is "moving on from 'The Apprentice' to a major new TV venture," though he declined to elaborate.

There was no immediate comment from NBC.

But his announcement appeared to end any lingering doubt that "The Apprentice," which turned the self-styled tycoon into a television star and popularized the catch phrase, "You're fired," would be banished from NBC's airwaves next season.

The corporate-themed reality show, which aired in dozens of countries around the world, featured young, aggressive entrepreneurs in a weekly game of elimination as they competed for a real-life job in Trump's business empire.

"The Apprentice" debuted as a hit in 2004, averaging nearly 21 million viewers and ranking as the top-rated new U.S. TV show its first season. But the series dropped steadily in the ratings in successive years, losing nearly two-thirds of its original audience by the time it wrapped up its sixth installment last month.

The show's future was cast into further doubt on Monday when the network announced a 2007-08 programming lineup that made no mention of Trump. But NBC executives refused then to absolutely rule out a reprieve once rival networks ABC, CBS and Fox had laid out their schedules for next season.

The statement from Trump's organization seemed to spell a definitive end to the series.

"It looks like viewers will have to wait to see what Mr. Trump plans for the future," the statement said. "But if Mr. Trump's past TV success is any indication of the future, then one can anticipate that millions of 'Apprentice' fans will be migrating to his new venture."

Trump and NBC still remain in the beauty pageant business together. The two announced in March a renewed deal to keep annual broadcasts of the
Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which Trump co-owns, on the General Electric Co.-controlled network through 2010.

2007 Reality TV Summer Preview

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2007 Reality TV Summer Preview: Coming soon to a TV near you

By Christopher Rocchio, 05/15/2007

Pirates, filmmakers, celebrity impersonators, culinary wizards, inventors, suprheroes, comedians, designers and numerous other characters will all be on display this summer, which will see the sun rise on several new reality series as well as the return of some formidable favorites.

Not all of this summer's reality shows have been formally announced yet but the following is Reality TV World's 2007 Reality TV Summer Preview, highlighting all of the currently known shows that will be premiering in coming weeks as well as where and when to tune in.

On the Lot (premieres Tuesday, May 22 at 9PM ET/PT and Thursday, May 24 at 9PM ET/PT on Fox)
It's Lights! Camera! Action! for this American Idol-like series that was created by Mark Burnett and reality-television aficionado Steven Spielberg and focuses on finding the country's next great filmmaker. With its "Film Premiere" episodes mirroring performance broadcasts and "Box Office" episodes mimicking results shows -- On the Lot certainly has similar content to Idol, but can it produce the same ratings?

So You Think You Can Dance 3 (premieres Thursday, May 24 at 8PM ET/PT and Wednesday, May 30 at 8PM ET/PT on Fox)
This reality competition series turned living rooms across America into dance floors last summer, and it looks to do the same this time around as viewers vote for their favorite up and coming two-steppers. From last season's champ, the swing-dancing Benji Schwimmer, to other fan favorites like break-dancing Musa Cooper and graceful Travis Wall, it remains to be seen if this summer's cast can combine their talents and personalities to make judge Mary Murphy bellow her trademark shriek of joy.

The Simple Life Goes to Camp (premieres Monday, May 28 at 10PM ET/PT on E!)
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie rekindled their friendship and stayed out of jail and rehab just long enough to film the fifth installment of The Simple Life, which will have the BFFs traveling to various camps and working as counselors. As ludicrous as it may seem to have the two serving as counselors at a fat camp and couples camp, Hilton and Richie hopefully learned how to sharpen their acting chops during their time at drama camp.

America's Got Talent 2 (premieres Tuesday, May 29 at 9PM ET/PT on NBC)
This glorified talent show will have a few new faces for its second season, as Jerry Springer is in as host and Regis Philbin is out while Sharon Osbourne is in as the third judge and Brandy Norwood is out. Who knows? Perhaps judge David Hasselhoff could be the next domino to (drunkenly) fall.

The Next Best Thing (premieres Wednesday, May 30 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC)
People across America who perform their favorite celebrity impressions in-front of their bedroom mirrors will now have the opportunity to do so in-front of a studio and television audience thanks to this new series, which aims to find the country's best celebrity impersonators.

Pirate Masters (premieres Thursday, May 31 at 8PM ET/PT on CBS)
It will be a pirate's life for the 16 buccaneer wannabes competing on this new Mark Burnett-created reality competition series, as they'll plunder and swash-buckle their way through 33 days on a 179-foot, square-rigged barque set adrift in the Caribbean in search of Spanish doubloons that total $1 million. Think of Survivor on a boat, minus Jeff Probst.

Hell's Kitchen 3 (premieres Monday, June 4 at 9PM ET/PT on Fox)
If you can't take the summer heat, retreat to your living room to watch foul-mouthed British chef Gordon Ramsay light a fire under the butts of the culinary competitors cast for the third season of this reality competition series.

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (premieres Tuesday, June 5 at 10PM ET/PT on Bravo)
Despite an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Programming, comedian Kathy Griffin is still living it up on the D-List, and the third season of her reality series will follow the unabashed reality TV junkie at her prison comedy tour; on a trip to her hometown of Chicago for her high-school reunion; to the U.K. where she's attempting to launch her career; as she hits the dating scene as a recent divorcee; as well as at the Gay Adult Video Awards.

American Inventor 2 (premieres Wednesday, June 6 at 9PM ET/PT on ABC)
Possessing a patent can be a bureaucratic process -- that is unless you're featured on the second season of this reality competition series -- which aims to find the country's next great invention as well as the brain behind its creation. Aspiring inventors need look no further than former The Rebel Billionaire runner-up Sarah Blakely for inspiration, as the creator of Spanx footless pantyhose will serve as one of three judges for the series.

Fast Cars & Superstars - Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race (premieres Thursday, June 7 at 8PM ET on ABC)
A mix of 12 athletes and entertainers will find themselves behind the wheels of stock-cars in this new seven-episode reality series. With the ultimate goal being to master a time-trial with the quickest laps, at least the celebrity participants will be racing on closed courses.

Bindi: The Jungle Girl (premieres Saturday, June 9 on Discovery Kids Channel)
Wasting little time on picking up where her recently deceased father -- Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin -- left off, this new reality series aimed at children will teach the importance of wildlife conservation. With the entire Irwin family included in several of the episodes, the series will also offer fans of the famed Crocodile Hunter an opportunity to watch him pass-on life lessons of respecting nature to a new generation of conservationists, as his daughter leads the way.

Last Comic Standing 5 (premieres Wednesday, June 13 at 9PM ET/PT on NBC)
While love may be the international language -- laughter is also universal -- and the fifth season of this reality competition hopes to prove just that as it went global with it's casting call to find the funniest up and coming stand-up comedians. Considering the new $250,000 grand prize the winner will receive in addition to the standard NBC talent contract deal and Bravo half-hour comedy special, the stakes are no laughing matter.

Top Chef 3 Miami (premieres Wednesday, June 13 at 10PM ET/PT on Bravo)
The kitchen won't be able to contain the heat generated by the third season cast of this culinary competition series, as they'll be living and working in sunny Miami. With a cast of 15 including sous chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, and even a Jamaican cheese maker (that's a cheese maker from Jamaica, not one who makes Jamaican cheese), some are sure to sizzle while others will just leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Age of Love (premieres Monday, June 18 at 10PM ET/PT on NBC)
If age is really just a number when looking for love, tennis pro Mark Philippoussis will soon learn the hard way. In this new reality dating competition series Philippoussis will serve as the object of affection for six young women in their 20's -- the "Kittens" -- as well as seven women in their 40's, the "Cougars." Hopefully he remembers that both cougars and kittens have claws.

Shaq's Big Challenge (premieres Tuesday, June 26 at 9PM ET/PT on ABC)
Add reality television star to Shaquille O'Neal's resume, as the NBA star, rapper, actor, and reserve police officer will star in this new six-episode weight-loss reality series. While Shaq is unquestionably big, he's not the one who will be shedding the pounds, as instead he'll be trying to help transform six obese middle-school students from Florida into healthy kids. Hopefully there are a few dunks thrown in there too. Who doesn't like a good dunk?

HGTV Design Star 2 (premieres Sunday, July 22 at 10PM ET/PT)
It will be viva Las Vegas for the 11 interior designers, artists, architects and craftsmen pitted against one another in the second season of this reality competition series, as they all attempt to show-off their creativity, ingenuity and skills in the hopes of landing the grand prize of his or her own HGTV television show.

Who Wants to be a Superhero 2 (premieres Wednesday, July 25 at 9PM ET/PT on Sci Fi Channel)
The fictional crime-fighting alter egos of this reality competition series' second installment will be unmasked as they vie for the opportunity to be immortalized in their own comic book. With legendary comic-book creator Stan Lee returning to identify this generation's next superhero, he's probably hoping the contestants are more Spider-Man and less Nitro G, who failed to impress anyone with his super powers during the series' first season when he gave the cold shoulder to a girl in distress.

I'm going to start threads for the ones that start soon but leave the later ones until closer to the time they air, unless there's something that particularly excites someone. In that case, feel free to start the thread now.

nbc.com says America's Got Talent 2 will begin on June 5

**stealing_kisses** · 05-19-2007, 09:15 PM

Thanks for the updates on the new shows.

The Apprentice news isn't too surprising.

Moochie · 05-19-2007, 11:18 PM

Not surprising at all about The Apprentice. I wonder what Trump's new TV venture thing is all about.

jennarose · 05-20-2007, 07:30 AM

Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be huge and the biggest thing ever to hit TV.

Moochie · 05-20-2007, 11:25 AM

You mean, it'll be yooooooj! I will definitely not miss hearing that every week.

jalapeno_wildchild · 05-27-2007, 12:59 PM

thanks for the info on the new shows. i'm also not suprised about The Apprentice

goldenraisin · 05-29-2007, 01:51 PM

ok what the hell is that pirate show.. that soudns abotu as dumb as the "celebs" becoming cops show

jennarose · 05-29-2007, 05:34 PM

Heh, Pirate Masters is the show I'm most looking forward to this summer. The commercials look good.

I'm going to starts some more threads for the shows beginning next week.

While I was looking up Hell's Kitchen, I found this.

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Former 'Hell's Kitchen 2' contestant Rachel Brown found dead in home

By Christopher Rocchio, 05/21/2007

Rachel Brown, a 41-year-old personal chef who competed on the second season of Fox's Hell's Kitchen, was reportedly found dead in her family home in Bedford, TX on Wednesday, May 9.

"She was a delight," Rachel's sister Dr. Mary Brown told the Dallas Voice, a Dallas gay and lesbian community publication that reported the death in its May 18 edition. "She was funny and sweet and worked really hard."

Brown, a caterer, personal chef and cooking instructor, was sixth culinary competitor eliminated from last summer's Hell's Kitchen edition. However Brown returned for the show's finale, where she was selected by Heather West to work as part of her kitchen crew during the second season's final challenge.

West eventually won the competition with some help from Brown and the other members of her kitchen staff.

Dr. Brown told the Voice that her sister's death is currently under investigation. Her body was cremated earlier last week and a memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 26 in Hurst, TX, according to the Voice, which added Brown was survived by her girlfriend.

Moochie · 05-29-2007, 09:11 PM

I read that about Rachel a few days ago. That's so sad.

jennarose · 05-31-2007, 08:04 PM

Variety.com - NBC still has hope for 'Apprentice'

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NBC still has hope for 'Apprentice'
Silverman in talks with Trump, Burnett
By JOSEF ADALIAN
"The Apprentice" isn't fired just yet.

NBC's option on the Donald Trump/Mark Burnett skein was due to expire Friday, with the odds favoring the show's end. In fact, Trump said last week that he wasn't waiting for NBC to make a call and planned to walk away from the show.

Enter Ben Silverman.

NBC Universal's new entertainment guru has a longstanding relationship with Burnett. Within 48 hours of Silverman getting his gig, Burnett hooked up Silverman and Trump via telephone to discuss the possibility of continuing "The Apprentice."

Not surprisingly, Silverman wanted some time to see if a deal could be done.

"But Ben really made Donald feel comfortable and wanted, so he and Mark were happy to grant NBC an extension on the option," said one person from inside the Burnett camp familiar with the conversation.

As a result of the call, Burnett and Trump agreed to extend the Peacock's option on "Apprentice" until June 8. There's still no guarantee the show will be back on NBC, but the odds just got a little better.

Moochie · 05-31-2007, 08:55 PM

Meh, I say they just kill the show. The last season wasn't good at all - better to walk away now instead of dragging it on.

The Survivor · 06-13-2007, 04:59 PM

Link to article here.

'Real World: San Diego' Alum Frankie Abernathy Dead At 25

Housemate's struggle with cystic fibrosis was featured on 2004 show.
By Chris Harris

Frankie Abernathy, the punk rock-adoring former "Real World: San Diego" housemate whose struggle with cystic fibrosis helped to further raise national awareness about the chronic lung disease, died Saturday evening in her mother Abbie Hunter's Shorewood, Wisconsin, home. An official cause of death has yet to be determined; Abernathy was 25.

According to Hunter, Abernathy was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis — a hereditary disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive tract — at the age of 3. She is survived by a sister, Mamie; her mother; stepfather Perry, and her dad, Joe Abernathy, who now resides in Texas.

"It was very sudden," her mother said. "It wasn't something that was expected. She was doing fine, and we really don't know very much yet. It still was kind of a shock, and it just wasn't how we figured things would go. It seems like her little body just gave out."

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common life-shortening, childhood-onset hereditary diseases, and every year in the United States alone, 1 in 3,900 children are born with it. Difficulty breathing and insufficient enzyme production in the pancreas are the most common symptoms, and thick mucus production — as well as a weak immune system — often results in frequent lung infections, which are treated, though not always cured, by oral and intravenous antibiotics.

Hunter said Abernathy, who was born in Blue Springs, Missouri, on December 21, 1981, moved to Wisconsin last fall with her family, and, while she wasn't working full time, she was designing purses forged from old vinyl records. This winter, her health began to worsen.

"It was a day-by-day thing," Hunter said. "Some days she felt good, and some days she felt bad. We were kind of hoping to get her [on a list] to see if she would qualify for a lung transplant, because the disease does get progressively worse. In the winter, most [people with cystic fibrosis] usually have a rough patch, and she had a rough patch this year. She had been sick more this last year than she'd ever been in the past. I am very grateful that it was very quick for her. It certainly made it hard for the survivors. She's just our little girl."

Abernathy — who had said at one point during her time on 2004's "The Real World: San Diego" that "Tomorrow is a privilege, so live today like tomorrow isn't happening" — helped put a face to the disease. Abernathy didn't stay for the entire season; she left because of several problems she had with her roommates and because she missed her boyfriend, Dave, terribly.

"Her experience on 'The Real World' taught her about what she needed to do, and it helped other people as well," Hunter said. "I know several people weren't aware of the cutting epidemic at the time" — Abernathy cut herself intentionally with a kitchen knife during the show's taping — "and I know several people wrote Frankie and thanked her. She was a different person for 'The Real World' realm, and I think she touched a lot of people and made an impact on a lot of people's lives. That's what you want when you have a child — you hope they do that. I wish it had been in a different way, but I am proud of her, and as I said, she got a lot of personal growth out of her experience, and she was very fortunate to have had the experiences she did."

Services will be held Saturday morning in Blue Springs, Missouri, and her mother said a scholarship fund has been established in Frankie's name at Blue Springs High School, Frankie's alma mater. In lieu of flowers, fans can send donations to the Frankie Abernathy Scholarship Fund, c/o Jackie Langston, 1205 NW Roanoke Drive, Blue Springs, MO, 64015.

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Very sad, I am only three years younger then her. My prayers go out to her family and friends.

jennarose · 06-15-2007, 08:57 PM

Variety.com - Trump's 'Lady' comes to Fox

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Trump's 'Lady' comes to Fox
Party girls to get reality check
By STEVEN ZEITCHIK

Fox and Donald Trump are developing "Lady or a Tramp," a reality-competition series in which girls in love with the party life will be sent to a charm school where they will receive a stern course on debutante manners. Trump will exec produce the show and possibly come on air to evaluate contestants' progress, insiders said.

RDF USA will produce the show, with chief exec Chris Coelen and exec veep of development Greg Goldman, Bruce Toms ("Nanny 911") and Trump Prods. prexy Andy Litinsky joining Trump as exec producers.

If the show gets greenlit, it could be on the air as early as midseason.

Series, which will combine the competition and self-improvement aspects of reality television with the sizzle of the tabloids, is an adaptation of the British series "Ladette to Lady."

On that show, party girls are sent to the U.K. charm school Eggleston Hall, where they are taught "how to go from throwing a kegger to throwing a tea party," Goldman quipped.

Girls are required to wear tweed skirts and pearl necklaces, and taught the finer points of skills like flower arranging and needlework.

Contestants then face challenges in those areas, with one girl expelled from the school at the end of each episode.

"Tramp" will follow a similar format and also show ample footage of the girls partying.

Execs haven't yet decided whether to shoot at the same school in the U.K. or at another location.

Trump has made self-improvement a goal of his series "The Apprentice," while party girls have been a staple of cable, with shows about them on MTV and Oxygen. Of course Fox's "The Simple Life" was originally intended to administer a slice of humble pie to party girls Nicole Richie and Hilton.

“We are all sick and tired of the glamorization of these out-of-control young women, so I have taken it upon myself to do something about it," Trump said. "I am creating a real-life version of 'My Fair Lady' with my company Trump Productions. This show is all about getting a second chance and transforming for the better; the idea is genius and the show will be huge.”

Those involved with "Tramp" also said they hoped the show would tap into the stories that have captivated the tabloids and cable news. "A few months ago, Britney had just shaved her head, and the idea was timely," Coelen said. "Now, with all this craziness with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, it's even more timely."

Though the show is still in development, casting for the girls is under way. A casting notice described potential contestants as "rude and crude party girls" and as "younger women who are 18-30, love to party and full of attitude."

Age-a-licious · 06-18-2007, 01:51 PM

Whoa. Wasn't expecting that one.

From out-lookmag.com

'Real World' Regular Coral Happy Exploring Her 'Lesbian Qualities'

'Real World' Regular Coral Happy Exploring Her 'Lesbian Qualities'
Reality Television Star Comes Out, Contemplates Return Another MTV Run

By Paul E. Pratt
Entertainment Editor

Since Return to New York, the 2001 season of the hit Real World franchise, Coral Smith has become an MTV reality show superstar. In addition a handful of reunions shows, she even competed in a “Clash of the Reality TV Stars” challenge. Now the curvaceous San Francisco native faces her biggest obstacle: coming out!

Dating men for the majority of her TV career, Coral says she is now exploring her “lesbian qualities.” During a recent “Gay Day” appearance at Paramount’s Great America, a northern California theme park, the beautiful celebutante discussed why she’s considering a return to reality TV, her coming out process, and says she’s never been a “politics person.”

Why do you think you were picked for The Real World?
To this day, I really don’t know. It could possibly be my breasts. They’re very large. I did talk a lot of ****. I was very outgoing. Maybe they thought it would be easier to shoot me than some introvert.

You weren’t exactly the “nice person” that season.
I was the bitch of my season. Not the ‘Oh my God, I hate that bitch and want to kill her!’ It was more like ‘She’ll tell me what she thinks. She’s outspoken and not going to let anybody get away with anything.’ For me, that’s not bad. Yes, I was the bitch of my season, but every season has one. I’d rather be the bitch than the slut.

There’s definitely one of those every season.
There is! There’s the slut and the bitch. I’ll take the bitch, thank you.

They keep calling you back!
For every challenge, they call me back. For the last two, I’ve declined. I was working on other projects. Right now I’m contemplating going on the next one. Honestly, they’re very stressful. I just don’t feel like going to Mexico to cuss a bunch of people out. It’s not worth my time. Plus, I’m old. They’ve got 19-year old girls on there. And I have a record of never being voted off. I’m trying to keep that record. (Laughing.)

What is your sexual orientation? You dated men on Real World.
Oh, yeah. It’s very cloudy at this point in time. I’m definitely venturing toward my lesbian qualities. It’s been a long time coming. At that time, I was really unsure. That was not the proper venue, the proper platform. To come out to your parents on a ****ing reality show, I think that’s just mean, so I didn’t.

Your girlfriend is very beautiful.
She’s not my girlfriend. I’m attracted to beautiful women. Beautiful women tend to be attracted to me. It really seems to work out for me.

You’re coming out more, doing LGBT events?
I’ve always been really supportive of the community. I just felt it was something I belonged to and had to show up for. I love doing this kind of thing. It’s really positive and shows we’re capable and can run ****. Gay men run **** in L.A., honey. If you want to go out with somebody in L.A., they have businesses and money and depth. Gay men are coming up and are very under-estimated.

Do you feel a sense of responsibility now that you’re coming out?
I guess I get a little nervous. Just saying it is a little . . . It’s a little surreal. I’m not scared. I walk around holding hands. It’s not a problem for me, but I do fear backlash to some degree. Everyone has something negative to say, and I don’t really want to deal with it. Other than that, I don’t care. Hell, I’m old. I’m 28!

That is not old.
I know, but I can’t live my life like that anymore. I felt I was shorting myself. At the time I came out, I was dating someone really special. I wanted to introduce them. That was my thing: If I’m dating someone really, really, really special, that was the time to come out. I wanted to introduce them to the woman I love. It was all about timing for me.

On one hand, it’s great to come when you’ll have that personal support. On the other, it’s frustrating that we, as a community, feel we need that “excuse” – that relationship . . .
We have to have an excuse, that relationship to “validate” us. It becomes, “It’s because I love her, as a person. It doesn’t anything to do with me being gay . . .” It is a shame! I think that it’s mostly because there are so many old people. When they die off, we’ll be fine. In 20 years, 25 years, it will be no big deal. In other countries, Brazil, Australia, they don’t care about that type of stuff. I think we’re just kind of behind a little bit.

Is there a division in the lesbian community…
Oh, you mean between the butch/femme, the andro…

Between the politicized and less political lesbian?
Yes, but I just live my life regular and have regular relationships. I’ve never been a “politics” person. I don’t fit in. I’m not really a Democrat, and I’m definitely not a Republican. I just try to stay out of that, working in [San Francisco], we have a GLBT Center there, and in counseling. I work at a rape crisis center. Stuff like that is more ‘home’ to me. Politically, what I say there doesn’t matter. Stuff happens above me.

Is it a difficult transition from television celebrity to working at a rape crisis center?
I did that right when I got off. No, it wasn’t difficult for me. I consider myself a regular person. I’m not that famous. I can still walk around. People just want pictures. I love it! I think it’s hot. I was a big dork in high school, so now it’s payback. My 10 year reunion is coming, and I’m going – and bringing a date! I’m actually really happy right now. I’m really happy!

CharlieXscene · 06-18-2007, 06:17 PM

Never saw it coming.