Reality TV News (Page 2)

Not so long ago, reality TV was the last place any self-respecting celebrity would wish to end up.

Now, though, the famous - and almost-famous - are lining round the block to get on the most popular shows, like Dancing With the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice. And it isn't for the money.

Stars on a multi-character scripted drama can make upwards of $50,000 an episode - sometimes way upward.

On reality shows, celebrities get what is referred to as Most Favored Nation status - which means nobody gets more than anybody else.

The celebs on Dancing With the Stars, for example, get $200,000 for the season, whether they're booted or not, a bonus of $100,00 if they're number one, and smaller bonuses if they're number two or three, an agent said.

So Marie Osmond made what Emmitt Smith made, what Cloris Leachman made, what Belinda Carlisle made this season - and she was the first one booted off.

Of course, every reality show is different. A celeb with a show built around his or her life is likely to get producer credit and maybe something on the back end. Participants on an existing show generally get a flat fee without residuals.

"Between scripted shows and reality shows," said a leading TV agent, "in the success scenario there's just no comparison - and that's the way it should be. On scripted shows, they have to have talent."

But, in Hollywood, there's always more than money. Especially former celebs are sniffing out any opportunity to put themselves on the map - or sell themselves in a different guise to new fans.

"It's all about the endorsements and other appearances. There's a lot of heat coming off that show," the TV agent said.

Lauren Conrad has become a mega-celebrity by committing her young adult life to video on the MTV series Laguna Beach and its follow-up The Hills.

Continue Reading...

Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss is giving Shayne Lamas and her "good-looking" family the Kim Kardashian treatment - reality TV show style.

"Not that the Kardashians aren't good looking, but the Lamas family is a very good looking family," Fleiss told Reality TV World.

"You see Shayne, her sister Dakota and [their brother] A.J. and obviously [her father] Lorenzo is there anchoring it with his rugged handsomeness.  They're wild, crazy characters, but they're also very good looking."

Fleiss provided details about the E! reality series starring The Bachelor: London Calling winner and her family and friends, which was announced as being in development when The Bachelor exec inked an exclusive deal with Warner Bros.

"It's very strong. [E! programming executive] Lisa Berger is very happy with it," Fleiss said. "We think it has a chance to be a real hit for them."

Fleiss said the series hasn't officially been ordered by E! but added "it looks very good. We just shot the pilot and we're about to go back into production."

Shayne Lamas received the final rose and a marriage proposal - both of which she accepted - from The Bachelor star Matt Grant on the season finale last May.

Despite insisting they were in love, the couple eventually called off their engagement in July after a report surfaced that she had traveled to Las Vegas and cheated on him with media mogul Justin Wenerger.

Shayne Lamas subsequently denied she cheated on Matt Grant and instead claimed that although the couple hadn't announced it at the time, their relationship was already over before her trip to Sin City.

In addition, Shayne attributed Grant's inability to handle her hard-partying Hollywood lifestyle as the reason why the couple spilt.

Bravo is apparently in production on a real-life Gossip Girl - a reality TV series centering on private-school kids in New York City, according to numerous reports.

Comparisons have already been drawn to reality shows about wealthy high school kids like Laguna Beach (which spawned an even bigger hit spinoff in The Hills).

MTV, which produced Laguna Beach and is filming Season 5 of The Hills, tried making an East Coast counterpart a few years ago, but it never got off the ground.

Would you watch a real-life Gossip Girl reality TV show?

The series is scheduled to premiere later this year and will be following the same production style as the webisodes that Bravo ran of the children of The Real Housewives of Orange County. No single school will be featured exclusively.

If the Bravo version gets past pre-production, expect to learn a whole slew of semi-celebrity names like Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt.

Ricki Lake got her start in show business by hosting a talk show.

Therefore, she has experience with insane people and will make an ideal lead in the upcoming series Charm School Gives Back.

This edition of the VH1 franchise will star shameless skanks girls from Rock of Love Bus and Real Chance of Love.

Here's the opening of the network's press releasing, announcing plans for the show:

The third installment of 51 Minds and VH1’s Charm School is going to a whole new level and showing a side of the girls from Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels and Real Chance of Love you’ve never seen before…the compassionate side. That’s right, these once love struck reality beauties will now learn self-improvement through selfless acts.

Legendary talk show host, documentary film producer and author Ricki Lake will try to tame the wild ladies by asking them to do…gasp…charity work, in Charm School Gives Back, premiering in Summer 2009.

Get the DVR ready, reality TV fans!

Forget whether or not Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today; you will definitely see the very best of reality television tonight.

Here's the exciting primetime preview:

8 p.m. - The Bachelor (ABC). Five women remain. Our money is on Melissa Rycroft or Molly Malaney.

9 p.m. - Bromance (MTV). Homoerotic tension runs wild between Brody Jenner and company.

9 p.m. - I Love Money 2 (VH1). Season premiere, starring MILF, The Entertainer and Bonez. What else needs to be said?!?

10 p.m. - The City (MTV). Boring spin-off of The Hills. But, hey, Whitney Port is cute!

10:30 p.m. - For the Love of Ray J (VH1). Series premiere! Desperate women + a subject with a proclivity for sex tapes = reality show heaven.

Because Terrell Owens didn't receive nearly enough attention for a past-his-prime wide receiver this season, the cantankerous, self-serving Dallas Cowboy will star in his own reality show this summer.

We have VH1 to thank for that.

Here's the official press release from the network, hyping The Terrell Owens Project:

In the series, T.O. will be shadowed in the off-season by his best friends and publicists Monique Jackson and Kita Williams as they battle the two sides of his large personality. 

Viewers will discover that behind all the braggadocio, emotional histrionics, and sculpted physique that is the outspoken media magnet known to the world as “T.O.” — there is also a quiet, sensitive, mild-mannered guy from Alexander City, Alabama…that’s Terrell.

It's about time Terrell Owens received some attention. We can only hope Pacman Jones and Michael Vick are the next football stars to receive their own reality shows.

“We are thrilled to bring such a great athlete, who is one of the biggest names and personalities in all the world of sports to VH1 for a surprising high octane look inside his superstar life off the field,” said Jeff Olde, EVP Original Programming & Production.

Continue Reading...

While 2008 may have been the greatest sports year in history, 2009 is shaping up to be the year of reality television.

Granted, this genre has taken over the airways for close to a decade now. But a few of the offerings in the new year, especially those produced by VH1, should lower the reality TV bar more than ever. Yes, that's still possible.

Here are a few of the planned programs we can't wait to ridicule watch:

Daisy of Love: Thank you, VH1! Instead of pretending as though true love can be found via reality television - yes, we're staring daggers at you, ABC and The Bachelor - this network just inserts the most random, least inhibited celebrities it can find into it dating competition format.

The latest to follow in the shameless footsteps of Bret Michaels, Tiffany Pollard and Real/Chane? Daisy De La Hoya.

Reality TV fans will get to know Megan Hauserman (left, copping a feel) and Daisy De La Hoya (right, being felt) well in 2009.

Rock of Love Bus: The aforementioned Michaels failed to find a soulmate on the first two versions of this show. The obvious reason? Both winners simply weren't suited for life on the road.

Fortunately, the geniuses at VH1 have solved this problem: put the rocker and all love interests on a tour bus together. Watch the sparks, and STDs, fly.

Untitled Megan Hauserman Show: See above description for Daisy of Love. Replace De La Hoya with Megan Hauserman in the lead role and remember that only millionaires can apply to be potential suitors. Sit back. Enjoy.

Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House: You laughed at their drunken antics on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Now, be bored by the sober lives of various Z-list stars as VH1 continues to document their pathetic existences on Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House.

I Love Money 2: Which of these reality TV stars will land the next dating show? Our money is on MILF of Love to lead our preview for 2010.

Randy Jackson is more than just an American Idol judge.

The music producer and MTV have announced a premiere date for the third season of Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew. Look for it to debut on Thursday, January 15 with a special 90-minute episode.

The reality show will follow a similar format to the show's first two installments, both of which aired in early 2008. The series' second season was won by SuperCr3w, while the JabbaWockeeZ took home the show's first season crown.

Let the divorce countdown for Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin begin!

The couple, having learned nothing from Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, along with a never-ending assortment of other pairings, will expose their lives to the cameras in an unscripted series for TV Land.

The network has ordered a pilot for a show that would follow around the former Days of Our Lives star, her actor husband and their two daughters. It has not answered our emails yet, though, asking why anyone would watch this.

"Ever since I started here (in May 2006), I've been out in the marketplace looking for a celebrity couple with dynamic stories to tell, and when I met Lisa and Harry, it made sense," said Keith Cox, TV Land's executive vp development and original programming.

Reality TV fans will soon be under siege from a washed up action star.

A&E has announced production on Steven Seagal: Lawman, a series that will focus on Seagal's work as a fully-commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana.

On the show, viewers will follow around the actor as he and his hand-selected deputies respond to crimes as they happen. Naturally, we'll also watch Seagal pursue personal interests, including musical performances and philanthropic efforts.

"It's such an amazing revelation that this larger-than-life star has been doing real police work for nearly 20 years," said 

Senior Vice President of A&E Robert Sharenow.

Might this series lead to Under Siege 3? Apparently so.