TV Squad

• A history of reality television (part three): Big Brothers, Amazing Races and naked castaways - VIDEOS
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, The Amazing Race, The Apprentice, Survivor, Big Brother (US)

  The summer of 2000 started out to be a typical one for television: repeats, theatrical movies edited for television, repeats, shows that needed to be burned off because they were so bad, and repeats. It was a formula that hadn't really changed for the Big Three networks in several years. And, it was one that viewers had gotten used to as they mourned the last episode of their favorite series and waited with eagerness for the new season to begin in September.

  Then, something happened. CBS decided to air a 'game show'...
  




• A history of reality television (part four): Show me your talents - VIDEOS
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, American Idol, The Apprentice, Video, America's Next Top Model, Project Runway, Hell's Kitchen

  Television and the talent show have been partners since the very first days of the industry. Taking the best (and sometimes worst) performers and putting them in front of the camera, these shows introduced viewers to personalities that either faded into the background or became household names. Usually, these personalities had a talent that would entertain the public -- singing, dancing, telling jokes -- that they would use once they left the...
  




• Television producer Mark Burnett sued for $70 million
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry, OpEd, The Apprentice, Survivor

  Executive television producer Mark Burnett is being sued by his former business partner Conrad Riggs for $70 million. Burnett, a British television producer, is best known for kick-starting the reality television genre in the United States. He's been on the producer and creator train for shows such as Survivor, The Apprentice, Rock Star, The Contender, Martha Stewart Apprentice, Pirate Master, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, On the Lot (with Steven Speilberg), and more.
  
  So, why is he being sued for the big bucks? Read on...
  



• Reality stars aren't here to make friends - VIDEO
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, The Amazing Race, The Apprentice, Video, Survivor, Project Runway, Hell's Kitchen

  

  I've noticed that one of the more overused phrases on reality shows is "I'm not here to make friends." It's that moment in the competition where some controversy/confrontation comes up and the player that everyone seems to dislike the most explains to them that they're "there to win the game" and "not here to make friends." Of course, the fact that many of these people probably can't make friends even in real life probably doesn't even cross their minds.

  Now...
  




• Reality Show casting calls
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, The Apprentice, Survivor, Game Show, Casting

  A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.

  The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as...
  




• NBC says O.J. and Celebrity Apprentice don't fit
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, The Apprentice, Celebrities, Casting

  A couple of days ago I posted of the rumors that O.J. Simpson was being eyed as a possible participant in the next season of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice. NBC and Trump's reps are now calling it complete hogwash, saying he was never being considered for a spot.
  
  This whole thing seemed fishy from the get-go. On Howard Stern's radio show last year, Trump mentioned how he distanced himself from O.J. (scroll down to 'Donald Trump Calls In' at 9:25 AM) and made it pretty clear he had doubts about his innocence, even...
  



• O.J. Simpson on the next Celebrity Apprentice?
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, The Apprentice, Celebrities, Casting

  O.J. Simpson is interested in appearing on television again, though for a much different sort of reality show than the interior of a courtroom. Namely, The Donald's boardroom.
  
  O.J. reportedly is interested in appearing in the next season of Celebrity Apprentice (there's going to be another season?) and has even asked Trump to allow him to participate. From the Page Six article: "Simpson really wants to do it. Trump and NBC are thinking about it, but are being very cautious," their source said. "There's a certain amount of heat associated with Simpson." Ya think?
  



• Donald Trump gets cast on Lifetime
  

  Filed under: OpEd, The Apprentice, Casting, Reality-Free

  In the strangest case of offbeat casting I've ever written about, the Lifetime Channel has cast Donald Trump to executive produce and narrate a new series called Trump Towers. Unlike The Apprentice, this would be a scripted series.
  
  The show would be a nighttime soap opera set within Trump Towers itself. Lifetime Entertainment President Susanne Daniels describes the series as "Desperate Housewives in Trump Tower with The Donald narrating." According to the article, Lifetime also has several other series in the works with a concentration on comedic appeal.
  
  Given the fact that the Lifetime Network has...
  



• Jingles reality show coming to CBS - VIDEO
  

  Filed under: Other Reality Shows, The Apprentice, Video, Pickups and Renewals

  Well, here's something about reality TV that didn't make me gag. Survivor mega-producer Mark Burnett has a new unscripted project, greenlighted by CBS, called Jingles. It's a competition show in which contestants have to create tunes for products, commercial jingles. No mud wrestling, no unlocking keys to puzzle pieces the size of boulders, no eating slugs wrapped in wild boar bacon. This time it's all about catchy melodies, clever hooks and lyrics that incorporate product info whether the products an erectile dysfunction pill or a new luxury car.

  Continue reading Jingles reality...
  




• The Celebrity Apprentice winner
  

  Filed under: OpEd, The Apprentice, Watercooler Talk, Celebrities

  After weeks of tasks, bickering between Piers and Omarosa, "You're fired!" and money raised for charity, Donald Trump finally said the words "You're hired!" (figuratively) to one of the two final contestants: America's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan and country singer Trace Adkins. Since I know some of you haven't watched the finale yet, I'll name who was crowned winner of the first edition of NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice after the jump. I can confirm though that it's a man!

  Continue reading The Celebrity Apprentice winner