Reality TV

Trading Spouses

Like Wife Swap, the idea of the hour-long show is to "trade moms" in two families. Each swap will take  two episodes -- one focused on the swap and one focused on the aftermath.

Fox's 'Trading Spouses' conducting open casting calls for more families
With Fox having recently doubled the size of its initial Trading Spouses episode order from ten episode to twenty as a result of the show's strong initial ratings, that can only mean ... more open casting calls.

All families must bring two photographs of their family with them. For those families unable to attend a casting call, Fox is also accepting mail-in applications. Additional details are available on www.tradingspousescasting.com.

 

Renovate My Family

Amid the cascading ambitions of reality TV, one show tries to do everything.  Why settle for merely building a rec room? Why not fix a house and the people inside, all in one week?

That's the notion behind "Renovate My Family," which works on house and soul, simultaneously.

For Al-Mela Biggins, that's a fine idea.  On July 20, Biggins' family was featured on the first "Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy." Six weeks later her family is scheduled to be on the first episode of "Renovate."  It all began in June when the Bigginses were spotted at a Dallas dog show with some relatives. Some TV scouts asked if she wanted to be on a reality show.

She said yes. ... Then came the other surprise: "Renovate My Family" wanted them, too.  The old house was torn down and rebuilt. Meanwhile, experts worked on the psychology.   "They're a great family," McGraw says. "But the family is 80 percent morbidly obese and that needs to be dealt with."

Hosted by best-selling author Jay McGraw, the son of Dr. Phil McGraw.

Billed by Fox as a "life improvement program that visits families who have encountered some challenge along the way," each self-contained episode will spotlight a family that will, with the help panel of makeover professionals, "restore and redecorate" their lives.

In the premiere episode, the Biggins family from Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy will continue to pursue their goal of enriching their livelihood by allowing Family Time's full force makeover team into their lives. Will Al-Mela, Anthon, Chrishara, Zikea, and little Omar be ready for a lifestyle examination and reformation?

Renovate My Family is from Rocket Science Laboratories, the producers of Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé and Joe Millionaire. Jean-Michel Michenaud, Chris Cowan and Ray Giuliani serve as executive producers. Janelle Fiorito serves as co-executive producer.

 

Reality TV Shows - Jonathon's selections to consider out of ~100.

Amish In The City · The Assistant · Average Joe 1 · The Benefactor · Change of Heart   Dance Fever · The Dating Experiment · Dream Job · Eco-Challenge · Extreme Makeover · Extreme Makeover: Home Edition · Fake-A-Date · The Family · Family Business · Family Plots · For Better Or For Worse · Forever Eden · House Rules · The Last Resort · Mad Mad House · Meet My Folks · Model Citizens · The Mole 1 · Mr. Personality · My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance · My Life Is A Sitcom · No Boundaries · The One Who Got Away · The Osbournes · Outback Jack · The Partner · Performing As... · The Player · Project Greenlight · The Real Roseanne Show · Recovery · Renovate My Family · Rich Guy, Poor Guy ·  Sex in the Itty Bitty City · Starting Over · The Surreal Life ·Survivor: Pulau Tiga · Survivor: All Stars · The Swan · 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave · Todd TV · Tough Enough · Trading Spaces · Trading Spouses · Under One Roof · While You Were Out · Who Wants To Marry My Dad? 1 · Who Wants To Marry My Dad? 2 · Wife Swap · The Will

 

"The Family" pits extended family members against each other not for an inheritence, but instead for a chance at $1 million.

"The Family" will take ten members of a "blue-collar extended clan" and place them in a West Palm Beach, Fla., mansion to compete for the prize. The program will also feature a "fish out of water" element (average family suddenly has every whim catered to by a staff of butlers and maids) and a twist: even if they're voted out of the competition, family members can't leave the house.

"You're stuck with your family regardless of the outcome," said ex-"Iyanla" showrunner Mindy Moore, who created the show. "So you always deal with the consequence of your actions." The show's hook also lies in a group of "secret trustees" who actually guard the $1 million fortune. Viewers find out who those people are in episode one, but the family doesn't find out until the very end. Players who lose a competition will have to appear before the trustees and must name another family member to come with them. One gets to stay -- and one is out of the game, per the secret board's decision.

 

The Complex

The Complex: Malibu will move eight real-life couples into a cliffside apartment building in the Southern Californian coastal enclave of the rich and famous. Once there, the couples will put their construction, interior design and, most importantly, their relationship skills to the test for the chance to win a large cash prize. Home renovation can be stressful enough when it occurs under normal circumstances, but according to Fox, when it happens under the pressure of a tight budget, strict guidelines, and competitive neighbors, it can {insert evil laugh here} "tear a relationship apart."

The Complex will begin with eight couples competing for the opportunity to restore and redecorate one of four units. Under tight deadlines, the couples will battle each other for control of the units, while trying to add the most value to each of the rooms. A panel of real estate professionals - an interior designer, a real estate agent and an architect - will rank the rooms from best to worst and help decide the couples' fate: who stays and who goes. At the end of the show, the renovated units will be sold at public auction, and the couple whose unit nets the highest-percentage profit will receive the profits from all of the units.

 

Family Plots

Similar to HBO's fictional Six Feet Under series, A&E's new unscripted Family Plots series, will chronicle the comings and goings of a real Southern California family-run mortuary.

Unlike the HBO series, Family Plots will feature little drama and more humor -- or apparently as much humor as possible given the series' somber setting. "It's somewhat like The Osbournes because there's a tremendous amount of humor," said Bob DeBitetto, an A&E executive. "But nothing frivolous because these people are working in the shadow of death."

Family Plots came about due to the popularity of a mortuary segment on the network's Take This Job series which documents unusual occupations. The Wissmillers were chosen from among five finalists. They were "utterly compelling," according to DeBitetto. "They were articulate, edgy -- everything you'd want for a scripted show. They just happened to be real."

 

The Swan

First there was ABC's Extreme Makeover. Then came Starting Over. Now comes The Swan ... combines the physical makeover aspect of Extreme Makeover, the lifestyle makeover concept of Starting Over, and (dare we say it) the "beauty pageant" aspect of ABC's embarrassing Are You Hot?

Do you have a dream that you haven't achieved because of how you look? Do you believe that if you got the looks you always wanted, you could then go on to achieve your deepest desires -- including winning a beauty pageant? If so, producers of The Swan might be interested in hearing from you.

In the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale, an ugly duckling awakened one day to discover that she had been transformed into a beautiful swan. In the real world, life is a bit more complicated that that -- and that's where The Swan comes on. The Swan goes beyond where other makeover shows end, offering women the opportunity to undergo complete life transformations, and then follows their journey afterwards as they accomplish their goals and bring their dreams to fruition. The Swan's team of Life Specialists – plastic surgeons, hair stylists, makeup artists, style consultants, speech therapists, and other life coaches – will work on each woman from the outside in so that she can accomplish what she always wanted to achieve but couldn't due to limitations, perceived or otherwise.

"We all know people who at some point in their lives get stuck in a bad spot. They have a goal and think 'if only I could change what I don't like about myself, I would be able to fulfill my dreams,'" explains Cecile Frot-Coutaz, COO of the FremantleMedia NA production company. "With The Swan, we're offering the kind of dream makeover that's normally available only to the rich and famous. This is a positive show where we want to see how these women can make their dreams come true once they have what they want. But it is also a competition, and the one who will have achieved the greatest transformation will be voted 'The Swan.'"

FremantleMedia NA, the producers of The Swan, will be searching for their real life "ugly ducklings" through both live casting calls in twelve cities as well as videotaped submissions via its Web site: www.swancasting.com. Additional information may also be obtained by calling 1-866-4SWAN TV (1-866-479-2688).

Female contestants between the ages of 22 and 38 will be chosen based on the compelling nature of their stories. Episodes will be shot in early 2004, culminating in the presentation of each contestant's makeover -- and subsequent achievements -- in a beauty pageant before a live audience. The best among them will be crowned "The Swan."

 

 

Starting Over

“Starting Over” will follow six diverse and captivating women who each have a compelling reason to start their lives over. The women will come from different parts of the country and reside together. "Starting Over" will allow viewers to follow these women as they push each other to reach for their goals. For those who succeed it will mean graduation from the house and a new exciting life. For those who fail it will mean the heartbreak of returning to their former lives. As each woman leaves the house a new woman will replace her.

“Bunim/Murray is truly unrivaled in the development of non-scripted television.”  After more than 13 years with several successful reality-based and scripted projects to their credit, Bunim/Murray Productions has emerged as an industry leader that uses time-honored skills in dramatic story structure to turn the tales of ordinary real people into extraordinary television. “The Real World” is currently in its 12th season.

The home has been specially furnished to accommodate both the cast and the scores of unobtrusive cameras that capture the show's daily drama. In the new season, inspirational speaker and author Iyanla Vanzant will join motivational expert Rhonda Britten as a life coach supporting the women in the Starting Over house, and renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Stan J. Katz will join the show as a consulting psychologist.

The initial Starting Over cast for season two consists of:

• Josie, age 21, from Chicago, IL: Fans of Starting Over will remember Josie as the woman who arrived late in season one, due to give birth in a matter of weeks. With no resources and grim prospects, Josie struggled with the decision to keep her baby or give it up for adoption. As season one came to a close, Josie had given birth to Chloe, a beautiful and healthy baby girl. Early in the new season, viewers will see the resolution of this dramatic storyline.

• Towanda, age 30, from Atlanta, GA: Towanda struggles under the expectations of her prominent show business family.

• Sinae, age 18, from Los Angeles, CA: At age 17, Sinae was stricken by a blow that would have crushed most adults. Now she needs to create a life for herself in the face of such personal adversity.

• Jennifer, age 21, from Denver, CO: Jennifer has been grappling with adult problems since childhood and is desperate to be rid of the feelings she has kept locked up since her youth.

• Deborah, age 46, from Los Angeles, CA: Deborah says she has tried everything to meet the right man, and nothing and no one, not even the women in the house, will stand in her way.

• Kim, age 46, from Denver, CO: If money buys happiness, Kim should be on top of the world, but despite her many privileges, she carries a heavy burden.

The Starting Over life coaches for season two are:

• Rhonda Britten - Founder of the Fearless Living Institute (FLI), Rhonda Britten returns for her second season as a life coach on Starting Over. A fan favorite in the show's first season, Rhonda is the author of Change Your Life in 30 Days, Fearless Loving and Fearless Living, which is a worldwide hit and has been translated into 12 languages. She can also be seen in the United Kingdom on her primetime television hit Help Me Rhonda.

• Iyanla Vanzant - Iyanla Vanzant rose from a troubled and abusive childhood to become an inspirational teacher, celebrated columnist for Essence magazine and the best-selling author of books such as Acts of Faith and In the Meantime. Founder of the Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Center, Vanzant leads extremely popular personal growth and motivational workshops all over the U.S.

The Starting Over consulting psychologist is Stan J. Katz, Ph.D.  With more than 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Katz is a nationally recognized clinical and forensic psychologist with graduate degrees from Boston University and UCLA who has co-authored several self-help books about relationships and abuse. Dr. Katz will offer his clinical expertise on the issues facing the cast

Each woman is expected to reside in the Starting Over house for six to twelve weeks, depending on the scope of her "project" and her rate of progress toward her goal.

 

 

 

Todd TV stars Todd Santos, a 30-year-old Hermosa Beach, California waiter and Massachusetts native who's "in a rut," "has no direction in life," but according to FX, still "has potential" (for what, we're not sure). The series will borrow liberally from Ed TV's premise of a real-life person who agrees to have his life broadcast 24 hours a day and blend it with the core concept of CBS's Cupid reality series, in which the viewing audience (via telephone, the Internet, or text messaging) decided whom bachelorette Lisa Shannon would marry (or at least that was the original premise... until Shannon and selected partner Hank Stepleton -- whom still remain dating -- refused to marry during the program's live finale.)

During the seven episode series, Santos will allow viewers to direct all aspects of his life -- professional, family, and social. Should he apply for a certain job? Should he dump a girlfriend? Viewers will decide, and cameras will follow Santos as he seeks to comply with the audience's wishes.

In an interview with USA Today, David Goldberg, president of Endemol USA (the producers of Big Brother and Fear Factor among numerous other reality series), explained why they felt Santos was the most appropriate selection from among the program's 1,500+ applicants. "We picked somebody we think is an entertaining person," Goldberg said. "Over a seven-week arc, we hope to take him from where he is now to where his family life is improved, his professional life is improved, his social life is improved, and his sex life is improved. We're trying to make upgrades in all aspects of his life."

For his part, Santos seems to be getting a bit nervous regarding his upcoming starring role on a national television show. During the recent television critics' winter tour in California, the presentation session for Todd TV turned a bit nasty when the normally mild-mannered television reporters discovered that Santos would not be made available to them during the presentation. "Todd is nervous about the fact that he has signed a contract to give up his free will, and we want to keep him as calm as possible until this whole process begins," said Matt Cherniss, FX vice president of development.

Despite the network's concerns, they insist Santos is "psychologically fit" for the role. "He's going into this hoping that America votes to better his life, but fully aware that may not be a pleasant process," co-executive producer Tom Forman said. "Some of this will be taking his medicine on the road to becoming a better human being than he is right now."

For their part, the program's producers also seem a bit anxious. "It scares the hell out of us because we have no control," Goldberg told The Sentinel. "America is directing the story lines. They're deciding where things go. We're just basically along there to chronicle what happens."

Santos' mother, Linda Patterson is also fearful of how the series will turn out. "It's very scary. The truth is no one knows, and least of all him, the questions that people ask and where the show will take him.  I think he is incredibly brave." Both Patterson and her daughter, Whitney, recently flew to California and are expected to appear in the show's debut.

Similar to the ubiquitous marketing pact between FOX's American Idol and AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile will serve as the lead sponsor for the interactive reality series, receiving extensive product placement and the ability for its 12 million subscribers the ability to text message their votes. Additionally, T-Mobile subscribers will have exclusive access to other information about Todd, including Todd's picture mail diary, daily alerts about what's happening to Todd and instant polls that give T-Mobile subscribers the ability to vote on Todd's actions in real time, including what he might eat for lunch or what movie he sees on any given day.

Hamster... meet your cage.

Second Chance: America's Most Talented Senior

“’American Idol’ has been a huge success, and we tip our hat to the job they’ve done, “ said eff Gaspin, Executive Vice President, Alternative Series, Longform and Program Strategy. “But, they’ve only identified great talent between the ages of 16 and 24." "We’re going older, and we’re sure we’ll find a lot of talent.”

According to NBC, the series will feature seniors from across America competing head-to-head in an overall talent competition, which ranges from song and dance, to the most exceptional and unusual acts.