This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 26, 2014.
How many singing reality competitions can there be on TV?
“Rising Star” is the latest singing competition to hit the small screen. It airs Sundays on ABC.
After watching the premiere June 22, “Rising Star” seems to be more about technology than talent, in my opinion. Yes, it’s innovative to use an app to “Raise the Wall,” which allows the experts, studio audience and viewers to vote on which contestants should move on to the next round, but so what?
And now anyone can be a judge or expert. On “Rising Star,” the so-called “experts” are Kesha, Ludacris and Brad Paisley. I think hiring Kesha is a publicity stunt after her stint in rehab, but I guess she does have a lot of fame.
“The Voice” is great. But after the auditions, the NBC show is no longer truly about the voice, considering the judges can see them face-to-face. So the best singer doesn’t necessarily win.
It’s such an influx. I get that ABC wants to break into the singing competition mold, but it’s just cliche now.
Yes, seeing and hearing great singers is entertaining, but there just aren’t enough viable twists to make all of these shows worthwhile to watch.
And since so few of them these days make a name for themselves after the show, maybe it’s a sign that others are sick of these shows, too.
This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Jan. 19, 2015.
I hate to admit it, but yes, I do watch ABC’s “The Bachelor.”
I blame it on the fact that there’s not much to watch on Monday nights during the winter.
But it’s one of the silliest, more far-fetched shows I’ve ever watched.
I don’t understand how anyone can truly believe people will actually find true love on this show or its “Bachelorette” counterpart.
Not that I’m an expert on true love or anything, but the premise of the show makes it impossible to find happiness with one person.
No one can whittle down a group of 20-plus people to one soulmate. It just doesn’t make sense. I can barely make a choice when it’s four things.
And then there are all the silly dates. A group date is not six girls and one guy. A group date is a roughly even match of girls and guys. With only one guy, guess where all the focus goes?
Yes, it’s plausible to fall in love quickly. But with one person, not five, which is how these shows play out.
There are “deep” connections made with multiple partners as a season progresses, but how in the world do any of these bachelors truly get to know the women well enough?
There are only about two group dates and one or two one-on-one dates per episode, plus a cocktail party before the rose ceremony. Obviously we don’t see everything that happens, but I doubt it’s enough time to get to know someone well enough to propose to them.
Yes, that’s right, they propose at the end. Which means on the “Bachelorette,” there’s a chance for multiple proposals. And the bachelors who don’t propose at the end are not well-liked among viewers (Except for Juan Pablo, the 2014 bachelor — he was not well-liked for a multitude of reasons, enough so that even producers said they didn’t like him.).
But back to these “dates.” They’re extravagant. I saw an episode where one date included a private Train concert and another was filled with amusement park fun with no one else around.
No wonder all these people “fall in love.” How easy is it to be happy when private jets, travel, concerts and more are involved? But once the cameras stop rolling, it’s back to normal life. Sorry, not sorry, but no more private concerts.
It shouldn’t come as a shock when these couples call off the engagement months after being on the show. Once the dust settles and real life kicks in, it’s hard to face the facts: They don’t know each other that well, and what happened during the show’s taping was just a twisted fairytale.
And just because people are happy on camera doesn’t mean they are really happy. Andi Dorfman, the most recent Bachelorette, and her fiance, Josh Murray, announced they were over days after appearing on the “Bachelor” premiere live event.
Of course they were going to act in love. But in case you didn’t notice, Dorfman repeated the same few phrases over and over, which to me was a sign of hiding something.
I will say it’s fun to watch these people fall for the bachelor or bachelorette. I guess I should say funny, because a lot of times, these people sound so naive and dramatic.
It’s such a trainwreck of a show, with its made-for-TV drama and all the crying and beautiful gowns and suits, that you almost can’t keep yourself from watching.
“The Bachelor” is in its 19th season, while “The Bachelorette” finished season 10 during the summer. But the absurdity keeps going, which leads to lots of quality watercooler moments, if people want to admit they watch.
I appreciate that people believe in love, but “The Bachelor” just isn’t the way to do it.
I should probably just make a drinking game out of watching this show. Any suggestions?
People were shocked, and some wondered if it meant the show was on the outs.
But it was a smart move.
For one, the show saves money because they don’t have to hire as many performers to fill up the hourlong results show.
Besides, who really wants to watch an hourlong results show? They are always filled with fluff, and the results really aren’t announced until the last five minutes of the show.
Yes, it can make it harder on dancers to have an elimination looming over their heads, but at least the dancing would be a good distraction.
Over time, the show has adapted to keep current. There have been host switch-ups, instant dances, partner switch-ups and more.
But are all of these changes good? Here’s my take on the good, the bad and the in between.
The Good: Theme nights
Almost every week on DWTS has a theme. Latin night, Disney night … some are simple, while others are more elaborate.
But the themes give the show focus, and they are fun.
Disney night was new this season. I loved seeing the cast dress up as Cinderella, Ariel and more. Plus, I love listening to Disney music.
But the best theme night, which has been around the past few years, is the most memorable year night.
Celebrities choose a year that meant the most to them and pick the song. Viewers get to see an honest, vulnerable side to the celebrities, or at least more insight into moments we remember.
Who didn’t love Candace Cameron Bure (who played D.J. on “Full House“) dancing to “Jailhouse Rock” as an homage to her years on the ’90s sitcom. Not only that, but Lori Loughlin (Rebecca) and Andrea Barber (Kimmy) were shown during the rehearsal footage. As someone who owns the entire series on DVD, seeing a reunion brought a huge smile to my face.
The Bad: Host switch-ups
When the news hit that Brooke Burke-Charvet was out of her DWTS hosting duties, I was happy. I thought she was stiff and uninviting.
But then it was announced that Erin Andrews was her replacement. And she’s just as stiff. Plus, she says things to the dancers that are way inappropriate. As funny as it may be to have a “DWTS baby,” Andrews asking James Maslow of Big Time Rush about his relationship with Peta Murgatroydreally crossed a line.
In truth, though, no one can compare to Tom Bergeron. He has the talent and the experience to make a great host. But can we please bring Samantha Harris back? She at least knew what she was doing.
The In Between: Guest judges
I’m all for more opinions. Another opinion can be really helpful.
In recent seasons, the ABC reality competition has brought in a fourth judge from time to time. It can be fun, if it’s the right person.
Former DWTS pros make great guest judges, because they understand the show and the process. Plus, they know the other contestants, which makes for great TV. Hey, Julianne Hough, did you ever “phone in” a routine?
But bringing in guest judges just for the sake of ratings is annoying. People like Robin Roberts and Redfoo of LMFAO are fun, but they can’t offer true critiques.
The Good: Graphics makeover
This season, new graphics were implemented for when the scores are given.
It’s a small detail, but the look is cleaner and up-to-date.
The Bad: Partner switch-up
This was just implemented this season. Viewers got to choose the new pairings using Twitter hashtags.
It was an odd week. Some people performed well with new partners; others crashed and burned.
It was only the fourth week of competition, so the celebrities were just getting into a good rhythm with their pros. Maybe if the switch-up happened at the halfway point, it would’ve worked out better.
Overall, it was gimmicky. There was so much hype around it, for just one week. To me, it wasn’t worthwhile.