Did “reality overload” kill The One?
ABC has cancelled The One: Making of a Music Star after dismal ratings. The show’s web site now reads: “There are no plans for additional episodes. Thanks to all who participated in and supported The One!”
Personally, I didn’t think the show itself was all that bad. George Stroumboulopoulos did a great job hosting, and the show concept itself has proven itself as eyeball-worthy around the world. (Star Académie — which is basically a French version of The One — draws as much as half of the province’s entire population.)
The problem is that the reality/competition show field is already way too busy. ABC simply got in too late. Were it to be among only a few competitors and it probably would have been a huge hit. But it tried to struggle for eyeballs in a space already crowded with Canadian Idol, Rock Star: Supernova, America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, and Big Brother — all with their own characters and plotlines.
Face it, even the most diehard reality-show fans have to, after a while, pick and choose which shows they are going to invest time into. For me (sadly), it’s Big Brother — a show where 14 people are locked in a house and vote each other out. But the thing is: I have a job and a life. I can’t keep up with a whole new set of contestants.
Call it Reality Overload.
A CBC official says plans for the Canadian version of The One are still moving forward which I think is a good thing. But timing will be critical. Let’s hope it doesn’t launch when there aren’t 492 other competition/reality shows on.
From the blogs:
- The Stroumboulopouli:”Man! Give a show time to build a following. ABC is a jerk! It took the CBC for a ride on this one! Bad move ABC!”
- Torontoist: “Sorry George, we want to see you succeed, but love you too much to have America take you from our clutches.”
- Fine Young Journalist: “So who gets to walk the plank in the CBC management hierarchy? My money’s on ‘nobody.’ And if history is anything to go by, they’ll probably do the Canadian version in the fall as scheduled.”
- Antonia Zerbisias: “Still no management splat on the CBC atrium floor.”
- Mister Bryans: “Lets just ignore Canadian Idol and go for something with quality.”
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I was wondering when you were going to announce it. I am so sorry that the show got cancelled. I was getting into it.
Yeah… I didn’t get to blogging until rather late tonight so had to catch up on the news.
Thats ok. I blogged about it for you.
It’s too bad for George. But when it comes to reality TV, overload just isn’t enough. I wasn’t it to get to critical mass and detonate in thermonuclear mushroom bliss.
Disclosure: I guiltily enjoy Hell’s Kitchen (but that’s it)
Maybe a chastened CBC will think twice about joining the race for the bottom.
WANT, not wasn’t, sorry for the lousy typo
Hmmm I resisted getting on the ‘I can’t believe they are bumping the National for THIS’ bandwagon… I thought, hey – they’re trying to attract a new generation of viewers, they are doing something new… maybe it will work…. I tuned in – I paid attention (well sort of), I sat through the audio glitches, the moments when George sounded more like an announcer for the WWF (he was better last week) and I actually started to “care” about these young singers – in a tiny way. And now – I’ll never get to know which one is THE ONE. I really hope I can sleep tonight!
How about REAL reality? I think CBC should stick to what they do best – documentaries.
sigh. I hate to say I told you so to the CBC, but … Ever since I heard about this venture, I have been warning about the folly of buying a house in an over-inflated market. And I’m not even in the business! If a civilian like me can see the dangers of this sort of move, why couldn’t the programmers?
Wake up – people are sick to death of this type of show. Stick to quality, original programming.
I think the reality bubble is about ready to burst! Can’t say I’ll be sad when it does. Too bad for George though, he’s always been one of my favorite hosts. But at least he’s still the host for the Hour.
This from the CBC website:
Layfield, who admitted that she doesn’t watch many reality music shows, said she didn’t think there was one specific reason for the show’s demise. However, she challenged those who want to see CBC-TV remain “in a certain kind of box.”
WHAT? The Executive Director of CBC Television programming doesn’t watch one of the most popular formats on television today? Hello? What is this? Why is she in her position? What is going on at the CBC?
‘Tis true, I don’t watch ‘many’ – the only music reality show I personally watch now is Rock Star – and last year was much better than this year. Amazing Race is I think the best reality show still out there (but they temporarily lost me during the ‘family’ race eps). Sorry Tod, could not get into Big Brother but I have many friends who are there with you.
I also like long walks on beaches, sunsets, and, wait a minute, this isn’t myspace…
Don’t worry, Henry, there’s no need to be concerned about how I spend my free tv time…I pretty much try to watch it all, but only really enjoy a few. KL
Totally agree with you on the Amazing Race, Kirstine. My wife and I shed a tear when the nerd couple were Philiminated.