If you’ve pitched a show, or been pitched a show recently, you’re quite familiar with the “it’s-this-meets-that” line. It’s the weapon of choice for many a producer, who know that, to a programming executive, hearing the combination of two hit programs can quickly equate to the next even bigger hit.
But whether it’s 30 MINUTE MEALS meets DR. 90210, or E-VETS meets MONSTERQUEST, it’s essential to make sure that, in this case of television math, the final product is even greater than the sum of its parts. But just how easy is it to get that homerun idea?
So I did a little experiment and found that, actually, it’s very easy. Just check out some of my favorite ideas for next year’s development lineup. And stay tuned for the summer lineup of ’09. I have a feeling we might be seeing some of these gems on air.
10. PARANORMAL HOUSE HUNTERS: Hosted by Suzanne Whang, we follow a young couple (they met at Paranormal State, of course) looking for their first haunted house. That ghost in the upstairs window definitely adds to its curb appeal.
9. EVERYBODY LOVES CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK: You see annoying, overrated David Copperfield knock-off? Well, I see a sitcom star!
8. FORENSIC STYLES: Paris Hilton, now a certified political figure and brainiac, explores the science behind the best styling products on the market right now. Plus CGI, or, as Paris refers to them, Crazy Great Images!
7. FLIP THAT/THIS RELATIVE PRONOUN: Teams of grammarians debate the use of “this” versus “that” and make over sentences and titles in an ultimate battle of correct English.
6. THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF MEERKAT MANOR: I hear these pesky women not only waste all day spending their husband’s hard-earned money, but they actually do bite!
5. BRIDEZILLAS: DIRTY JOBS EDITION: Take a group of snarky brides and force them to tackle the smelliest and most disgusting of all jobs – right before they walk down the aisle. Zoom in on guests as the smell of rotting garbage hits them as the shining bride takes her first steps down the aisle!
4. A SHOT AT LOVE WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN: Women compete to down the most bizarre buffet of food, from bugs to brains, in an effort to win Andrew Zimmern’s heart. If they’re really lucky, they’ll get to eat a piece of it, too. (Although I hear it’s quite gamey.)
3. PROJECT NIP/TUCK: The next hit in reality competition?
2. HOW TO LOOK GOOD WHILE BEING A COMPETITIVE EATER: This crack team of experts help women learn to feel confident about their bodies as they struggle to eat 73 hot dogs in under 4 minutes. Nothing screams “feminine” that a woman who knows how to clean her plate!
1. THROW UP WITH BOBBY FLAY: Combining the hit food competition show and the latest reality show that seeks to make its contestants barf, Bobby Flay travels from home to home to see who can serve up the biggest hunks of salmonella-infested slabs of beef to as many people as possible on a 90-degree day.
Have your own next great idea? Leave a comment on the blog!
Have you heard about:
Beauty and the Survivor 2008- It takes all of the girls from Beauty and the Geek and throws them on an island for 12 weeks. In the season finally, they all go head-to-head against the winner of Survivor (who has been out of the country for the same time period) in a thrilling trivia contest about the Presidential Election (yeah, yeah, these things always end up in a disappointment anyway). The 12 weeks on the island part is just for good TV for the fellas;)
Here are some other things in the works that capitalize on some already successful show ideas:
Laguna Leach: This “real life drama” follows the lives of 6 wealthy leaches that live in a pond in Madagascar. Drama ensues when an old blood sucking leach comes back from Paris and tries to steal the “leachfriend” of LeaCh who is interning at Teen Swamp (which must pay pretty well because she lives in a ‘freakin’ Marsh-ion!)
Big Mother: 10 mothers live in a house and try to gain the most weight (What the hell do people do on Big Brother anyway!)
The Biggest Mother: See above but the mothers are larger to begin with.
Beijing 2009: This show follows the exciting lives the Chinese gymnasts as they go to middle school next year.
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This was a great read! It’s true that the TV business is cyclical and most good AND bad ideas come around more than once. Here’s my two cents on potential new shows for ’09:
I LOVE MAD MONEY – the losers from Vh1′s dating shows get a chance to compete for Jim Cramer’s heart
WHAT NOT TO WEAR IN GANGLAND – in these ‘hoods, a keen sense of style can literally mean life or death
MY SUPER SWEET INTERVENTION – go off to rehab with a bang!
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Another good ( and funny) article Liz. I will now look forward (hopefully) to Part 2 of this creative reality TV process. Perhaps it can become a regular theme on your blog since it appears there are few limits on potential title combinations. You might consider calling it “Doubletakes” unless that title is unavailable. I leave that in your educated hands.
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