OK, I'll admit it. I hunker down in front of my television set once a week for 16 weeks to watch Donald Trump's latest offering of "Apprentice", or "Celebrity Apprentice", as the case may be.
Actually, I rather more enjoy watching the "never-will-be's" on "Apprentice" than the has-beens on "Celebrity Apprentice". But the ever-increasing prominence of so-called "reality TV" demands comment.
To begin with, there is very little that is "real" about reality television. Reality stars and contestants are selected with specific criteria in mind. Just as game shows once selected their contestants based on their exuberance, personality and enthusiasm, reality TV producers select their participants based on their propensity and willingness to create, perpetrate and escalate controversy among their "co-stars". And Donald Trump apparently has figured out that his already huge audience would grow even more if the juvenile behavior that often is prevalent in publicly vented but often private personality conflicts is demonstrated by persons of some notoriety.
But like the game shows of old, most of the celebrities ultimately selected for participation either are on the fringes of fame and fortune, or their careers are declining. For the lucky few, like Joan Rivers, the 16-week exposure on network television has rekindled otherwise fading careers. For all of them, the show provided at least a brief return to the spotlight. But the cost in loss of public esteem seems too high.
Who among us has the same opinion of Dionne Warwick after her appearance on last year's Celebrity Apprentice? Who knew that Gary Busey was so weird, or that Meatloaf's temper was so volatile?
One thing is for certain. Those willing to publicly display their character flaws and childish behavior now have a career opportunity in television entertainment not previously available. Fashion designers, models and a host of others now can display not only the best of their work, but their petty jealousies, rivalries and disputes, as well.
I can only imagine what the TV executives will come up with next.
Monday, February 20, 2012
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