Gloves are coming off for ‘Contender 2’

“The Contender” was a competitive reality series about middleweight boxers that aired last summer on NBC. But the show aimed for more than ratings and entertainment for its audience. Executive producer Mark Burnett wrote in his book that his show “has the potential to revitalize a dying institution and give glory to a group of men who have labored in obscurity their whole lives.”

That was a lofty goal for a summertime reality series, but if anyone was up to the challenge, it was Burnett, the reigning king of quality reality show production. Whether or not “The Contender” accomplished his goal is up for debate, but the series certainly infused the sport with a new kind of glory, packaging boxing in such a way that it became palatable to a wider audience.

The show adopted the familiar and successful competitive reality show formula that Burnett perfected on “Survivor” and then modified for an urban environment on “The Apprentice.”

On “The Contender,” two teams battled in challenges designed to test their strengths. The winning team earned an advantage, the ability to select which of their members would fight, and which opposing boxer he’d fight against. Each losing fighter was eliminated, the final two fought live at Caesar’s Palace, and the winner received $1 million.

At the time it debuted, “The Contender” was the most expensive reality show ever produced, costing $2 million an episode, although it was charging $8 to 10 million per episode for sponsorships.

The production was equally epic, starting with the cinematic title sequence, which introduced both the contenders themselves and the show’s stirring, Hans Zimmer-composed theme song. The score for the rest of the hour repeated its triumphant riffs.

Primarily set in a lavish L.A. gym, where the cast both lived and worked out, the show treated its location with the same reverence that the islands of “Survivor” islands and the urban jungle of “The Apprentice” receive.

Focus on the fights
Ultimately, though, boxing is still a sport where, eventually, two people punch each other until time runs out, one gets knocked out, or someone starts bleeding so badly the fight is stopped. But oh, how impressively heroic and grand those fights can be, particularly when they’re in the hands of reality TV show directors, producers, and editors.

The fights were filmed with sweeping crane shots and invasive close-ups. With the slower portions excised and the rest set the pumping score, the best punches were shown in such excruciating slow motion that drops of sweat and blood were visible as they soared through the air.

None of this attention to detail and craft really matters if the fighters don’t connect with the audience, but the “Contender” first-season cast was more engaging than typical reality show casts, mostly because they’d gathered to demonstrate their craft and prove something to the world.

The show opened with relatively unknown fighter Alfonso Gomez asking his winning team to let him challenge Peter Manfredo, Jr., one of the most well-known boxers on the series — and a previously undefeated fighter. Alfonso beat Peter after a unanimous decision, and his victory provided the perfect underdog story to pull viewers into the series. Manfredo’s return later in the competition only heightened the dramatic tension.

As captivating as Alfonso’s storyline was, it was assisted by the production, which carefully and subtly manipulated the audience right up until the fight that concluded every episode. The show periodically pulled away from the gym and ring to follow the contenders home, often to rental houses nearby where the show housed their families.

MORE FROM MORE REALITY TV NEWS, FEATURES

‘Big Brother’ hopes viewers click with cliques

‘Big Brother’ hopes viewers click with cliques After long delay, ‘Runway’ contestants revealed Meet the new cast of ‘Big Brother 11’ Mary Murphy screams her way to stardom Rappers’ ladies seek own identity on reality TV Patti Blagojevich calls jungle a ‘welcome break’ Some ‘Jon & Kate’ fans think show should end ‘Real Housewives’ sex tape won’t be released Newsweek: Does reality TV hate women?   Add More reality TV news, features headlines to your news reader: