Reality TV prepared to fill gaps caused by strike

< Prev | 1 | 2

Television video

More going to extremes for shot at fame?
Nov. 29: Tareq and Michaele Salahi are reportedly trying to sell their story – making them the latest would-be reality show stars who seem to be living in a reality all their own. Lee Cowan reports.

Kate Sackhoff: ‘When Do I Get To Kiss Freddie Prinze Jr.?’

Julie Bowen: A new ‘Modern’ Woman

Donny crowned ‘Dancing’ champion

‘Loser’ winner: Show was ‘such a blessing’

Q: How much time elapses between the live telecast of "Dancing With the Stars" and the taping of the results show? — Gail W. Lake Worth, Fla.

A: One day, because both are broadcast live (on the east coast, at least).

The live nature of the results show means that events late Monday or Tuesday can affect Tuesday's show. This season, for example, Jane Seymour has been absent from two of those live Tuesday results shows — last week because she had food poisoning, and earlier this season because her mother died — although she was present for the live Monday competition episodes.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

During the third season, Access Hollywood revealed that the performances for some live shows had actually been taped earlier in the day, for some unknown reason, although the interviews took place live. But as Marie Osmond's recent fainting proves, the performers now dance, get critiqued and hear their scores live.

"Strictly Come Dancing," the BBC series that inspired "Dancing With the Stars" and shares two of the shows' judges, has recently switched to pre-recording its results shows late on Saturdays, after voting concludes. That angered some viewers, although the BBC's Web site for the show actually explains that "the phone lines will close at 9 p.m. The results show will then be recorded, to be shown on Sunday night."

Q: Is “Rock Star” with Dave Navarro returning this fall? — Betty H., Gilberts, Ill.

A: No. The show was not renewed after CBS broadcast two seasons of it.

Auditions for a possible third season were announced, but that's standard practice even when a show hasn't been formally renewed.

Click for related content

TV chart: Get the latest ‘Dancing’ updates
Discuss your favorite reality TV shows

The second-season band, which ended up being called "Rock Star Supernova" because there was already a group called "Supernova," wasn't well received. Its concerts were poorly attended and its record didn't sell many copies. That didn't help the show's chances for future success.

It is always possible, of course, that the show will be resuscitated, but right now that doesn't seem likely.

Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news.