As "Ask the Reality TV Experts" ends its first-ever calendar year, the so-called Experts would like to thank you for your e-mails these past three months. You've brought up interesting issues and raised good questions about a genre of TV that, despite numerous supposed death knells, is still chugging on.
And to those who've written in saying "I hate all reality TV! When will the whole concept just die already?", well, we're going to have to get back to you on that one.
Before we take a one-week vacation from the column, we'd like to share the Top Ten most popular questions we've been asked this year, all with answers.
Join us again in 2005, where we'll offer up answers to more of your questions, including questions about "Amish in the City," "Outback Jack," "Survivor," "American Idol" and more.
Q: How do I apply to be on a reality show?A: Far and away our most-asked question. . While some of the shows mentioned are no longer looking for applicants, you'll still find good basic information here —including links to network pages that list all the reality shows currently casting. (NBC currently is looking for people for ; ABC has among others.) Want info on another show? Basic Google skills will serve you well.
Q: I have a great idea for a reality show! Now what?A: Perhaps our second-most-asked question, and one we can't really answer. We don't produce reality shows, and imagine that the people who do have thought of almost every concept out there. And even if you do have the absolute best idea and aren't looking for money for it, you may have trouble getting anyone in the business to read your idea. If they did, then years down the line, you could turn around and sue them for theft. The best reading on this topic is who had his own great idea and is resigned to never seeing it onscreen.
Q: Can women on "Survivor" take vital personal hygiene items on the island?A: Such items are provided, but the women had better not be trying to use, say, tampons to start a fire. See for details.
Q: Why does "The Apprentice" dub Donald Trump's boardroom voiceovers? Several times the audio on the show makes a really noticable change.
A: We noticed, too, and Andy Dehnart . We thought it was obvious that Trump's boardroom speeches weren't quite pleasing the producers, so he'd recorded comments after the show to be dubbed in. (Dozens of readers wrote in to say they thought the same thing.) But "Apprentice" creator that "there is no dubbing outside the boardroom. It's your imagination." It's a mass hallucination, then.
Q: What happened to "Last Comic Standing 3"?A: NBC dropped the show without a clear reason back in October, showing a marathon of "Father of the Pride" instead. The finale did run on Comedy Central, and .
Q: What happened to "Playing It Straight"?A: The show, which ran on Fridays on FOX, didn't get good ratings, so was pulled after just three episodes. Episodes that didn't air were recapped on FOX's Web site, more details were given .
Q: What happened to Rocco DiSpirito from "The Restaurant"?A: The celebrity chef has he was associated with, Rocco's 22nd St., the restaurant shown on the reality show, and Union Pacific. Rocco's is closed, and reports are that Union Pacific will close by the end of the year. Some of the dispute with Rocco's owner Jeffrey Chodorow was shown on the show, and in July, DiSpirito was barred from Rocco's kitchen. He has said he intends to focus on non-restaurant opportunities. He is selling a line of cookware and has two cookbooks out, "Flavor" and "Rocco's Italian American." DiSpirito has an , but at press time, it hadn't been updated since October.
Q: What happened to Troy from the original "Apprentice"?A: Trump fired Troy McClain on the show, but he's gone on to become . In fact, his success despite the lack of a college degree probably helped inspire "Apprentice 3," which premieres Jan. 20 and pits high school graduates against those with college or advanced degrees. McClain was also seen on the where he correctly picked Kelly Perdew to win. And he also .
Q: What's the latest on Fantasia Barrino, "American Idol" winner?A: The 20-year-old has , "Free Yourself," which The Associated Press listed as one of its . She's purchased a large home in North Carolina for herself and her family, and performed worldwide as part of the three-month, 50-city And, like Cher, Madonna, Prince, and so many singers before her, she has dropped her last name.
Q: Whatever happened to "Forever Eden"?A: The so-sleazy-it-hurts love-and-lust show, similar to predecessor "Paradise Hotel," is unlikely to return to TV. Ever. (Although if we know FOX, give them a year or so, they might come up with a new variation.) FOX's entertainment president, Gail Berman, that the network doesn't anticipate bringing it back. But (via Digital Spy) that all the episodes that were made will air in the UK in 2005. So if you just have to see it, head across the pond, or start being really, really nice to your British friends in hopes that they'll record it for you.
Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is MSNBC.com's Television Editor. Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news.