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Pirate Mater's favorite captain Christa DeAngelo was manipulated - AXN photo

JAY HAKTOW left deals with eventual Pirate Master winner Ben Fagen - AXN photo

Video Beat EXTRA EXTRA - Celebrity Big Brother - CTN REALITY SHOW BOMBS - Pirate Master Sinks - October 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Top Model Winner Hispanic - Pirate Master Finished - CTN Provides Worst Reality Final Ever - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday October 21, 2007 -Update Monday October 22, 2007

REALITY SHOW WORLD'S WORST

The most recent cycle of television programming came to a close this past month in Southeast Asia. In doing so it brought to mind what was the purpose of some of these shows. What value did they have?

When western world programming airs in Southeast Asia there can be a huge gap in understanding the perspective of the program. The most universal assessment is if the series is good or bad.

When we recommend a show the most important factor is what does the show teach? What positive lessons are learned? We rated three of the worst reality series that were televised during the recent sequence of shows that could be deemed the summer season of television programming.

In a rating from three, the third worst, down to the worst Pirate Master rates number 3 on our list. The concept of the series brought out the worst in human behavior with the contestants looking for a million US dollars in treasure that was hidden in the Caribbean Islands.

Some contestants lied and made behind the back deals hoping it would work in their favor to find the treasure. One sabotaged his partner so the competition could win since he made a deal with two others to split all treasure found between them regardless of what team they were on.

The show was marred by tragedy when one of it's contestants Cheryl Kosewicz, the fourth person to leave the game, was found dead inside her home on July 27, 2007, after an apparent suicide.On fellow contestant Nessa's MySpace webpage, she blamed the show for causing friction between herself and her boyfriend, who committed suicide two months prior.

She was on the shows finale and was a member of the winning team of four that found the $500,000 treasure. The winner musician Ben Fagen of Charleston, South Carolina made a deal with those that helped him that he would give them all of his previous $80,000 in winnings if they helped him find the treasure.

The US network that aired the series dropped the show from its regular program lineup. It was available only on the network's web site. That decision didn't interfere with the series schedule in the Asian region carried on the AXN network.

Ironically Mark Burnett, who also produces what we consider the top rated reality series in Southeast Asia, The Apprentice as well as Survivor and The Contender, produced the show.

The cutthroat concept of the show earned it our third worst reality show rating. The results speak for themselves. The lesson learned from the show is beware of deceitful, evil people, devious manipulation and greed.

SUPERHERO is the second worst reality show. According to their press release the show received high ratings in America prior to being televised in the Asia region. In America the program's season one received a "Four Star" rating from People Magazine, graced the front page of USA Today, took the cover of Direct TV and was featured on the Tonight Show and the Today Show, along with numerous other positive reviews.

The first season's ratings more than doubled during the then year-to-date time period average among viewers 18-34, increased the number of 18-49 viewers by +74%, and grew the 25-54 audience by +44%. With 30% of the audience under the age of 18, the median age of the show's audience was 31.9, 14 years younger than it's carrier, the SCI FI network median primetime age. Overall, the show brought 2.9 million new viewers to the Sci--Fi Channel.

"Who Wants to Be a Superhero? was a success for us on many levels last summer," SCI FI Executive VP, Original Programming Mark Stern said.

We found the series to be foolish. The theme of helping people in distress was OK but an adult running around in a comic book character hero costume was ridiculous. The dialog between the heard but never seen Big Brother type host was childish. The contestants looked silly in doing so. We couldn't bear watching the show throughout an entire episode. It was absolute nonsense.

The PIZZA HOUSE on Cambodia's CTN Network rates as the worst reality show we've ever seen. CTN presented a special finale that was as exciting as watching paint dry. As it was throughout the season the show's music was creepy and tense. The program lacked energized background music in what should have been a FUN show.

The cast from the entire season was brought in for the finale and they just sat in the background like bumps on a log for the entire show. They received virtually no acknowledgement or interaction from the shows host.

A CTN producer said the host is becoming known in Cambodia as Mr. Reality TV. The real reality is the recognition is gained by default since he is the only host of all of the networks reality shows. Why? That question has yet to be adequately answered.

The host who is much older than the contestants has a deep voice with good quality that is also intimidating as is his strong physical presence, which is not engaging. The feeling produced is that of a tribunal than an entertainment show.

The contrasting elements do not make for good chemistry with what is should be a fun show with young people. The contestants appeared to be afraid rather than enjoying being on the program. One contestant was relieved to go home when she was voted off the series.

When the host announces the results the sequence that follows is a solemn face followed by a deep sigh, a long pause and an indifferent confounded look. it's as if the contestants are being prepared for an execution. The series took on a strong authoritarian approach. There was NO FUN here. It felt as if there was going to be a re-run of the Killing Fields.

The concept is good, that being giving young Khmers job training, a salary and a chance to win money. The results of the shows deeds are not clear. We are currently in the process of finding out who benefited from participating on the series. For entertainment value this reality series failed miserably. There was no fun or entertainment value in this show.

Mariel Rodriguez - ABS - CBN photo

Megan Young - ABS-CBN photo

PINOY CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER EDITION 2

The ABS-CBN NETWORK in the Philippines is all about fun, entertainment and plenty of laughs. It's Celebrity Big Brother Edition 2 (CBB) created quite commotion this past week when one of its three young co-hosts received some shocking news by being relieved of her duties.

After it's initial show last Sunday in which the first 10 contestants were introduced for the series Big Brother also referred to as Kuya shocked the world Wednesday night as he instructed co-host Mariel Rodriguez to remain in the house and be a cast member on the program. It appeared that in her mind she was being held hostage.

"Oh no,' Rodriguez cried out. "I'm gonna die," she hysterically cried out while on camera. "Are we on the air," she asked. Rodriguez seriously didn't want to be a housemate.

Rodriguez has been involved as a presenter co-host of almost all of the networks reality shows for the past two years. She also is a co-host on the popular Wowowee and Entertainment Live shows. In effect she lost three jobs including co-hosting CBB.

Kuya then said, "Mariel... before you die I want you to do something for me." The Big Bro Mo then asked her to be his spy in the house.

After several lengthy boo hoo's Rodriquez was seen the following day enjoying herself with her newfound status as a housemate spy. This show is beginning to sizzle and rates high in entertainment and fun value with plenty of laughs.

The chemistry is right as the co-hosts are in the same age bracket or younger than the contestants. All have bright bubbly personalities and look great. Seventeen year-old Megan Young was nominated for eviction on Saturday's show. Young had a problem eating Philippine street food and cried during the task. Young who was born in Alexandria, Virginia in America and had difficulty eating what locals might consider delicious� chicken heads.

As noted on the shows website: After PBB Celebrity ends, will we remember Megan as the weeping little girl or as the brave princess who did everything to win?

Last week we noted that if Young was talented the network would make her a star. She has been acting on Philippine television and the exposure on the Big Bro show could help her career. Her filmography includes acting in Philippine TV shows Kokey, Abt Ur Luv, Fans Kita and Starstruck

TOP RATED VIDEO BEAT COLUMN

Our top rated Video Beat column this current October rating period is Tuesday August 15, 2006. TOP MODEL - THE CONTENDER - Dave Navarro - Rock Star Supernova - Carmen Elektra - NBA ...

Jaslene Gonzalez Wins Top Model Title

Jaslene Gonzalez 21, was the winner of Cycle 8 of America's Next Top Model that recently aired in Southeast Asia. The show was televised in the USA months earlier. She won the title on May 16, 2007.

Gonzalez is the first full-blooded Latina to win the title. Her winnings include representation by Elite Model Management, a $100,000 (USD) contract with Cover Girl cosmetics and a photo shoot for the cover of and a six page spread in Seventeen magazine.

As they say winners never quit and Gonzalez exemplifies that. Jaslene tried out for Cycle 7, but only made it to the semifinals. Assuring the judges that she would be back for the next cycle's audition, Jaslene's determination caught the eye of Tyra Banks, who thought she had potential.

Improving significantly toward the end of the competition, Jaslene became only the second contestant (Joanie Dodds from season six being the first) to never place in the bottom two. However, unlike Joanie who finished as runner-up, Jaslene won the competition. At 5'7", she is the second-shortest winner, only behind Cycle 3's Eva Pigford, who stood half an inch shorter evidence that short people can be models.

DID YOU KNOW???

CNN founder Ted Turner was the owner of two professional sports teams in the USA and managed one of them for one day. He also founded the Goodwill Games. Full story

DID YOU KNOW???

KATIE HOLMES - DAWSONS CREEK

Actress Katie Holmes has risen to fame and fortunes during the past eight years BUT DID YOU KNOW Holmes first major exposure to television viewers was as a cast member in the Warner Brothers TV series DAWSONS CREEK? She is also a best friend of David Beckham's wife Victoria (Posh Spice) WRITTEN IN THAI LANGUAGE.

Angelina Jolie is the daughter of actor Jon Voight? One of his most famous films Midnight Cowboy is currently being televised on the MGM movie channel in Asia. The HBO film GIA is her best work.

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

TFC = The Filipino Channel on the ABS-CBN Network

SUNDAY

9:45 - 10 AM - ENTERTAINMENT LIVE - TFC - Philippine Entertainment Gossip Show - start time fluctuates

12:00 PM - ASAP - TFC (The Filipino Channel) - Please note that this and ALL TFC SHOWS ARE SUBJECT TO TIME SHIFTS.

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC