Yeah, right.
Can't Sing or Dance? Give 'Superstar' a Shot
Monday, May 17
So it's humiliating. So it's a big lie. That's the idea.
"It's a show that probably shouldn't have been made because it's just that mean and nasty, but God, it is fun to watch," says Mike Fleiss, executive producer of WB's Superstar USA, who acknowledges that his new no-talent show is all about pulling a big prank on 12 young singers.
Auditions for the program, which kicks off seven episodes tonight at 9 ET/PT, were held in Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Orlando and Philadelphia under the guise of finding the next superstar, like in American Idol. But contestants actually were chosen with the aim of finding the least talented. It's a showcase for wannabes who think they're great but really stink, a la William Hung, American Idol reject-turned-star.
Finalists were brought to Los Angeles and given makeovers, dance lessons and singing lessons. Then, before a live audience and celebrity judges -- TV producer Briggs, rocker Vitamin C and rapper Tone Loc -- a winner is named and told the reality of the contest: that he or she is horrible. That "winner" wins $100,000 and a contract.
"It's the greatest show I've ever made," says Fleiss, who is known for ABC's successful Bachelor franchise as well as far lesser lights Are You Hot? and Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?
WB doesn't have a show that comes close to Idol-size ratings: The network's highest-rated show, 7th Heaven, averages 5.6 million viewers; Idol's Tuesday shows average 26 million.
Already, Superstar has come under fire. During the taping of the finale, it was reported last week, producers lied to the audience, telling them the contestants were terminally ill patients from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The producers worried that if they didn't cultivate sympathy, the audience would laugh or boo and ruin the show's concept.
After the incident was reported by the Los Angeles Times, execs for Superstar USA and WB issued apologies. "First of all, it was me," Fleiss says. "But I did not say 'Make-A-Wish.' I said, "Who's heard of the One Wish Foundation?" and people raised their hands. There is no One Wish Foundation. It was a prank on top of a prank. It was the only way to get it to work."
And he says it works well. So does host and former MTV VJ Brian McFayden. "The entertainers are so bad, it's good. America likes to root for the underdog," he says.
His role on the show? "I'm their best friend. I'm giving out hugs and fist bumps." At the end, he also is the bad guy. "I drop the bomb. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my career. I had to tell the person we lied to them."
Fleiss says the winner/loser has a future in entertainment, talent or not. "I think that person will be a star," he says. "That's where celebrity status is, in today's day and age."
© Copyright 2004 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Monday, May 17
So it's humiliating. So it's a big lie. That's the idea.
"It's a show that probably shouldn't have been made because it's just that mean and nasty, but God, it is fun to watch," says Mike Fleiss, executive producer of WB's Superstar USA, who acknowledges that his new no-talent show is all about pulling a big prank on 12 young singers.
Auditions for the program, which kicks off seven episodes tonight at 9 ET/PT, were held in Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Orlando and Philadelphia under the guise of finding the next superstar, like in American Idol. But contestants actually were chosen with the aim of finding the least talented. It's a showcase for wannabes who think they're great but really stink, a la William Hung, American Idol reject-turned-star.
Finalists were brought to Los Angeles and given makeovers, dance lessons and singing lessons. Then, before a live audience and celebrity judges -- TV producer Briggs, rocker Vitamin C and rapper Tone Loc -- a winner is named and told the reality of the contest: that he or she is horrible. That "winner" wins $100,000 and a contract.
"It's the greatest show I've ever made," says Fleiss, who is known for ABC's successful Bachelor franchise as well as far lesser lights Are You Hot? and Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?
WB doesn't have a show that comes close to Idol-size ratings: The network's highest-rated show, 7th Heaven, averages 5.6 million viewers; Idol's Tuesday shows average 26 million.
Already, Superstar has come under fire. During the taping of the finale, it was reported last week, producers lied to the audience, telling them the contestants were terminally ill patients from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The producers worried that if they didn't cultivate sympathy, the audience would laugh or boo and ruin the show's concept.
After the incident was reported by the Los Angeles Times, execs for Superstar USA and WB issued apologies. "First of all, it was me," Fleiss says. "But I did not say 'Make-A-Wish.' I said, "Who's heard of the One Wish Foundation?" and people raised their hands. There is no One Wish Foundation. It was a prank on top of a prank. It was the only way to get it to work."
And he says it works well. So does host and former MTV VJ Brian McFayden. "The entertainers are so bad, it's good. America likes to root for the underdog," he says.
His role on the show? "I'm their best friend. I'm giving out hugs and fist bumps." At the end, he also is the bad guy. "I drop the bomb. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my career. I had to tell the person we lied to them."
Fleiss says the winner/loser has a future in entertainment, talent or not. "I think that person will be a star," he says. "That's where celebrity status is, in today's day and age."
© Copyright 2004 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.