Reality News Update, February 7: Bad Singers, Bad Shows, and Bad Celebs

Man, you take your eyes off the news ticker for a minute and it all builds up. Reality TV news is hitting quickly. Here are some brief updates.

Fox has announced that in addition to the three shows full of footage of bad singers, they will be airing a special to show us more bad singers. On Wednesday, February 19, 9/8 Central (immediately after the results show for that week), we will be treated to a combination of footage that we haven't seen before plus some that we have. Any bets on whether we see the guy who sang "Like a Virgin"? You know, I could have lived the rest of my life without seeing that again…

Speaking of living my life without seeing something again, it looks like Temptation Island isn't as dead as we thought it was. After the second series didn't live up to expectations, word was that the show would not return. Now, however, you can find a Temptation Island 3 section on the Fox homepage.

On that page you will find that casting began yesterday, the 6th, for the third series. They are looking for unmarried couples and singles, ages 21-35, with no children (or stepchildren or foster children - they are covering all the bases so they don't end up with another Ytossie and Taheed). Casting will take place in New York, New Orleans, Nashville, Miami, L.A., Las Vegas, Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, and Chicago - or you can mail in an application. Check the site for details.

Interestingly, the rules indicate that, "All applicants must be in excellent physical and mental health." I would submit that simply by applying for this show, it is evidence against being in excellent mental health.

In addition, anybody who applies will have their backgrounds checked. But don't worry, it's by the same folks who allowed Sarah the bondage queen from Joe Millionaire onto a show, so all you have to worry about is The Smoking Gun.

ABC's celebrity reality show is upping the number of participants from eight to ten. (You can find the original list, plus a schedule, here.) Cris Judd and Maria Conchita Alonso will be "stranded" as well.

You know, ABC may be on to something here. Perhaps we should just keep adding more and more of these non-celeb celebs and leave them there.

Speaking of celebs who should be left on an island somewhere, ABC's All American Girl, which premieres March 12, will have Geri Halliwell as one of its "coaches." Yes, that Geri Halliwell - from the Spice Girls. More recently she also was a judge on the British Popstars 2.

The idea behind the show is that women will be judged on a variety of aspects, from beauty to intelligence to ability, and be coached by one of three people to help in the areas where they need it most. So that means Geri will be telling somebody else how to get better.

Why does that just sound so wrong?

And speaking of sounding wrong (isn't it nice the way these things flow together), Anna Nicole Smith will be live for the premiere episode of the second season. She will be picking a date (is there really much competition to date Anna Nicole?) by putting them through lie detector tests. Gosh. How original. *cough*Meet My Folks*cough*.

According to Zap2it.com, Smith will also try to get her life in order this season, including undergoing hypnosis "in an attempt to better understand why she does the kooky things she's infamous for." When RealityNewsOnline's season 1 recapped, Dale Sherman, was informed of these plans, he wondered, "What kooky things is she "infamous for"? Eating pickles? Whoa! Hold the phone, that's completely nutty! Sitting around the house? Ho-Ho! What wackiness! Screeching at her help until they cry? Yowza!" He also added, regarding the live premiere, "I'm expecting 33 minutes of ANS not being able to follow the cue-cards and dropping the F-bomb at least twice." Luckily for him, he won't be recapping this season, though - his wife will!

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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