Hit Me Idol With the Skates!

NBC is "simply delighted" with the success of Hit Me Baby 1 More Time. So much so, that the originally skittish network has already given the green light to a similar type show – I'm a Celebrity, But I Want To Be a Pop Star.

The announcement was made by Craig Plestis, Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming & Development, "Everyone secretly wants to get on stage and become a pop star – and celebrities are no different. This new series will allow viewers to see who's really entitled to live out that dream."

Plestis has plenty of reason to be so ebullient. Bringing Hit Me to American televisions was his baby, which made getting approval for I’m a Celebrity much easier. I'm a Celebrity, But I Want To Be a Pop Star will be produced by Granada America, which is having American success of its own with shows like Nanny 911 and Hell's Kitchen.

"I'm so pleased that these big music extravaganza shows, which have long been a staple in the UK market, are now being embraced in America," beamed Paul Jackson, CEO, Granada America.

Meanwhile, over at Fox, the struggle to find a successful spinoff for American Idol continues. (There was American Juniors, a quality program, but one that failed to find a significant audience.)

Perhaps finding some inspiration in Dancing With the Stars, plans are full speed ahead for Celebrity Idol.

Fox reality meister Mike Darnell said Celebrity Idol would be broadcast as a 10-episode "event" over the course of two or three weeks. Original plans call for 10 well-known celebrities to compete for $1 million for his or her charity.

Ah, but will there be judges? Darnell told Variety it's "our hope that the judges and Ryan (Seacrest) will do the show."

Darnell was also quick to point out that they are definitely looking for celebrities. "We're going to go for the biggest talent possible," Darnell said, promising a very "open policy" toward casting. "We're looking for people who can sing but aren't known for singing."

There are plenty of possibilities out there. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lindsay Lohan, Megan Mullally (Will and Grace), Paris Hilton, and Jessie McCartney (SummerLand) have all tried their hand at recording, with varying degrees of success.

Unlike I’m A Celebrity, no definitive start date has been determined for Celebrity Idol, but Darnell said the series could air "sooner rather than later." Variety speculates that an early fall or November sweeps premiere was very possible.

And, if that weren’t enough, Fox also announced there are also green-lit plans to proceed with Skating With Celebrities – a knockoff of Dancing With the Stars so direct, Fox doesn’t even bother to deny it.

"If it's interesting to see celebrities master ballroom dancing, it's going to be incredibly interesting to see if they can master a double axel and a spin. Watching a celebrity try to master something this intricate is going to be compelling to watch. We expect a lot of falls and a lot of nerves." Darnell told Variety.

Skating With Celebrities is definitely on the fast track (hoping to strike when the Dancing With the Stars irons are still hot), no celebrities have been announced for any of the series. Darnell says we shouldn’t worry. Just like with Celebrity Idol, "You can expect to see the participation of some major names," Darnell teased.

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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