• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, January 4, 2012

Too many reality shows -- especially on the broadcast networks -- add extra programming and extra nights, teasing viewers while waiting for those all-important "results."

"Results" shows for competition reality series almost always score lower ratings than separate "performance" shows. The multiple airings per week work out well for reality producers and their growing license fees. But maybe not so much for viewers.

Producers add in special video segments and musical performances before results are revealed. Some of that extended programming can be wasteful.

For viewers, it comes down to this: I’ve seen the performance, now cut to the chase -- tell me who has been fired, who is leaving the island, or which artistic performer will be crying and thanking all judges and competitors.

Fox's mostly summer reality effort "So You Think You Can Dance?" may have heeded the call, since it eliminated its results show. So "Dance" will have just one performance/result episode a week, and we guess that episode might run up to two hours a night.

Many big reality shows, such as "American Idol," "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Biggest Loser" can air in multiple time periods during a week. Successful shows always look to add more programming time -- even if it waters down the prospects. There is money to be made.

For national advertisers, more reality TV time gives some stability and predictability to their media buys -- especially in an atmosphere of continued erosion from scripted and other shows. But for viewers, it may just mean additional numbing of minds. (Mind you, the longest running reality show, CBS’ ageless wonder "Survivor," continues only to air one episode a week).

For networks, extra reality shows offer valuable promo time to help launch new shows -- perhaps more so than with once-a-week scripted show episodes.

Overall, there seems to be some diminishing return with more reality. Maybe this is why the cable reality shows "Project Runway," "Top Chef" and "Food Network Star" give viewers a complete story arc in one episode (though they can have many more repeats during the week of that same episode).

Fox, of course, airs fewer prime-time hours then NBC, CBS or ABC. You could say its options are limited. (That is, except for "American Idol"). And that's the reason for the cutback. You can't dance around that.