• by John Gaffney , January 17, 2003

OPRs: Dose Of Reality Edition

Evidence That Sanity May Return: Tom Shales opined this week in The Washington Post, “What all the (reality) shows have in common is that they embody the Entertainment of Embarrassment -- Excruciation Television. Among the other new leaders of that pack is the WB's "High School Reunion," a commercially savvy proposition -- bring a group of high school graduates together for a 10th-anniversary party -- that turns out to be rife with the requisite humiliating possibilities. The producers of such shows obviously think they've hit pay dirt when anybody cries, fights or otherwise makes a spectacle of himself as the cameras watch.”

More Evidence Of Sanity: CBS topper Leslie Moonves told a Hollywood press gathering during the week, "With the amount of reality shows announced, I'm sure (by) this spring and next fall (the networks) probably will have overdone it. Everybody's looking for that quick fix, and a lot of times these shows do give you that. ... It's been an instant hit for Fox with 'American Idol' and with ABC for 'The Bachelor.'"

OK. Maybe Sanity Is After The Next Exit: According to the Hollywood Reporter, “In an unusual lapse of Hollywood protocol, some participants at a panel Thursday in Beverly Hills assailed certain kinds of reality shows for lowering standards, singling out the NBC hit "Fear Factor." In one widely criticized episode this month, "Fear Factor" invited contestants to dine on horse rectum. "We all agree that the bar has moved," said Mike Darnell, executive vp alternative and special programming at Fox, whose latest effort was this week's "Man vs. Beast."

Remember Super Bowl I: In its coverage of Super Bowl I, which was played on Jan. 15, 1967, The New York Times reported that for "their efforts the 40 Packer players won $15,000 each, with $7,500 going to each (Kansas City) Chief. Gate receipts were estimated at $750,000 and the two television networks -- the Columbia Broadcasting System and the National Broadcasting Company -- paid $1 million apiece for the TV rights. So this was a $2,750,000 event, the richest for any American team sports event."