Move over Dancing with the Stars, a new reality show phenomenon will be making waves come 2013!  Who wants to see B-list celebrities learning the mambo or fox trot when we can see them doing jackknives and/or belly flops off a 5M platform?  I thought so.  Which is exactly why both ABC and FOX have lined up specials for the New Year that will feature celebrities learning Olympic-style dives, both solo and synchronized.  The era of Diving with the Stars is soon to be officially upon us!

Diving, a main attraction during TV coverage of summer Olympics will return to primetime in the US following the format of its Dutch companion Celebrity Splash.  Celebrities will perform dives from dizzying heights, increasing in difficulty each week, including backflips, somersaults and other gymnastic feats. The new shows will air on FOX and ABC during January and March respectfully.

FOX’s Stars in Danger: The High Dive will be a two hour special featuring the likes of Jersey Shore‘s JWoww, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills sisters Kim and Kyle Richards, former NFL player Terrell Owens, and actor Antonio Sabato Jr.  ABC’s Celebrity Diving series will premier in March and will follow a similar format to their highly successful Dancing franchise and short lived Skating with the Stars. ABC has yet to reveal which “stars” will be heading to the springboard.

The real trend starting to emerge is how much Americans enjoy watching low grade celebrities in compromising situations.  So hungry are these people to keep their names in the press they will do seemingly anything to keep their notoriety.  People like me are more than happy to join them for the ride.  Perhaps we can look forward to other celebrity/Olympic event smashups in our future.  Rhythmic gymnastics anyone?  How about celebrity weight lifting?  Personally I’d love to see some dressage action in 2013.  Not sure what dressage is?  Just ask Stephen Colbert

Michael Corrigan

After 8 years and 200 episodes the women of Wisteria Lane hung up their aprons and high heels with the series finale of Desperate Housewives on ABC. I will admit that I’ve had my ups and downs with the show. At times gripping, always salacious, and often ridicules, Desperate Housewives truly became a cultural phenomenon. It was a hit from the beginning, drawing millions of viewers and launching the careers of many its stars. I vividly recall being a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University and tuning in every week with my girlfriends as the plots unfolded and the scandals broke. We were hooked to say the least.

Over time the show started to choke on its own fumes and lost momentum. While never completely dropping off the radar it started to lack the sizzle it once had. I, like many other viewers, bounced in and out, watching from time to time while wishing the show could recapture the heat. Then last year I heard the show would return for one last season before its final kiss goodbye.

I vowed to give it the old college try and return to Wisteria Lane. I was thrilled to see that I immediately got sucked back in. The girls were up to their necks in a murder cover up; mixed right in with the show’s campy drama, fashion, and laughs I had always loved. I found myself tuning in every week and telling many a friend and Zapwater coworker that “Desperate Housewives was one of my favorite shows on TV again”. Although often mocked I didn’t care. They had me again hook line and sinker and I could not wait to see how the show unfolded.

With the final episode airing last night I couldn’t have been more pleased. The show wrapped up just the way I hoped. Drama, laughter and suspense were all present but love, family, and friends ruled the night. To recap the final moments of the show (SPOILERS) Susan (Teri Hatcher) prepares for her move and tells the new young owner of her house that Wisteria Lane was anything but boring. As she took one last drive around the block everyone who had died on the show including husband Mike and Mary Alice (the show’s narrator), were there to watch her go. Hoping those on the lane would remember that even the most desperate life is wonderful. Of course, the final shot of the finale showed us the new owner of Susan’s home, a woman named Jennifer, was hiding a secret of her own. Some things will never change on Wisteria Lane!

Michael Corrigan

I’m willing to bet that right now there are two groups of readers. The first group doesn’t want to read this because they are devoted Bachelor fans who can’t fathom why someone wouldn’t watch. The second group is anti-Bachelor who doesn’t need to hear my reasons for not watching. So let me start by saying, I have been a loyal devotee to the Bachelor and all of the groundbreaking spinoffs. I’m not totally sold on the finding true love angle, but it’s reality entertainment at its best, and who doesn’t love Chris Harrison? Alas, I’m on an indefinite Bachelor hiatus, and this is why.

Haven’t I Seen You Before?
Yes, I’m aware that the Bachelor and Bachelorette franchises have been recycling former contestants for years. It’s something I have tweeted Chris Harrison about, in fact. This year was just the final straw. I wasn’t a fan of Ben to begin with and I just can’t respect someone who sells his soul to the same devil that watched him get down on one knee to propose, all the while knowing he was going to be rejected. Now that I think about it, the only sane reason that Ben would come back for more is to promote his winery. In which case, Ben himself isn’t even there for “the right reasons.” So come on ABC, there are millions of desirable singles out there, take a chance on someone new.

Enough with the Mean Girls!

On that note, ABC, how about casting some appealing you ladies? None of these crazy gals are on the show to fall in love. They simply tipped the drama scale during their casting interviews and were brought on so Chris Harrison could state that this is “the most dramatic season in Bachelor history.” Which, from what I’m hearing and reading, may actually be a true statement. When former contestants such as Tenley Molzahn, Kiptyn Locke and Natalie Getz are tweeting up a storm about how difficult it is to watch these mean girls, something is not right. Girls are by nature a wee bit catty (especially when living in a house together and dating the same guy), so surely natural drama will unfold without specifically casting high-drama ladies.

My Schedule is Already Full

Simple as that. With the return of Gossip Girl (OMG is Blair really going to marry Louis?!), enduring drama of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Did you know? $25,000!) and newcomer It’s a Brad, Brad World, (Eight pages in Details!!) my DVR is fully booked on Monday nights. Not to mention I might be out a boyfriend if I add one more show to my list.

There you have it. The top reasons why I am not tuning in this season to watch crazy girls claw each other’s eyes out over a runner-up.

Mary Doyle
Senior Publicist

Summer TV brings a bevy of reality shows – people in jungles, dating series, singing competitions, American talent, and my personal favorite, dancing competitions.

I recently discovered I am not the only “So You Think You Can Dance” fanatic in the office, and we all can’t wait to see what Season 8 brings. Every summer, I am captivated by the latest dancing talent as the contestants Sumba, shimmy and shake across the floor. I grew up dancing, and that clearly makes me and my family professional judges who are amazed when those amateurs on TV get it wrong. I even find myself looking forward to Cat Deeley’s ridiculous and calculated jokes post-awkward judging moment.

The first episode of the new season premiered last week, and the tryouts look extremely promising. I am keeping my fingers crossed for another great male contemporary dancer, or at least some fabulous Mary Murphy-screaming worthy tryouts. As the season unfolds, you can follow me on Twitter (@spif_po) to discuss my favorites and fill me in on your own. I love fellow SYTYCD addicts!

What reality guilty pleasures are you looking forward to this summer?

Stephanie Poquette
Assistant Publicist

Photo Credit: www.fanpop.com