Day 14
I have an idea for a reality show for US networks: "President of Reality"
It will be a little like American Idol, and a little like Survivor: a show in which the contestants are fake politicians. They would be non-famous people, but people who are very savvy thinkers, debaters, and public speakers, as well as highly informed individuals. They'd probably be something like the "Apprentice" contestants in appearance and smarts, but much more personable. Gender and racial diversity would be a must.
They all must compete against each other in various categories and competitions. One episode may be creating a radio ad, the next a negative attack ad, the next a stump speech, and there will be several debates on various issues. Episodes will be unpredictable, however, as each of the candidates will be 'given' a fake past, including various indiscretions that will be revealed at random points over the course of the series. Each episode ends much like "Idol" in which viewers can call in and vote for their preferred candidates. A follow-up episode will recap, and announce the politician with the fewest votes. Throughout the show, viewers will also be able to submit and vote on debate questions. One week the democrats will be up for a vote, and the next, republicans, and so on, so the final two candidates will be of opposing parties.
Unlike Idol, I'd propose that all the voting and interactive participation occur online for free, rather than via telephone/text message.
There will be an equal number of democrat and republican candidates to begin with, who must follow the same ideological tenants that the real official parties subscribe to (with individual variations of course), and the issues discussed on the show will be genuine, current issues that the country is facing; economic, foreign policy, health care, education, etc.
Here's the real kick: When the contestant politicians begin the show, they are assigned randomly to each party. The political stripe of each contestant will be determined by a random draw in the opening episode! The idea here is to create a complete disconnect between the show and real politics, so the show's contestants won't really gain access into the political sphere, and the show will keep what I believe is an extremely important sense of non-bias and triviality.
Parties will work together toward the end of influencing the final vote, but will also be given recourse to work against each other.
The winner of the competition is deemed the "President of Reality." The prize will be money, probably a million dollars or something like that, but more likely, I'd like to think the winner would eventually for political office.
I really think this show could be more popular than anything on television today. The combination of pure comedic entertainment, social commentary, intellectual stimulation, dirty gossip and backstabbing, and the overall reflexes that may occur between itself and real democracy - it could be the talk of the world.
It will be a little like American Idol, and a little like Survivor: a show in which the contestants are fake politicians. They would be non-famous people, but people who are very savvy thinkers, debaters, and public speakers, as well as highly informed individuals. They'd probably be something like the "Apprentice" contestants in appearance and smarts, but much more personable. Gender and racial diversity would be a must.
They all must compete against each other in various categories and competitions. One episode may be creating a radio ad, the next a negative attack ad, the next a stump speech, and there will be several debates on various issues. Episodes will be unpredictable, however, as each of the candidates will be 'given' a fake past, including various indiscretions that will be revealed at random points over the course of the series. Each episode ends much like "Idol" in which viewers can call in and vote for their preferred candidates. A follow-up episode will recap, and announce the politician with the fewest votes. Throughout the show, viewers will also be able to submit and vote on debate questions. One week the democrats will be up for a vote, and the next, republicans, and so on, so the final two candidates will be of opposing parties.
Unlike Idol, I'd propose that all the voting and interactive participation occur online for free, rather than via telephone/text message.
There will be an equal number of democrat and republican candidates to begin with, who must follow the same ideological tenants that the real official parties subscribe to (with individual variations of course), and the issues discussed on the show will be genuine, current issues that the country is facing; economic, foreign policy, health care, education, etc.
Here's the real kick: When the contestant politicians begin the show, they are assigned randomly to each party. The political stripe of each contestant will be determined by a random draw in the opening episode! The idea here is to create a complete disconnect between the show and real politics, so the show's contestants won't really gain access into the political sphere, and the show will keep what I believe is an extremely important sense of non-bias and triviality.
Parties will work together toward the end of influencing the final vote, but will also be given recourse to work against each other.
The winner of the competition is deemed the "President of Reality." The prize will be money, probably a million dollars or something like that, but more likely, I'd like to think the winner would eventually for political office.
I really think this show could be more popular than anything on television today. The combination of pure comedic entertainment, social commentary, intellectual stimulation, dirty gossip and backstabbing, and the overall reflexes that may occur between itself and real democracy - it could be the talk of the world.
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