There she WENT: ABC cancels "Miss America"

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 9:52am

There are moments that mark the passing of an era -- and this feels like one. So Miss America operates as financial loss now -- I was startled (The audience went from 25 million in the mid-90s to 9 million this year.) One can make predictable anthropological deductions, but I don't think it's a feminist issue. The show more than survived feminism--for 30 plus years. It's more about the evolution of show biz, not the role or objectification of women -- women are objectified regularly on TV. Remember the Victoria's Secret ratings?

I believe that the prize itself here can't compete with American Idol or myriad other things. Reality TV rewards people with 15 minutes of fame--in the klieg-light glare. Miss America -- with that tedious year "reign" -- gets her 15 minutes about 20 seconds at a pop, a scholarship and a crown and a "platform" for some cause, dolled out with audience-friendly platitudes. In today's world, a very cynical one, all of that no doubt seems too earnest and not nearly self-serving enough. The sad fact is, we're all bigger narcissists now, and the weepy lady in a tiara, waving as she stumbles down a runway no doubt seems too pale a reward for all the work.

Updated On: 10/21/04 at 09:52 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 10:23am

It will probably end up on Spike TV ro some crap like that.

Part of the ratings problem HAD to be that it was placed on Saturday Night. Nothing on Saturday night will get good ratings.

What made me stop caring was a year or two ago when they had a multi-choice quiz as part of the competition for the final five.

All of them knew what "bling-bling" meant, but NONE of them knew that Janet Reno was the first female Attorney General.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 11:39am

Miss America has been over since Bert Parks was canceled

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 11:40am

That's what happens when you get rid of the talent contest.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 12:08pm

Don't bury the old gal just yet! She's simply in contract negotiations.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 12:26pm

It was also over when they got rid of the "Miss America dancers"!!

Updated On: 10/21/04 at 12:26 PM

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 1:09pm

Oh so true Dottie! I used to eat lunch and dinner with the dancers at Ocean 1 all during pageant week. Yummy!

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 1:11pm

took the words right out of my mouth robbiej. Hot on the heels of cutting the talent section...

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 1:13pm

They only cut talent for the Saturday broadcast. Talent was still 30 % of the judging and the top ten selection process. You could still see all of the talents at the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night preliminary shows in Boardwalk Hall.

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 1:16pm

Really? I could've sworn they cut the whole damn thing. That's what they said on ET anyway.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 1:19pm

Shame on them! I was in the audience, as I have been for the last 25 years! Most of the gals were as talentless as always, but they did perform. And, double shame on ET because Mary Hart is a former Miss North Dakota and a top ten finalist at the Miss America Pageant.

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 1:27pm

May Hart always seemed charming when I was younger. She's definitely beautiful and...um....well-preserved. But, doesn't her enthusiasm seem VEEERY disingenuous nowadays. Her and that young guy with the spiky black hair really creep me out now.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 2:09pm

The young guy with the spiky black hair is Mark Steinis who is married to former Miss America Leanza Cornett. She is one of my pals!!! Love her! Mean it! By the way, some ET dirt ... Bob Goens was let go for being too old at 49. Mary Hart is 53. Who do we think had the gonads in that telivision marriage?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 2:55pm

Oh, Mary is ready to snap. You can see rifles and water towers in her eyes.