I worked on Elimidate.
It is a highly produced show. I saw some really decent people presented as real jerks. Each season the show gets smarmier and smarmier.
You know each show is shot in one day. The cast is interviewed before and after every single scene. The producers push and reword until they get what they want.
The cast (crew isn't supposed to get any :) ) is given lots of liquor from the beginning of the second act onwards. If you are still shooting at 3:30 or 4:OO AM it has been mostly booze for the last 8 or more hours. Very little food and virtually no down time for the person who is the picker.
When the final choices are being made the producers go into high gear to get exactly what they want. Crew gets way grossed out watching this. ( I didn't intend a double meaning here but yes, that too.)
I am tellin ya, Mother Teresa would come off bad.
Funny thing is that I have heard guests say it was all their own choice even when I have seen with my own eyes and ears how they were manipulated. And then later edited. I suppose it is human nature to believe that one is actually in control.
I can't infer anything about Constantine Maroulis based on what was seen on Elimidate and of all people, theatre people should know that!
Did you all know we could never refer to the guests or participants as contestants. Game shows have rules to protect the contestants and public from fraud. No such rules in "reality"
I sound a little steamed, I know it, this thing just reminded me of the hurt some of the guests went through in the early seasons, especially the first where they had no idea how smarmy the show was going to be. Some of the guests really were innocents and the crew would be happy if they were voted off first so they would be taken home.
I think now people who are cast know what they are getting into. The show has a fan base, still does. A lot of people working retail throw it on when they come in from work at 10 or 11, teenagers too.
Reality TV is of course not reality and it definitely isn't theatre. Wait maybe there is a show in this.......
Semi rant over, thank you
Updated On: 3/10/05 at 07:04 PM
