Next Reality show..

A spy I have working on Over The Rainbow told me apparently the BBC are keen to produce another relaity hunt for 2011 as ratings have been good and steady...

The question is whether Webber will return and what show? BBC are currently not wanting to do A search for Jesus, as Webber wants to do a revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, but the beeb are worried about promoting that show and fear it have backlashes of complaints over phrases like "Are you Jesus" and "You're just not Jesus" !!

They are keen to find a show where the search hunts for a leading man, as Joseph was the most successful, so other shows apparently being discussed are Saturday Night Fever, Singin In The Rain. Also discussing West Side Story male and female hunt, which Webber is keen to do, but can't get the rights.

We'll have to wait and see... but it looks like the musical "star" hunt reality show will be back again next year!

Updated On: 5/14/10 at 07:18 AM

Saturday Night Fever won't happen without Robert Stigwood's permission - and David Ian will probably want a slice of the pie again, as original producer in London.

Both SNF and SITR seem like poor choices to me - they're shows that rely on dancing, not singing. SNF maybe, singing pop songs would work for that, but how are you going to showcase your tap dancing skills for Singing In The Rain? And imagine the 17 year olds turning up to audition for Don...

Perhaps a miracle will happen and they'll actually have a reality hunt for a star for NEW show instead of yet another unnecessary revival. But I know the reality is that will never happen.

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I don't mean they don't look for shows for dancers - lord knows I've watched enough So You Think You Can Dance - but it doesn't fit the format that ALW and the Beeb developed and make money off all over the world, which is people singing pop songs and a dash of acting in the "missions" which count towards absolutely nothing. It would have to be something else.

I just don't think Singing in the Rain appeals to a Saturday night light entertainment audience for casting. No-one dreams of playing Don Lockwood (admittedly I don't think anyone dreams of playing Joseph or Nancy, but there you go...), you don't need to be able to sing particularly well, and it just skews too old - especially if the show's up against Britain's Got Talent again next time round.

I don't really like the thought of searching for a maria and a tony... it'd end up like the Grease format and it didn't really work all that well tbh. Personally i'd love to see one that searched for a Norma or a Mamma Rose... give the belters a chance and it'll also be more rounded people who get through to the final stages. Failing that i say cast BARE... even if only to p**s the new 'equalities' minister off :p x

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It's hard because they've done most of the iconic musicals, my vote would be West Side Story or Jesus Christ Superstar.

My Fair Lady is another obvious choice but I would rather they had a show looking for a male lead.

With all these suggestions it definitely seems all the well known musical theatre parts are for women!

Rocky Horror!

I've seen various theories on why they sing so many pop songs on the show, that range from the rights being cheaper, to ratings. I also agree that it would be great to use the shows to introduce the public to a wider range of musical theatre songs, but I think the danger for individual contestants comes when they sing a song that is not widely known.

It seems that picking the "wrong song" is a common excuse for why a talented, and seeminly well liked singer fails to pull in the votes on talent shows and more often than not they are meaning that the song isn't that well known. It seems that a significant chunk of voters struggle to connect with a performance of a song that they aren't familiar with, so if a contestant picks a less well known song, they risk losing votes.

I don't know how true that theory is, but I do believe that is the belief amongst show producers etc. The song choices are probably based on a mixture of all of these factors, but I do think it is of note that they are keeping the musical theatre songs mainly for group numbers. I also think that now we are reaching the final stages of the Rainbow show that we are seeing more theatre songs.

I know a lot of people with a passing interest in theatre and who will go to see the odd musical, but who mainly like pop music, and the balance is about right to engage them, and also to expose them to some theatre classics.