the buzz log

Every time the death of the reality show is predicted, a writer goes on strike and 20 more reality monsters grow. This summer, New York Magazine might have a point in predicting an apocalypse. Denise Richards wants her 30 minutes every week, product placement gets a soundtrack in "Jingles," and competitive food eaters star in a show called "Hurl." 'Nuf said on that topic.

Surely among this surreal toxic heap, there must be shows that are good and shows that are so bad they're good. Oh yeah.

Working Stiffs: Best Show
"Black Gold" (TruTV). Will crabbiness at the gas pump drive people to or away from a show about oil rig workers? Mined from the same blue collar vein as wildly popular "Ice Truckers" and "The Deadliest Catch," this crude bubbles rich in searches, up 585% this week. Check out the Houston Chronicle's interview with a top oilman.

We Like Spies Like Us: Best Return
"The Mole" (ABC). While this show debuted in Belgium back in 1999, its premise of spotting the competition saboteur seems fresh in a field of reality shows that reward backstabbers. While not all revivals are a good idea, this fan favorite is so far living up to its nostalgic buzz.

CSI: Most Painful Celebrity Scenes Investigation
"Living Lohan" (E!) and "Brooke Hogan Knows Best" (VH1). Does Dina Lohan have the best PR person ever or does she know mass hypnosis? Either way, the mom of a loose cannon bares her parenting skills with guinea pig number two. Meanwhile, Brooke Hogan puts on her game face as her brother sits in jail, her father gets his public persona torn to shreds, and her mother dates a guy who was in the grade behind her.

What other realities have audiences been checking out? Here are some of the most searched new summer reality programs of the past seven days.

1.	"Black Gold" (TruTV)
2.	"The Mole" (ABC)
3.	"Celebrity Circus" (NBC)
4.	"She's Got the Look" (TV Land)
5.	"Wipeout" (ABC)
6.	"Flipping Out" (Bravo)
7.	"Living Lohan" (E!)
8.	"Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood" (Oxygen)
9.	"I Survived a Japanese Game Show" (ABC)
10.	"Celebrity Family Feud" (NBC)

Filed under: TV, Reality TV, Summer

If "American Idol" audiences had a nickel for every time the judges and host Ryan Seacrest boasted that this season had the best contestants ever, they might be able to afford a six-pack of blatant product placement.

"Best ever" may be debatable, but the blame doesn't entirely rest on the singers. What with the show's sped-up, assembly-line process and its decision to squeeze in another telethon, the competitors barely got time to show some spark of life.

Still, as Season 7 fades into the horizon, and the Davids congratulate one another on a contest well-tussled, and the glow of nostalgia diminishes Jason Castro's Marley massacre and magnifies the memory of his ukelele Aloha spirit, it's time to appreciate the highlights and lowlifes with the Buzz Log Consolation Awards. Heckuva job, kids.

The Michael Jackson Award: Chikezie Eze. The Nigerian-born warbler did the partial owner of the Beatles library proud with his rambunctious bluegrass take on "She's a Woman," which finally got him his Search following, fleeting as it was.

The Judges'-Pet Curse: Michael Johns. Ever since Chris Daughtry got his fourth-place boot, people have been looking for each season's shocking exit. The Aussie became the latest unsurprising "shocker," but among the Search audience, Johns not only couldn't compare to fellow rocker David Cook, he also had the lowest searches among the Top 12 (except for Syesha Mercado).

God Bless the USA Award: Kristy Lee Cook. Religion, the unspoken undercurrent in Season 6, stepped out in the center of "Idol's" rabidly secular stage this year. Cook swung the buzz in her direction with Lee Greenwood's patriotic blessing, and ended up the most popular female contestant in online look-ups.

The Race Race: Ramiele Malubay. Heck, it's an election year, and talking about race is OK. Searchers explored a possible Filipino heritage for David Archuleta and Danny Noriega, but Malubay was the real deal. She may not have hit her goal to become the first Asian-American Idol, but she did get enough Search hits to become the second most-popular female contestant.

The Subversive Songbird Award: Jason Castro. He yawned on stage, seemed perplexed over the notion of cats in a musical, looked relieved when voted off—and the whole time, not a dred out of place. The fourth most-searched contestant ranks first in his ability to spur the most queries for a contestant's songs—and promoting Bruddah IZ and Leonard Cohen in the process. Hallelujah.

The Lowlife Award: ... No, not David Hernandez, who was only trying to make a living. This award goes to the producers, who haven't yet figured out how to make the contestants—not the celebrity guests—the focus of the show, and bring "Idol" back to the basics. Get over the seven-year itch, or the marriage is off.

 

Filed under: TV, Reality TV, American Idol, Music

One thing thrilled fans and disgruntled critics might agree upon during this contentious "American Idol" go-round: Both should be glad when a winner is declared in two weeks.

Who decides the winner may depend on geography, a factor explored in an earlier post. In years past, the South had a stranglehold on the competition, and Alabama alone proudly declared itself the birthplace of winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks, plus finalist Bo Bice. The mighty South fell last year, however, to a girl from Arizona.

When the show started again this season, the South may have been hoping to rise again. Alabama placed second only to Oklahoma in January searches for "American Idol," followed by North Carolina, Georgia, and Missouri.

Repeating the patterns of 2007, however, southern passions waned as the months wore on. Over the past 30 days, the Yellowhammer State has dropped to number 9 among "Idol" searchers. Hawaii, in typical tropical fashion, sauntered in late to monitor the show (as it does year after year), but its fidelity has helped the Aloha State clinch first place among the "Idol" faithful.

Ultimately, however, the 2008 contest may be determined in the Heartland. Below is the list of top 10 states tracking "American Idol" online, and a map illustrating the show's Search base.

Filed under: TV, Reality TV, American Idol