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Bravo/TV
Guide Poll "Clay Aiken is the Most Loved Reality Star of All
Time"
8/9/05
THEIR
DRAMA, OUR REALITY: BRAVO & TV GUIDE TEAM UP FOR "BATTLE OF THE
NETWORK REALITY STARS" POLL
"AMERICAN IDOL'S" CLAY AIKEN IS THE MOST LOVED REALITY STAR
OF ALL TIME! "THE APPRENTICE'S" OMAROSA IS THE MOST HATED &
"JOE MILLIONAIRE'S" EVAN MARRIOTT IS THE STAR MOST FOLKS WOULD
LIKE TO SEE IN A SPEEDO
BRAVO'S "BATTLE OF THE NETWORK REALITY STARS" PREMIERES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 9:00 P.M. ET/PT
NEW YORK -- August 8, 2005 -- In a recent poll commissioned by Bravo
and TV Guide magazine to determine viewers' tastes regarding reality
television, "American
Idol's" Clay Aiken is number one in the hearts of reality fans,
while "The
Apprentice's" Omarosa is the most hated reality star. The
Internet omnibus survey was conducted by TNS in conjunction with Bravo's
premiere of "Battle of the Network Reality Stars," the cable
channel's homage to the great 70's original "Battle of the Network
Stars." The series will premiere on Bravo on Wednesday, August 17 at
9:00 p.m. ET/PT. In addition, the results from the poll will be printed in
the August 14 issue of TV Guide magazine on newsstands on August 11.
"These are real people who allow the American public to experience
their raw emotion and quirks as they embark on their own reality - taking
us with them every step of the way," said Andrew Cohen, VP,
Production & Programming for Bravo.
"Love it or hate it, reality television is here to stay. Reality
stars have made their mark on the pop culture landscape, and they won't be
leaving any time soon," says TV Guide Senior Editor Rich Sands.
"This poll is a fun tribute to the best and worst of the genre---the
villains, the heroes, the drama divas--and ultimately a celebration of the
very reasons we all keep tuning in."
Following are highlights from the Bravo/TV Guide Poll results:
IN A POPULARITY CONTEST, CLAY COMES OUT ON TOP AND OMAROSA HAS VERY FEW
FRIENDS: Clay Aiken (35%) barely edged out fellow "American
Idol" contestant Kelly
Clarkson (34%) as the most loved reality star of all-time, with half
of those polled agreeing that Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth of "The
Apprentice" is the most hated.
MOVE OVER WHITNEY AND BOBBY; OVER HALF OF AMERICA CHOSE NICK &
JESSICA TO RAISE THEIR CHILD: Viewers and readers have officially spoken -
when it comes to entrusting a reality star couple to raise their child, an
overwhelming 54% trust Nick
& Jessica, over more experienced parents Whitney
& Bobby, Sharon
& Ozzy, and the expectant couple Britney
& Kevin!
"THE AMAZING RACE" TAKES FIRST PLACE: When asked to choose
which reality series they would be a contestant on, 31% of respondents
would sprint to get on "The Amazing Race," but only 17% feel
rosy about "The
Bachelor"/"The
Bachelorette."
"SURVIVOR'S" RICHARD HATCH GETS SLAMMED BY AMERICA WITH DODGE
BALL: Richard
Hatch would have a tough time surviving in dodge ball, with 42% of
people taking aim at him first. Wendy Pepper from "Project
Runway" would remain fairly unscathed with just 13% pummeling her
with the dodge ball.
WHO DESERVES MORE THAN 15 MINUTES OF FAME? "AMERICAN IDOL'S"
WILLIAM HUNG CAME OUT #1: "American Idol's" William
Hung is the most deserving of his own TV series according to 31% of
respondents. But, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth of "The
Apprentice" should simply stick to her day job.
IT'S THE BATTLE OF THE BEAUTIES IN A GAME OF TUG O' WAR: "America's
Next Top Model" Brittany Brower and "The Swan's" Rachel
Love-Fraser are favored 37% by respondents to drag each other through the
mud in a tug o' war match-up. Only 18% want to see duo Charla Faddoul and
Mirna Hindoyan from "The Amazing Race" duke it out.
The Bravo/TV Guide poll was conducted among 1,000 adults ages 18+ from
July 14-15, 2005.
ABOUT THE SERIES: Bravo's "Battle of the Network Reality
Stars" is the single biggest gathering of reality stars in a
competition-based show, encompassing 16 different series from eight
networks. The six episode series originating from Pepperdine University in
Malibu, California kicks off on Wednesday, August 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
with a 90-minute premiere episode, followed by five one-hour episodes.
Nearly 30 years after its 1976 debut, Bravo will resurrect the wildly
popular concept behind the original "Battle of the Network
Stars," which was hosted by sports broadcasting legend Howard Cosell
and featured notable competitors such as Billy Crystal, Farrah Fawcett,
David Letterman, and Heather Locklear. Just as Katherine Bach of Daisy
Duke fame got dunked repeatedly in the original battle, you'll see Coral
Smith from "The
Real World" get dunked in the new series.
The updated format of the much-loved series is complete with teams of
sweat suit and Speedo-clad reality stars that will partake in physical and
aggressively competitive challenges reminiscent of the original program.
TV's most cherished and loathed reality stars will compete in a joust,
navigate a kayak race, and battle it out in the famed tug-of-war, among
other challenges. In a nod to today's reality shows, twists and turns
along the way force team members to vote each other off, create alliances,
and generate unending drama and tears.
TWI, the global television division of IMG, produces the show for
Bravo. TWI's Executive Producers for "Battle of the Network Reality
Stars" are Robert Horowitz and Steve Mayer.
ABOUT TV GUIDE MAGAZINE: A division of Gemstar-TV Guide International,
TV Guide? magazine is the largest-selling weekly publication in the
country with a total circulation of 9 million and readership of 28
million. From standard programming and interactive developments in
television, to the wildly-popular DVD market and fast-growing video game
industry, TV Guide magazine has every corner of the television medium
covered. The premiere source for entertainment news and information and TV
listings, since its debut on April 3, 1953, TV Guide magazine continues to
enable readers to maximize their relationship with television and easily
navigate their choices among the recent explosion of programming options
and new technology. Additional information about the Company can be found
at www.gemstartvguide.com.
ABOUT BRAVO: Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts,
culture and pop culture with original programming, movies and by showing a
whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 79
million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities,
shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling
back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and
inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning
original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity
Poker Showdown," "Project
Greenlight," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding
Reality Program, "Queer
Eye for the Straight Guy." The network's other hits include
"Project
Runway," "Blow
Out" and "Sports
Kids Moms & Dads." Bravo is a program service of NBC
Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the
world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development,
production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a
global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002
and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing
arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information visit www.bravotv.com.
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