One of these days, reality TV producers will run out of show ideas. That day hasn’t arrived yet.
As the writers strike drags on with no end in sight, the TV landscape will become more cluttered with a variety of reality shows that run from the silly (contestants are strapped to a lie detector and asked to reveal their most intimate secrets on Fox’s upcoming “Moment of Truth”) to the recycled (NBC is dusting off “American Gladiators” for next month).
“Clash of the Choirs,” however, is more in line with such feel-good reality shows as “The Biggest Loser” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” It is the holiday season, after all.
In NBC’s new reality competition series (it debuted Monday and continues tonight, Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m on KUSA-Channel 9), five music superstars — R&B legend Patti LaBelle, blue-eyed soul singer Michael Bolton, former 98 Degrees star Nick Lachey, one-time Destiny’s Child hottie Kelly Rowland and country music singer Blake Shelton — travel back to their respective hometowns to create a new choir from scratch.
After choosing the amateur singers American Idol-style (no professionals are allowed), the stars worked with their 20-member choirs for three weeks and prepared them for a live musical “sing off” during which viewers can vote for their favorites — also “American Idol”-style.
The winning choir will donate the prize money (NBC isn’t saying how much) to its charity of choice.
“Choirs” is a four-night event with the finale on Thursday. The show will feature music genres ranging from today’s pop hits to traditional holiday classics to inspirational gospel.
Unlike “Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Got Talent” and “So You Think You Could Dance” and, well, just about every other competition reality show on television, there are no judges on “Choirs.” After the choirs perform, the stars offer their critiques, but it’s up to viewers to pick a winner.
“I didn’t want to judge people and tell them that they’re not good,” says LaBelle. “My whole problem was having to say no to people. But what I said to the ones who didn’t make it (was) that doesn’t mean that it’s the end of your life. Patti LaBelle does not control the rest of your life.”
Bolton, who has sold more than 53 million records and crooned with Ray Charles and Luciano Pavarotti, says he’s thrilled to be part of such an uplifting show in which the participants are built up, not torn down.
“I didn’t want to get involved in anything that was a trashy part of reality TV,” he says. “I was only interested when they explained that we were going to inspire young, unestablished singers.”
Going back to New Haven, Conn., was particularly moving for Bolton. The auditions were held at Toad’s Place, a famed local club 2 miles from where Bolton once lived. The Grammy-winning singer also performed at Toad’s Place when he was an unknown artist struggling to make a living.
“It was intense,” Bolton says of returning home. “I didn’t expect it to feel that way. Whether our rent checks bounced or how much food there was for that week — that’s literally what Toad’s Place reminded me of.”
