The television network CW has seen huge success from their #1 show America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) starring Tyra Banks, and they want more. The network has green-lighted a new untitled fashion magazine reality show and eight episodes will begin production in April for an estimated launch in late spring or summer. The show will be developed by Tyra and Ken Mok who were the two brainchilds behind ANTM.
CW unofficially describes the series a cross between The Devil Wears Prada and The Assistant.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new fashion show will have the production team behind Bravo’s hit show Project Runway. The producers of the show are currently in negotiations with a real fashion magazine to host the contestants, and its editors will help judge the challenges.
“It is a competition show about aspiring assistants looking to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine,” Mok said. “At the same time they’re trying to prove themselves as aspiring fashionistas, that they have a sense of style and savvyness, all the things to make it in the fashion world.”
The new show will use the traditional “challenge” format that most reality shows have adopted. Each episode will see two challenges where contestants compete individually and as a team. Each team will submit a page for “The Book,” a mock edition of the magazine. You should remember “The Book” in The Devil Wears Prada.
The losing team gets their page shredded and one of the team members will be booted (a la Apprentice style). The winner of the competition will, of course, be rewarded with riches, well… kinda. They get a job in the fashion industry.
Personally, I’ve always thought it to be a little cheap for the winner to be awarded the “privilege” of working for someone. Some game shows can give away millions of dollars in a single show but these reality shows that last months often give out peanuts in comparison.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my America’s Next Top Model, Top Chef, Project Runway, Hell’s Kitchen, American Idol, Biggest Loser and more, but few of these shows ever award anything more than the “potential” of being famous or a little bit of money that barely offsets (after taxes) what they could have made in their normal job. Yes, many of these shows are suppose to open doors to a new career and get you exposure but even the winners rarely reach true elite status (with a couple exceptions).
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