"Reality hits some after TV spotlight" 5/4/07
Apr 5, 2007 18:58:55 GMT 10
Post by dededom on Apr 5, 2007 18:58:55 GMT 10
Reality hits some after TV spotlight
5th April 2007, 12:33 WST
www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=370923
For every Guy Sebastian there's a Casey Donovan and every Jamie Brooksby can be countered with a Ben Williams or Peter Corbett.
It's no secret that fame can be found with a few months, even weeks, in front of a TV camera.
But whether it be a singing contest or simply subjecting themselves to the gaze of millions in a human fishbowl such as the Big Brother house, the reality of winning a reality TV show can vary from outstanding to absolute obscurity.
As the final of Australia's Next Top Model series three and The Biggest Loser 2 approach and new series of Australian Idol and Big Brother loom, what do the bright-eyed participants not guaranteed a cent from their involvement have to look forward to?
With model-like looks and not much to say, Perth personal trainer Jamie Brooksby won last year's Big Brother and joked he would spend his $426,000 prize money on a solid gold house and a rocket car.
He wasn't far off the mark when he claimed in lads mag Zoo that he had blown $100,000 - $3,500 a week - on booze and more bucks on other frivolity since his win.
But while he says the figures were exaggerated, his lament that women now only propositioned him for his money - and a particular physical attribute shown to the world on the now defunct Adults Only version of the show - proved winning money doesn't necessarily bring happiness if the winner doesn't know how to handle it.
"If I went and worked at the local supermarket, everyone would be 'Whoa, what happened to you?' Personally I don't like that sort of expectation," Brooksby said.
For all the criticism, as the show's seventh series is set to begin on April 22, the majority of Australian Big Brother winners have simply become darlings of the public to win the show before happily slinking into the shadows.
The first two winners, Ben Williams and Peter Corbett, are only wheeled out when charity calls while fellow contestants Blair McDonough (Neighbours), Sara-Marie Fedele (Celebrity Survivor, Dancing With The Stars), Cristina Davis (comedian), Jemma Gawned (lip gloss maker) and Pete Timbs (TV Week, The Catch-Up) have made the most of their profiles.
After that first year producers have steered away from contestants with a desire to use the show as a launch pad into a media career.
However, fame chewed up and spat out the lovable Tasmanian fish and chip shop owner Regina "Reggie" Bird after her win and she is only now piecing her life back together.
Her marriage broke down soon after her win. Talk of a TV pilot never eventuated and she quit her "dream job" as an airline hostess. She was ripped off by a conman for a large portion of her savings and forced to clean toilets for cash. Bird has now resettled with a new fiance in Queensland.
The televised karaoke hit Australian Idol promises young talent a foot-in-the-door to the lucky dip that is the music industry, unprecedented exposure and for one in each series, a record deal.
Bizarrely, the show's runners-up have gone significantly better than winners. Original winner Guy Sebastian has kept his profile ticking over since his 2002 victory, but his runner-up Shannon Noll has been a more dominant force on the charts.
Sebastian's successor Casey Donovan fell from grace quickly. One hit single, a flopped debut album and the teenager was dumped by Sony BMG, the show's affiliate record label.
Her runner-up Anthony Callea has a loyal following and a strong presence on the charts.
The third Australian Idol, Kate DeAraugo, has been forced to join three other previous contestants to form The Young Divas, a group which has achieved moderate success singing covers of some of the biggest disco hits ever released.
Irish-born crooner Damien Leith has bucked the trend since his win last season.
An Australian Idol winner usually releases a rushed album of original songs, usually not their own, it hits the top of the charts and drops out just as fast.
But Leith's The Winner's Journey, a collection of his performances from the show, debuted at number three and rose to number one, and stayed there for more than a month. The great test will be when his original album is released.
In the wake of reality TV's most lucrative brands, which have made a fortune for networks and the phone companies which count the votes, have come imitators.
Australia's own version of America's Next Top Model, created by Tyra Banks, is now in its third series and is among the most popular shows on Foxtel's Fox 8.
But its winners have struggled since their respective seasons wrapped and the initial red carpet attention waned.
The inaugural winner, Newcastle's Gemma Sanderson, has changed modelling agencies and continues to plug away at her career.
Tasmanian Eboni Stocks has also benefited little from her victory after early flutters at fame. Stocks now works at a Sydney shoe boutique.
For this season, now hosted by Jodhi Meares, the show has opened up entries to girls 16 years and up - after entrants over 18 only were previously eligible - to increase the show's chances of indeed creating a "top model".
"By the time a girl is 18, if she has potential to be a model she would have been found already," Meares said.
Legal action is pending for Perth couple Ash and Amanda Huish, winners of the first series of My Restaurant Rules in 2004.
The much-loved pair were voted by the public to keep their restaurant, Room Nineteen, but developers keen to put apartments on the site had other ideas.
The couple is suing Channel Seven for not informing them the site was subject to demolition.
No such bad luck for MRR's second victors, Adelaide couple John and Justine Hall, proud owners of The Greedy Goose who have just added an extra room to their booming bistro.
As for their runners-up Bella and Evan in Sydney, they didn't get to keep their Manly restaurant Pink Salt. But they had the savvy to take to name to ritzy Double Bay where business is booming.
Incidentally, the series which supplied two success stories rated much lower than the first.
If his promotional duties are to be believed, a gym and sandwich company Subway can be credited for The Biggest Loser's first Australian winner Adro Sarnelli's weight loss.
But his weight loss can largely be attributed to the show. Other contestants have become motivational speakers.
The Biggest Loser is a rarity in reality TV as it has so far provided unanimous benefits to the contestants - they lose weight and potentially win money - and the network - The Biggest Loser has been a rare shining light in the ratings for Ten so far this year.
A new winner will be crowed on April 26.
The flip side has been the Seven Network's attempts at singing contests.
The first Popstars rated well as the first Australian TV karaoke fest. The only member of the group it produced, Bardot, to remain in the spotlight is Sophie Monk, who is attempting a duel Hollywood and singing career and is engaged to Benji Madden from American pop/punk band Good Charlotte.
Tiffani Wood signed a solo deal with Warner, as did Sophie Monk, but unlike Monk she was dumped and is now attempting to carve out an independent career.
Her latest effort has been a Dita Von Teese-inspired burlesque stage show. The other members still perform or teach performance, but it appears their boat has sailed.
For the subsequent series, poor ratings were reflected in the success of the resulting acts.
If it weren't for the deep pockets of Tamara Jaber's partner Kyle Sandilands, now a judge on Australian Idol, the multi-gender pop group Scandal'us from Popstars 2 would be long forgotten.
Sandilands released two singles on his King Kyle label which have been widely condemned and largely ignored.
AAP
5th April 2007, 12:33 WST
www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=370923
For every Guy Sebastian there's a Casey Donovan and every Jamie Brooksby can be countered with a Ben Williams or Peter Corbett.
It's no secret that fame can be found with a few months, even weeks, in front of a TV camera.
But whether it be a singing contest or simply subjecting themselves to the gaze of millions in a human fishbowl such as the Big Brother house, the reality of winning a reality TV show can vary from outstanding to absolute obscurity.
As the final of Australia's Next Top Model series three and The Biggest Loser 2 approach and new series of Australian Idol and Big Brother loom, what do the bright-eyed participants not guaranteed a cent from their involvement have to look forward to?
With model-like looks and not much to say, Perth personal trainer Jamie Brooksby won last year's Big Brother and joked he would spend his $426,000 prize money on a solid gold house and a rocket car.
He wasn't far off the mark when he claimed in lads mag Zoo that he had blown $100,000 - $3,500 a week - on booze and more bucks on other frivolity since his win.
But while he says the figures were exaggerated, his lament that women now only propositioned him for his money - and a particular physical attribute shown to the world on the now defunct Adults Only version of the show - proved winning money doesn't necessarily bring happiness if the winner doesn't know how to handle it.
"If I went and worked at the local supermarket, everyone would be 'Whoa, what happened to you?' Personally I don't like that sort of expectation," Brooksby said.
For all the criticism, as the show's seventh series is set to begin on April 22, the majority of Australian Big Brother winners have simply become darlings of the public to win the show before happily slinking into the shadows.
The first two winners, Ben Williams and Peter Corbett, are only wheeled out when charity calls while fellow contestants Blair McDonough (Neighbours), Sara-Marie Fedele (Celebrity Survivor, Dancing With The Stars), Cristina Davis (comedian), Jemma Gawned (lip gloss maker) and Pete Timbs (TV Week, The Catch-Up) have made the most of their profiles.
After that first year producers have steered away from contestants with a desire to use the show as a launch pad into a media career.
However, fame chewed up and spat out the lovable Tasmanian fish and chip shop owner Regina "Reggie" Bird after her win and she is only now piecing her life back together.
Her marriage broke down soon after her win. Talk of a TV pilot never eventuated and she quit her "dream job" as an airline hostess. She was ripped off by a conman for a large portion of her savings and forced to clean toilets for cash. Bird has now resettled with a new fiance in Queensland.
The televised karaoke hit Australian Idol promises young talent a foot-in-the-door to the lucky dip that is the music industry, unprecedented exposure and for one in each series, a record deal.
Bizarrely, the show's runners-up have gone significantly better than winners. Original winner Guy Sebastian has kept his profile ticking over since his 2002 victory, but his runner-up Shannon Noll has been a more dominant force on the charts.
Sebastian's successor Casey Donovan fell from grace quickly. One hit single, a flopped debut album and the teenager was dumped by Sony BMG, the show's affiliate record label.
Her runner-up Anthony Callea has a loyal following and a strong presence on the charts.
The third Australian Idol, Kate DeAraugo, has been forced to join three other previous contestants to form The Young Divas, a group which has achieved moderate success singing covers of some of the biggest disco hits ever released.
Irish-born crooner Damien Leith has bucked the trend since his win last season.
An Australian Idol winner usually releases a rushed album of original songs, usually not their own, it hits the top of the charts and drops out just as fast.
But Leith's The Winner's Journey, a collection of his performances from the show, debuted at number three and rose to number one, and stayed there for more than a month. The great test will be when his original album is released.
In the wake of reality TV's most lucrative brands, which have made a fortune for networks and the phone companies which count the votes, have come imitators.
Australia's own version of America's Next Top Model, created by Tyra Banks, is now in its third series and is among the most popular shows on Foxtel's Fox 8.
But its winners have struggled since their respective seasons wrapped and the initial red carpet attention waned.
The inaugural winner, Newcastle's Gemma Sanderson, has changed modelling agencies and continues to plug away at her career.
Tasmanian Eboni Stocks has also benefited little from her victory after early flutters at fame. Stocks now works at a Sydney shoe boutique.
For this season, now hosted by Jodhi Meares, the show has opened up entries to girls 16 years and up - after entrants over 18 only were previously eligible - to increase the show's chances of indeed creating a "top model".
"By the time a girl is 18, if she has potential to be a model she would have been found already," Meares said.
Legal action is pending for Perth couple Ash and Amanda Huish, winners of the first series of My Restaurant Rules in 2004.
The much-loved pair were voted by the public to keep their restaurant, Room Nineteen, but developers keen to put apartments on the site had other ideas.
The couple is suing Channel Seven for not informing them the site was subject to demolition.
No such bad luck for MRR's second victors, Adelaide couple John and Justine Hall, proud owners of The Greedy Goose who have just added an extra room to their booming bistro.
As for their runners-up Bella and Evan in Sydney, they didn't get to keep their Manly restaurant Pink Salt. But they had the savvy to take to name to ritzy Double Bay where business is booming.
Incidentally, the series which supplied two success stories rated much lower than the first.
If his promotional duties are to be believed, a gym and sandwich company Subway can be credited for The Biggest Loser's first Australian winner Adro Sarnelli's weight loss.
But his weight loss can largely be attributed to the show. Other contestants have become motivational speakers.
The Biggest Loser is a rarity in reality TV as it has so far provided unanimous benefits to the contestants - they lose weight and potentially win money - and the network - The Biggest Loser has been a rare shining light in the ratings for Ten so far this year.
A new winner will be crowed on April 26.
The flip side has been the Seven Network's attempts at singing contests.
The first Popstars rated well as the first Australian TV karaoke fest. The only member of the group it produced, Bardot, to remain in the spotlight is Sophie Monk, who is attempting a duel Hollywood and singing career and is engaged to Benji Madden from American pop/punk band Good Charlotte.
Tiffani Wood signed a solo deal with Warner, as did Sophie Monk, but unlike Monk she was dumped and is now attempting to carve out an independent career.
Her latest effort has been a Dita Von Teese-inspired burlesque stage show. The other members still perform or teach performance, but it appears their boat has sailed.
For the subsequent series, poor ratings were reflected in the success of the resulting acts.
If it weren't for the deep pockets of Tamara Jaber's partner Kyle Sandilands, now a judge on Australian Idol, the multi-gender pop group Scandal'us from Popstars 2 would be long forgotten.
Sandilands released two singles on his King Kyle label which have been widely condemned and largely ignored.
AAP
Nice to hear again just how well he is doing thus far, though!
