Wednesday, April 8, 2009

FOX TV Bringing A New Reality Show To a Television Near You

By Alicia Cruz
Senior writer
theblackurbantimes.com

A new reality TV show is coming to a television near you. The Fox network has decided to allow employees of small businesses decide which of their colleagues should be laid off. The reality show is called "Someone's Gotta Go," and is currently in production, but has not announced a tenative air date.


Each episode will feature a company that needs to cut costs because of the economy. Instead of the boss deciding who is fired, the company will open its books to show everyone’s salaries and let the employees make the call. I don't know how legal or wise that is, but we're soon to find out.
The laid-off worker will get a small severance package, but anything beyond that has yet to be announced. Endemol USA, the company behind "Big Brother," "Deal or No Deal" and "Fear Factor" are working with Fox network to develop the show.
At a time when thousands of people are out of work and desperate, I don't know how well this show will go over with TV viewers. "For most people who are concerned about job security or are desperate to get hired, I don’t think there’s much to laugh at in terms of watching someone else’s pain and misery," said Tori Johnson, a regular contributor to ABC’s "Good Morning America."
But Mike Darnell, chief of alternative programming at Fox, said everyone who participates in the show knows fully what they are doing.
"I feel that it’s part of the times that we are living in," Darnell said. "It’s certainly no worse than watching the news every night and hearing all the statistics and watching what is happening. To be frank, like all these shows, if you don’t want to watch, don’t watch it."
Fox and Endemol have had "absolutely no trouble" finding companies willing to participate, he said. And this is likely true, but I think some may be jumping feet first without thinking. They hear "prime time television, severence package, national exposure" and it goes to their head.


The ramifications if someone feels slighted, picked on or set-up could be astronomical.
Fox wouldn’t reveal the show’s host, which it says is a business consultant who will offer advice to participating companies.


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