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Web ad turned TV show?

by Hassan | March 05, 2008

Don’t you love it when TV networks create shows based on annoying web ads? I sure do!

Classmates.com

It turns out that TV Land is premiering a new reality show called “High School Reunion,” which by all accounts is inspired by those pesky web ads from Facebook wannabe Classmates.com.

Here’s the show’s synopsis, via TVLand.com:

More than a dozen classmates from the 1987 graduating class of J.J. Pearce High School in Dallas, Texas reunite after 20 years. In high school, they were known as the jock, the popular girl, the stud, the bully and the geek. Have they changed or are they still living up to their high school roles? Find out when they all get back together for a two-week Hawaiian get-away sure to rekindle past relationships, rivalries and romances.

I have a gentle reminder for the Programming department at TV Land: The Writers Strike Is Over! There’s no need for more reality shows, and on top of that, no interest to watch midlife sexual tension. (Note to self: never type the words “midlife sexual tension” again.) But given the TV Land viewer age demographic, I’m guessing the show will find some degree of success.

Now, I should point out that there isn’t actually an official relationship between Classmates.com and “High School Reunion”—which premiers March 5th—at least none that has been reported. Classmates.com did partner with CBS back in 2006 to promote “The Class,” the network’s sitcom that only lasted one season. The partnership allowed Classmates.com users to befriend “The Class” characters, who had individual profiles on the Classmates.com site, and to learn about the show and enter CBS-sponsored contests, according to Sitcoms Online.

Regardless, the very thought of creating a TV show based on ads gave me an idea: If ABC could (unsuccessfully) give the Geico cavemen a show, and if TV Land does “High School Reunion,” what else could be made into a TV show based on a web advertising campaign?

Here are some of my personal suggestions. TV executives, let’s talk:

America’s Next Top Shadow Dancer
The Pitch: You know those LowerMyBills.com ads that everybody loves? The ones with the dancing silhouette people on crack?

“America’s Next Top Shadow Dancer” gives contestants the chance to show off their wildest, craziest dancing skills—while silhouetted behind a curtain—for a panel of three temperamentally and racially diverse judges, one of which must be British or speak with a British accent. The contestant with the most points will win a lowered mortgage payment and a three-album recording contract.
wanna?
Want To Meet Some Girls?
The Pitch: Woome.com has plastered its “Want To Meet Some Girls?” ads on social networking sites like Facebook. Clearly, this has the potential for a television show. Think “Blind Date” meets “Deal or No Deal”.

The “Want To Meet Some Girls?” camera crew rides around LA in a convertible, stopping by fine dining establishments and parks to ask unwitting men if they do, in fact, “want to meet some girls.” The five men get in the car and are driven to a nightclub, where a group of young ladies awaits.

After greeting each other, the show’s host (Joe Rogan?) tells the men that they’ll each have the opportunity to choose and date one of the girls. The host tells the men that their choice will be final, and then tells the men to mingle with the women and make a choice of who to date. As the men stand next to their new lady-friends, the host then tells them that one of the five girls is a multi-millionaire, another is a convicted felon, two are on welfare, and one is actually a man.

Throw in some commercials, and you have one quality half-hour of entertainment.

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