The makers of American Idol are gearing up to create a massive, multi-platform, 24-hour, interactive reality show/competition that may be either the biggest or the most tedious reality idea I have ever heard. I’m not sure which.
If I Can Dream, planned to launch on the Internet in February, will follow five aspiring entertainers in Hollywood. Viewers will be able to watch them round the clock and to communicate with them through blogs and social networks. Eventually, the show will be shopped as a TV program, but first, a weekly recap show will air on Hulu. What does it promise? The public statements have been vague, but from the trailer above, it looks like plenty of shots of pretty people doing their laundry, cooking and looking in mirrors.
American Idol meets Big Brother? Or American Idol minus the drama and Big Brother minus the exciting sleaze? We don’t know enough to say, but I’m skeptical. Reality shows’ success, whether on TV or online, is largely about having a great premise, and there’s nothing about this one that has me counting the days.
Then again, I didn’t originally think American Idol would be a big hit either. (They want to remake Star Search in prime time? Really?) So I won’t count Simon Fuller and company out just yet.
