I’m not here to make friends…

I’m not here to make friends. Has there ever been a reality TV show that did not contain this phrase?

Has anyone who’s said this able to make friends in real life? These people always seem to be the obnoxious loser who’s going down soon. This is the cliche of the bad player.

Here’s a montage of people who already have too many friends, so they don’t need to be nice to you. Hat tip to TV Squad. I agree with them that this would make an awesome t-shirt.

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‘Survivor’ producer sued by ex-partner for $70M - The Associated Press

The Associated Press: ‘Survivor’ producer sued by ex-partner for $70M

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The producer of the hit reality series “Survivor” and “The Apprentice” has been sued in Los Angeles by his former business partner.

Conrad Riggs filed the lawsuit against Mark Burnett on Monday. Riggs claims he is owed more than $70 million for his contributions to their joint efforts.

The two met in the 1990s when Burnett was trying to pitch the “Survivor” concept and Riggs worked for Walt Disney Co.

The lawsuit alleges that the pair produced more than a dozen television projects, and that Burnett broke a long-standing agreement to pay Riggs 10 percent of Burnett’s profits.

“While Burnett deserves much of the creative credit, Riggs played a crucial role in the financial success of the enterprise,” the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, Burnett stopped paying his partner in February 2007 after Riggs refused to sign a contract formalizing their long-standing verbal agreement. Riggs contends the terms in the contract differed from their “agreements and practices.”

Burnett evicted Riggs from their offices this year, although the lawsuit says the two continued to work on projects together.

Messages left before business hours Tuesday at Burnett’s production company and with his attorney, Steven Marenberg, were not immediately returned.

Read the entire article at The Associated Press: ‘Survivor’ producer sued by ex-partner for $70M.

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‘Survivor’ star to lend a hand | livingstondaily.com

‘Survivor’ star to lend a hand | livingstondaily.com | Livingston Daily

From 5:30-10 p.m. Friday, area residents will have the opportunity to bid on a private dinner with Livingston County “Survivor” Erik Reichenbach, and numerous auction items, at the Child Abuse Prevention Council’s annual Livingston’s Finest Summer Celebration, an evening devoted to fighting child abuse and neglect in Livingston County.

WDIV news anchor Steve Garagiola will emcee the event taking place at Crystal Gardens banquet center in Genoa Township, east of Howell. Special guest Reichenbach, a Pinckney native and recent star of the CBS television show “Survivor,” will also be at the event to share details of his experience on the show.

“We are thrilled to have Steve and Erik joining us this year,” said Matt Vergith, council chairman. “They will add a lot of fun to the event. It’s great to see people like these guys, who are in the public eye, remain community-focused and support programming that will benefit Livingston County children.”

The mission of the council is to prevent child abuse and neglect and promote a safe environment for children. Funds raised from Friday’s event will support the organization’s prevention efforts, including educational presentations to schools, churches and area organizations on shaken baby syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and child sexual abuse prevention. » Read the rest of this entry…

  Tags: cbs, survivor

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Do spoilers ruin a show for you?

Do spoilers ruin a show for you? Have you ever found something out about a show and then regretted it? Or does it add to the fun? Do you seek out spoilers? Tell us in the forum.

The Amazing Race 13: Massive Country Spoilers!

Life is very confusing.  Sometimes, TV can help you figure stuff out on accident.  Example:  I had always assumed that I loved Survivor and The Amazing Race because of the suspense, because I didn’t know what was going to happen next.  So, last year, when I inadvertently read the spoilers (big, big spoilers) for both of those shows that extended deep in the season, I assumed that my viewing experience would be ruined.  This turned out not to be the case.  I was shocked to discover that I enjoyed both series just as much knowing the result as I did not knowing them.  It’s not like I seek out spoilers these days, but I am no longer deathly afraid of them.  Therefore, when I found some big-time spoilers for the new season of The Amazing Race (premiering September 28), I read them without hesitation, seeing as it was journalistic duty. 

Before I get to the spoilers themselves, the above realization (that spoilers don’t particularly effect my enjoyment of a show) is an important one.  I’ve wondered, often, if this is a singular or universal phenomenon.  Does it mean that I have essentially tricked myself into liking some shows, and that my enjoyment is mentally falsified simply so I have a show I can say I’m a fan of (kind of like anyone who says they enjoy Bingo or knitting or Sandra Bullock films)?  Or does it mean that process is inherently more important than the result, and that the most effective aspects of The Amazing Race and Survivor are their production values and structure?  Is all reality TV, therefore, essentially the same thing, and viewers just enjoy seeing people do unscripted things on a television set? 

Who the hell knows?  Can we get a sociologist to look into this? 

Read the entire article at The Amazing Race 13: Massive Country Spoilers!.

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WWE Diva Ashley Massaro asks for release to care for sick daughter : Celebrity Baby Blog

WWE Diva Ashley Massaro asks for release to care for sick daughter : Celebrity Baby Blog By Angela

Former Survivor contestant Ashley Massaro has asked for an early release from the World Wrestling Entertainment so that she may care for her 7-year-old daughter. In her latest blog entry, the 29-year-old stated that she found out that her daughter is “not well” and that she “can’t be on the road with WWE when my own flesh and blood needs me.”  No further information is known but Ashley, a single parent, also shared that,

At this point when she is sick and needs me home, I have to make the decision to bow out of WWE for a while and take care of my daughter … I wish I could do both and that there were more ways to get everything done but with the severity of the situation I’m going to have to ask for an early release for now.

Ashley joined the WWE in 2005 when she was the winner of the RAW Diva Search for that year.

Read the entire article at WWE Diva Ashley Massaro asks for release to care for sick daughter : Celebrity Baby Blog.

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American Idol Auditions Schedule

Click the links for detailed in

Who Will Be The Next Singing Superstar? - American Idol News

Auditions for the eighth season of American Idol begin Thursday, July 17, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA, and will continue in seven other cities. Once again, auditioners will have an extraordinary opportunity to perform before millions of TV viewers and become household names, with one winning the coveted American Idol title and a major recording contract.

The official docs for the auditions are as follows:

FAQs
Rules
Release Form
Guardian Release Form

Auditions will be held as follows:

Thursday, July 17

San Francisco, CA

The Cow Palace

Monday, July 21

Louisville, KY

Freedom Hall

Friday, July 25

Phoenix, AZ

Jobing.com Arena

Tuesday, July 29 » Read the rest of this entry…

  Tags: tv

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‘Survivor’ Tsunami | Newsweek.com

This article, written in the Summer of 2000, is about the very first season of Survivor. It seems like part of all of our lives now, but 8 years ago, it blasted into the minds of Americans and changed the way we think about TV. This is the first page of a nostalgic, captivating look at what that first Survivor season was like. Remember Colleen?

Click the link to read the whole thing.

‘Survivor’ Tsunami | Newsweek Entertainment | Newsweek.com
By Marc Peyser | NEWSWEEK
Aug 28, 2000 Issue

Talk About Addictive. We Kept Watching ‘Survivor’ Even After They Kicked Colleen Off The Island. This Week 40 Million Americans Will Tune In To Find Out Which One Of The Final Four Will Escape Cutthroat Island Without A Knife In The Back And With A Million Dollars In The Bank. An Exclusive Look Inside The Last Days Of A Tv Juggernaut.

It’s been four months since Rich returned from Pulau Tiga, the South Pacific island he ruled like a beached Rasputin. Can he live with himself yet? Along with 25 million or so other Americans, Rich has watched every minute of “Survivor”–with his mother at his side. Surely seeing himself whack stalwart Gretchen, belittle easygoing Sean and manipulate shaky Kelly must give him some pause. Yeah, right. As Edith Piaf almost sang, Rich regrets nothing. “I’m not sorry for trying to build an alliance. I’m not sorry for blatantly lying to Jeff at the tribal councils,” he says. “I’m happy with the way I played.” He’s not even sorry for the most naked offense of all: parading around nude for all the country to see.

“I’m often nude, and I was in the middle of the South China Sea in 110-degree weather. Why would I have clothes on?” he says. “The night before Colleen was complaining about my nudity, she and Gervase and Greg were sitting right next to me buck naked around the fire. I don’t know if the cameras caught that.” » Read the rest of this entry…

  Tags: cbs, episode, jeff probst, survivor, tv

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Survivor Casting Call | WDBJ7

WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Survivor Casting Call

Do you have what it takes to be a Survivor?  Come to the Survivor 18 Casting Call Wednesday, July 9 at the Salem Fair.  WDBJ7 will be auditioning people from 5pm-8pm at the Free Music Stage. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

You must be 18 years old or older
You must be a U.S. citizen
You must hold a valid U.S. passport or be eligible to apply for one
You are encouraged to fill out an application in advance.  The application is lengthy and takes time to complete.
You must agree to be photographed and videotaped and agree to your likeness being used on CBS and/or WDBJ7 internet and television products and programs
You may speak for two minutes but you do not have to fill the entire time
Instructions for submitting your own videotape and application.  The application should be used for EITHER submitting your own tape OR coming to Survivor Casting Call.

So you’ve seen the show and now want to know how to become a part of SURVIVOR. Here is a breakdown of the selection process:

What happens after the casting call? » Read the rest of this entry…

  Tags: cast, cbs, survivor

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Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily » UPDATE: Reality TV Sale Price $500 Mil? Mark Burnett “Seriously” Talking To IMG; Already IMG Execs Fawning All Over Him

Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily » UPDATE: Reality TV Sale Price $500 Mil? Mark Burnett “Seriously” Talking To IMG; Already IMG Execs Fawning All Over Him

UPDATE: Reality TV Sale Price $500 Mil? Mark Burnett “Seriously” Talking To IMG; Already IMG Execs Fawning All Over Him

FRIDAY UPDATE: I just heard from a knowledgeable source that the Mark Burnett-IMG deal may be as rich as $500 million — $250M upfront, the rest earned out…

EXCLUSIVE: I chased a rumor from a month ago that Mark Burnett might be starting his own network. Now I’ve learned what the already rich reality TV czar (Survivor, The Apprentice, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?) is really up to: making even more moolah. An insider tells me Burnett is negotiating to sell his company to the entertainment and sports management and production behemoth IMG and come on board. I understand Burnett is “in very serious conversation” with IMG chairman Teddy Forstmann, whose Wall Street private equity firm Forstmann Little back in 2004 acquired IMG which was founded by his legendary friend Mark McCormack. Forstmann keeps looking for Tinseltown deals so when the LBO prince was spotted having lunch in as public a venue as NYC’s Michael’s a month ago, it sparked that rumor about Burnett starting his own network. Plus, remember that last September Teddy brought HBO’s fired Chris Albrecht to IMG as the president of global media and IMG entertainment, made him a special limited partner in Forstmann Little, and gave him a $250 million fund for showbiz content investments. It’ll be interesting to see how much bigger Burnett’s deal will be.

Read the entire article at Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily » UPDATE: Reality TV Sale Price $500 Mil? Mark Burnett “Seriously” Talking To IMG; Already IMG Execs Fawning All Over Him.

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Mark Burnett, IMG talks get real

Mark Burnett, IMG talks get real By James Hibberd and Kimberly Nordyke

Company in the market for a successful reality outfit

Global talent agency and TV producer IMG is in talks to acquire at least part of Mark Burnett’s Mark Burnett Prods.

The “Survivor” mastermind has been looking to sell his company for some time and last year retained Bear Stearns to shepherd the process. Burnett has met with a range of potential buyers, including top reality players FremantleMedia, Endemol and CKX, the parent company of 19 Entertainment.

IMG — which has made growth in TV a major priority since tapping former HBO boss Chris Albrecht as global media head in September and giving him access to a $250 million private-equity fund for acquisitions and investments — also has been in the market for a successful reality production company.

IMG has talked with such players in the field as Bunim/Murray and the Gurin Co., and in April, it inked a deal with Glassman Media to partner on producing and distributing unscripted series.

The parameters of the potential deal with Burnett’s company, first reported by Deadline Hollywood Daily, are still unclear, with insiders indicating that at least half the company is up for sale. The rumored price tag is $250 million, outpacing the $200 million Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine group recently shelled out for another big U.S. reality player, Reveille, which also boasts a successful scripted division. In 2000, CKX paid $200 million for 19 Entertainment, the company of “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller.

In what could be another sign of Burnett’s intentions, his top business associates at MBP, Conrad Riggs and Roy Bank, recently exited the company.

Burnett owns or co-owns the format rights to most of its series, including “The Apprentice” and “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” but often outsources the production of international versions to other companies, such as FremantleMedia and Reveille. Even though “Survivor” is based on a British format, Burnett’s super-rich deal with CBS for the show is said to be crucial to the high price tag for his company, along with the fact that MBP is one of the last marquee indie-producing companies available.

Read the entire article at Mark Burnett, IMG talks get real.

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