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"Fox Reality" will become "Nat Geo Wild" in spring 2010
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Did Sheriff Joe's show contribute to Fox Reality's demise?
This may come as sad news to those of us in Phoenix who, admit it or not, are lovers of deliciously sleazy reality TV. After March 31, 2010, Fox's cable-based reality channel, Fox Reality, will no longer be - well, a reality.
Launched in the spring of 2005, the channel has offered syndicated runs of hit reality shows, as well as original shows deemed a bit too seedy for general programming.
Since Paradise Hotel and Temptation Island have previously passed this quality test and aired on Fox proper, one might wonder what kind of first-run shows were ultimately relegated to the Fox Reality network.
For one, Smile! You're Under Arrest, featuring Phoenix's own infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The controversial show, described at the time of its airing last winter as "Punk'd meets Cops," used actors to help create elaborate ruses to lure in criminals with outstanding warrants. Initial promises of modeling gigs or roles as television extras were ultimately revealed to be sting operations, as members of the Maricopa County Sheriff's department broke in on the scene to arrest the initially delighted felons and take them into custody.
Fox Reality only paid for three pilot episodes of the show, and elected not to buy more after the three episodes were aired. Of course, Arpaio, unlike most average "Joes" who find themselves on reality television and then return to the real world, never had to worry about fading into obscurity.
Actually, we in Phoenix are used to having our citizens featured on questionable-quality reality television. Randi Coy of Scottsdale appeared on My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé, also on Fox, sacrificing her job as a teacher at Pope John XXIII Catholic School in northeast Phoenix in the process.
Realtor Stacey Anderson, "the Cougar" herself, also leapt from Scottsdale onto her own reality show. On TV Land's The Cougar, she was proudly and publicly on the prowl to find love with a younger man. From the 20 contenders presented, she selected 24-year-old trainer Jimmy Heck as her prey - er, prize.
Fox cable president Rich Battista has announced that Fox Reality will be turning into Nat Geo Wild, a spinoff of the National Geographic Channel.
It will concentrate on programs about animals in the wild.
Obvious parallels to present programming aside, the "guilty pleasure" factor may not be quite the same. How many of us will be curling up in front of Mystery Gorilla (featuring Expedition Africa's Mireya Mayor) with a pint of Chunky Monkey?
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