Double the Fun: Adria and Natalie – the Twin Twist – from ‘Big Brother 5’, by Jeffrey Clinard: For five weeks, something was going on right under the noses of people in the Big Brother house. Although they were with the same people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, nobody noticed that Adria and Natalie – the twin twist of Big Brother 5 – switched places ten times. They pulled off a fantastic stunt – one good enough to land them in the Reality TV Hall of Fame.
Pain and Perseverance: Manoah Hartmann of ‘Canadian Idol 2’, by Paris Cosby: Manoah Hartmann was voted out of Canadian Idol 2’s Top 10 second. Why does that deserve a spot in the Reality TV Hall of Fame? Taken alone, it wouldn’t, but most viewers didn’t know what Manoah was going through behind the scenes. And that is what makes her worthy of this honor.
Kelly Clarkson: Setting a Standard of Excellence, by Sting7: Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol, took on the music industry with no guarantees of success. Could the winner of a television talent contest become a viable recording act the ultra-competitive world of popular music? The answer is obvious now! American Idol became a household name on the strength of this Hall of Fame inductee.
The Host with the Most: Jeff Probst of ‘Survivor’, by David Bloomberg: Anybody can host a reality show – even Monica Lewinsky did it. But that doesn’t mean they are good at it. One man who exemplifies all the features a good host should have is Jeff Probst. Over eight seasons of Survivor, Probst has shown us why he is an integral part of the show, and why he deserves to be inducted into the Reality TV Hall of Fame.
Building a Web of Alliances: Brian Heidik of ‘Survivor: Thailand’, by David Bloomberg: Brian Heidik knew that the first line of defense in Survivor was a tribal alliance. But he was not going to simply rely on that. Instead, he built a web of alliances, each independent of the other, and each a secret to everybody else. This allowed Brian to always know what was going on in the game, and to pick and choose who would go when, and who he would take to the Final 2. Read on to see all of why Brian has been inducted into the Reality TV Hall of Fame.
Pedro Zamora: Putting a Human Face on AIDS Through ‘The Real World’, by Jen Shrader and Sting7: The third edition of The Real World wasn’t just about a bunch of people living together – one of those people was Pedro Zamora, and Pedro was likely the first person many viewers ever “knew” who had AIDS. However, it wasn’t simply the fact that Pedro had AIDS that earned him the distinction of being inducted into the Reality TV Hall of Fame, but rather how he acted and what people saw in him.
Strategy and Personality as a Winning Combination: Tina Wesson, by David Bloomberg: Tina Wesson, winner of Survivor: The Australian Outback, approached the game in a much different way from first winner Richard Hatch – yet somewhat the same. Both used behind-the-scenes strategy. Both cut people when it was necessary and didn’t let personal feelings get in the way. But while Rich was “the villain,” Tina was “the mom.” Her use of strategy and ability to convince people to do what was in her best interest has now gotten her into the Reality TV Hall of Fame. Read on for all the details!
Dedication and Determination: Buddy Jewell, the First Nashville Star, by Donna Reynolds: When Nashville Star began airing on USA, it seemed likely to just be a country music knock-off of American Idol. But the show proved to be much more than that, in large part because it made audiences familiar with Buddy Jewell, the show’s first winner. Buddy had been in the country music business for years, but he finally got his big shot and made the best of it. For his determination, dedication, and huge talent, Buddy Jewell is inducted into the Reality TV Hall of Fame.
Did Richard’s Loss on ‘All-Stars’ Tarnish His Legacy? A Reality TV Hall of Fame Follow-Up, by David Bloomberg: No sooner had we opened the doors to the Hall of Fame and inducted Richard Hatch as the first person to be recognized then he went and got voted out on Survivor: All-Stars. Did his loss there tarnish his legacy as one of the greatest players ever? Read on to find out what the Hall of Fame Editor thinks.
A Man of True Courage: Angel Juarbe, Jr., of ‘Murder in Small Town X’, by David Bloomberg: The Reality TV Hall of Fame recognizes not just those people who have played the game well, but those who are deserving of special mention for other reasons as well. Angel Juarbe, Jr., is just one of these people. He won on Murder in Small Town X by playing with intelligence and courage. But immediately after the show had ended, he showed his true heroism by making the ultimate sacrifice. Read on to find out why it is our honor to recognize Angel Juarbe, Jr., in the Reality TV Hall of Fame.
The Model for Future Survivors: Richard Hatch, by David Bloomberg: Richard Hatch came onto our screens on the first Survivor as an arrogant and not particularly likeable guy. But he came in with a strategy that took him all the way to the game’s first million dollar prize and served as a model for future contestants. The Reality TV Hall of Fame is happy to make Richard Hatch the first inductee.
