Okay, I'm probably going to be one of the first people to blog about this so I'm not pretty certain on the truth behind it although this story came from a very reliable source:
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| Katniss and Peeta in The Hunger Games arena |
With the likely goal of milking the cash cow, and that is the soon-to-be franchised The Hunger Games, rumors have been going around in the US (of course) that several TV networks and producers have created a coalition in secretly developing its reality show version.
Apparently, they've already pinned down their timelines and as it looks now, it is slated to premiere in 2013 for at least 8 weeks on, read this - Fox, ABC, CBS, TLC, MTV, and ABC Family. Those are big-time networks working collectively to produce probably what's going to be the biggest reality show in history. I've got to ask though, so have the networks teamed up to somehow represent themselves as the united districts of Panem (Oops, that I think is a spoiler! Sorry.)? Not sure about that, but why is NBC not included?
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| The Hunger Games tributes |
Wait! In the book, the teenage tributes fight for their life, killing their co-tributes to emerge as the lone victor. So does this mean we're in for some killing spree then? Probably not. It was reported that the reality show version will let the 'tributes' "fight violently until they knock their opponents unconscious for at least an hour using weapons such as tasers, blow darts with poison tips, and knives designed to create superficial wounds".
Wheels are seriously turning in my head now. I initially love the idea of doing a reality show inspired by The Hunger Games but to promote violence, only loonies would think of it as a great show. Wait until you read this and I quote:
"Early discussions focused on whether or not to let contestants actually kill one another. While the graphic violence wasn’t a concern, networks were concerned that the budget required to dispose of bodies was too much in this era of cost-cutting. Medical teams will be on standby to prevent death from blood loss. For live broadcasts, there will be a 10-second delay in case a contestant swears while stabbing another one in the neck."
What has gotten to their heads? Do they even have a functioning thing between their ears? I just can't swallow the idea of them even contemplating on whether or not to allow the contestants kill each other. That is just freaking crazy! Not even WWE and UFC would approve of it. And if it's any consolation (and I'm sure it is for those hungry for cash), the victor will receive $1 million.
This potentially great idea stemmed from a realization by the networks that the popular trilogy actually satirizes the reality shows - contestants wanting fame and fortune no matter what they do, how stupid they look, how people perceive them, etc. And along the process of it all, the audiences get entertained.
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| Survivor's Immunity Challenge (photo courtesy of Fanpop) |
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| Survivor Challenge (photo courtesy of Reality TV Magazine) |
Now, this is where it becomes interesting.
With its reputation of producing high quality, TV-worthy obstacles, producers from the show that started it all, Survivor, will serve as the 'gamemakers'. It has also been reported that an arena is now being built north of Los Angeles that will resemble the one used at the 75th Hunger Games or Quarter Quell as featured in the second book, Catching Fire. There will be 12 zones (it wasn't reported whether it resembled a clock as in the book) and there will be booby traps per zone like hallucinogenic chemicals and others.
The Games will broadcast simultaneously in all 6 networks a 3-hour primetime episode every night.
Wondering who will the tributes be? Well, casting has actually begun as per my source. Just like in the book, there will be 12 pairs of teenagers ages 10-18 from different states in the US. TLC is in charge of casting. It's been said that the network has a knack for finding parents who are willing to volunteer their kids in exchange of fame and cash. Not cool!
Again, I can't vouch for the truth on The Hunger Games reality mumbo jumbo. So let's just see how this pans out in the coming months.
Source: Reality Blurred
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