"The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll" (2007) TV series

User Rating:

3.9/10   

Directors:

Brad Kreisberg
Kevin Tancharoen

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Reality-TV

Plot:

A behind-the-scenes look at the modern burlesque song-and-dance group the Pussycat Dolls.

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Melissa Ann Smith	...	Herself (8 episodes, 2007)
Chelsea Korka	...	Herself (8 episodes, 2007)
Asia Nitollano	...	Herself (8 episodes, 2007)
Melissa Reyes	...	Herself (8 episodes, 2007)
Ashley Roberts	...	Herself (7 episodes, 2007)
Anastacia	...	Herself (6 episodes, 2007)
Mariela Arteaga	...	Herself (5 episodes, 2007)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

10 by 10 Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Saturday Night Live: Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Snow Patrol (#32.15)" (2007)

Yet another reality audition show in the mould of ANTM – nothing special at all

Speaking as someone who considers the Pussycat Dolls as little more than just a collection of sexy burlesque dancers with some average songs at best. So I approached this show with vague interest because a place on the girl group is a good prize because they probably just about have the legs to get a few more hits with the new member even as Nicole walks out the door for her own projects. In fact the series is interesting because it actually feels as much like it will help the group elongate their appeal by staying in the public eye and getting more tabloid headlines regardless of the quality of the music.

One could question the competition because it does very much feel like the aim is to pick the sexiest one, unlike ANTM where it is less about straight sex but more about modelling. The "Next Doll" challenges seem to involve a lot of butt shaking and skimpy outfits, which I understand but is perhaps not the best message to be sending out to girls the age of the contestants. Regardless of this difference, the rest of the show feels like nothing more than yet another clone of America's Next Top Model. The house setting, the judges, the challenges, the entire structure feels like a photocopy and there isn't really anything else special about it.

Of course this is television and any good format becomes a trend until it runs out of steam, so complaining about that is probably a waste of time. However, having said that, this shouldn't be an excuse for such a clear lift – I did expect something different but instead what I got was everything the same but not really working as well as it has other places. Yes, the sheer sexual nature of the contest took away from it for me because at times it did come over like America's Next Top Stripper.

The girls are all the same cookie cutter types that we get in this – plenty of cattiness to provide content during the shows. Antin is a so-so presenter but it would have been a lot better to have had the Dolls themselves more involved in the guts of the show rather than just showing up in poorly delivered video diaries (which look like they are reading off upside down cue-cards) or in tiny sections. Antin is no Tyra and she doesn't make for that good a presenter. The judges (including her) are pretty poor and their opinions are all over the place which I suppose is understandable in regards what they are trying to judge or assign.

Overall then a roundly average copy of ANTM; it adds nothing to the format and just comes off as lacking effort or originality with the contest itself barely avoiding becoming a matter of who can throw their hips best in the skimpiest attitude while showing that Pussycat "attitude". I already feel guilty enough for watching ANTM – why on earth would I want to watch this rubbish as well?