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American Morning

Reality TV Check

Aired May 07, 2003 - 07:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You've got to love that Clay Aiken, don't you? That's scary that I know his name. In just three more weeks, there will be a new "American Idol." Last night, the final four contestants gave it their best shot, singing before judges and a studio audience, as usual. But how do they do in the ratings?
Lisa Bernhard, deputy editor for "TV Guide" is here with the reality TV check.

LISA BERNHARD, DEPUTY EDITOR, "TV GUIDE": Hello.

COLLINS: Hey, when this first starred, it was just a blockbuster.

BERNHARD: I know.

COLLINS: Have those ratings gone down a little bit?

BERNHARD: It's gone down a little bit, but this is still a very strong show. This is a top 20 show, and, of course, it gets great demographics. It's gets a younger viewership, and it has everybody talking. It's great that it's interactive and you can vote. I mean, I'm all about Clay.

COLLINS: You are?

BERNHARD: I'm all about Clay. Come on.

COLLINS: We need to be impartial, though.

BERNHARD: I know.

COLLINS: We have to make sure that we give everybody a shot here. But, I mean, there is some serious talent on that stage.

BERNHARD: It's great.

COLLINS: Who do you think the top runner is right now? Would it be Clay? Or, you know, listening to the judges and the response from the audience, is it someone else?

BERNHARD: Well, Rubin was certainly a favorite. I mean, it was a shocker when a week or two ago he was in the bottom two, almost voted off.

COLLINS: I thought there was going to be a major revolt across the country. BERNHARD: I know. He was the favorite, you know, all along. I think, you know, Simon has said that he thinks that Clay is going to be the biggest moneymaker of the group of all of the idols that he's done.

COLLINS: Broadway, right?

BERNHARD: Broadway. But now, he's saying, I can see him being a pop star. Look at how they have transformed his look. It's amazing what he looked like starting out. Now, his hair and -- I mean, there's a team of people working on those eyebrows alone. I mean, it's -- you know, it's incredible the transformation he has gone through.

COLLINS: It is. And they have all seemed to become much more comfortable on the stage as well.

BERNHARD: Right.

COLLINS: What do you think is better? The first time, the first go around with "American Idol "or this?

BERNHARD: I like this one. I mean, you know, it's just -- it's a well-produced show. I mean, everything about this show works. Simon has become a break-out star. I mean, he's very smart, because he talks about walking off the show and not coming back for the next go round.

COLLINS: Sure.

BERNHARD: They'll pay him "Friends" money.

COLLINS: Oh, of course, they will.

BERNHARD: They'll pay him a million dollars an episode to keep him.

COLLINS: Right.

BERNHARD: I mean, he's playing it very well, and he's got a piece in the show.

COLLINS: He's a spoiler. He loves it.

BERNHARD: Yes.

COLLINS: All right, what about "Survivor's" finale? That's coming up on Sunday.

BERNHARD: Right.

COLLINS: Is this show still holding the viewers' interest?

BERNHARD: Absolutely. This show has been a top 10 show. Again, you know, it was also a great demographic, and a lot of people think that this "Survivor: the Amazon," which is I think No. 6 now, is one of the better ones. You know, it started out with this great conceit of men versus women, which a lot of viewers got hooked into. It's been a well-played game. There have been great characters. This guy, Rob, threw everybody off with breaking alliances. It's very popular this season.

COLLINS: OK, and finally, "Mr. Personality." I think this is a great idea for a TV show, kind of weird with those masks and everything on, but interesting to think about getting to know the person without seeing what they look like.

BERNHARD: It is. The masks are freaking me out, though.

COLLINS: Yes.

BERNHARD: I'm a little too afraid of these masks. They're a little too scary for me.

Monica Lewinsky, the novelty factor wore off. I think, you know...

COLLINS: Very quick.

BERNHARD: ... the first night people tuned in. It was no "Joe Millionaire." Twelve million viewers, but she doesn't have that big of role of a show. And I'll tell you something. This woman, Hayley is no Trista. She doesn't have the star quality, so ratings have dropped off considerably for that. No buzz.

COLLINS: All right, guys might be a little creepy too. I'm sure there's going to be much more to be looking forward to this summer, most definitely.

BERNHARD: Lots more to come.

COLLINS: Yes. I bet there is. All right, Lisa Bernhard, deputy editor of "TV Guide," thanks so much.

BERNHARD: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired May 7, 2003 - 07:55   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You've got to love that Clay Aiken, don't you? That's scary that I know his name. In just three more weeks, there will be a new "American Idol." Last night, the final four contestants gave it their best shot, singing before judges and a studio audience, as usual. But how do they do in the ratings?
Lisa Bernhard, deputy editor for "TV Guide" is here with the reality TV check.

LISA BERNHARD, DEPUTY EDITOR, "TV GUIDE": Hello.

COLLINS: Hey, when this first starred, it was just a blockbuster.

BERNHARD: I know.

COLLINS: Have those ratings gone down a little bit?

BERNHARD: It's gone down a little bit, but this is still a very strong show. This is a top 20 show, and, of course, it gets great demographics. It's gets a younger viewership, and it has everybody talking. It's great that it's interactive and you can vote. I mean, I'm all about Clay.

COLLINS: You are?

BERNHARD: I'm all about Clay. Come on.

COLLINS: We need to be impartial, though.

BERNHARD: I know.

COLLINS: We have to make sure that we give everybody a shot here. But, I mean, there is some serious talent on that stage.

BERNHARD: It's great.

COLLINS: Who do you think the top runner is right now? Would it be Clay? Or, you know, listening to the judges and the response from the audience, is it someone else?

BERNHARD: Well, Rubin was certainly a favorite. I mean, it was a shocker when a week or two ago he was in the bottom two, almost voted off.

COLLINS: I thought there was going to be a major revolt across the country. BERNHARD: I know. He was the favorite, you know, all along. I think, you know, Simon has said that he thinks that Clay is going to be the biggest moneymaker of the group of all of the idols that he's done.

COLLINS: Broadway, right?

BERNHARD: Broadway. But now, he's saying, I can see him being a pop star. Look at how they have transformed his look. It's amazing what he looked like starting out. Now, his hair and -- I mean, there's a team of people working on those eyebrows alone. I mean, it's -- you know, it's incredible the transformation he has gone through.

COLLINS: It is. And they have all seemed to become much more comfortable on the stage as well.

BERNHARD: Right.

COLLINS: What do you think is better? The first time, the first go around with "American Idol "or this?

BERNHARD: I like this one. I mean, you know, it's just -- it's a well-produced show. I mean, everything about this show works. Simon has become a break-out star. I mean, he's very smart, because he talks about walking off the show and not coming back for the next go round.

COLLINS: Sure.

BERNHARD: They'll pay him "Friends" money.

COLLINS: Oh, of course, they will.

BERNHARD: They'll pay him a million dollars an episode to keep him.

COLLINS: Right.

BERNHARD: I mean, he's playing it very well, and he's got a piece in the show.

COLLINS: He's a spoiler. He loves it.

BERNHARD: Yes.

COLLINS: All right, what about "Survivor's" finale? That's coming up on Sunday.

BERNHARD: Right.

COLLINS: Is this show still holding the viewers' interest?

BERNHARD: Absolutely. This show has been a top 10 show. Again, you know, it was also a great demographic, and a lot of people think that this "Survivor: the Amazon," which is I think No. 6 now, is one of the better ones. You know, it started out with this great conceit of men versus women, which a lot of viewers got hooked into. It's been a well-played game. There have been great characters. This guy, Rob, threw everybody off with breaking alliances. It's very popular this season.

COLLINS: OK, and finally, "Mr. Personality." I think this is a great idea for a TV show, kind of weird with those masks and everything on, but interesting to think about getting to know the person without seeing what they look like.

BERNHARD: It is. The masks are freaking me out, though.

COLLINS: Yes.

BERNHARD: I'm a little too afraid of these masks. They're a little too scary for me.

Monica Lewinsky, the novelty factor wore off. I think, you know...

COLLINS: Very quick.

BERNHARD: ... the first night people tuned in. It was no "Joe Millionaire." Twelve million viewers, but she doesn't have that big of role of a show. And I'll tell you something. This woman, Hayley is no Trista. She doesn't have the star quality, so ratings have dropped off considerably for that. No buzz.

COLLINS: All right, guys might be a little creepy too. I'm sure there's going to be much more to be looking forward to this summer, most definitely.

BERNHARD: Lots more to come.

COLLINS: Yes. I bet there is. All right, Lisa Bernhard, deputy editor of "TV Guide," thanks so much.

BERNHARD: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.