Diddy's "Making the Band" groups both score #1 albums: can reality contestants land actual careers?
You may not recognize these girls, but they are Danity Kane, the girls who survived hip-hop Svengali Diddy's MTV reality series Making the Band. Its sophomore release, Welcome to the Dollhouse, debut at No. 1 on the charts (the group's self-titled debut also entered at the top spot as well, going on to platinum sales). So why is DK not #1 this week? Because Diddy's other group from the TV show, the boy group Day26, bumped them down. Sean Combs' recipe for reality-turned-real success is really nothing new-he's just smart enough to tack his name on to the product.
Flash back to MTV's 2004 series The Ashlee Simpson Show. Why, we at the time asked, would anyone want to watch a show about Jessica's "Is this chicken or Fish" Simpson's kid sister? Who knows, but we did, and when the finale was timed with the release of Ash's debut album, it also debuted at No. 1 and went 3x platinum. There's no question other minor stars got a boost from a dose of reality-Kelly Osbourne, Nicole Richie, and every girl who set foot on Laguna Beach or The Hills. Heiress Paris Hilton even wormed her way into your weekly routine with her coined phrase "That's Hot!"
But what about actual contestants where a prize is at stake? Tyra's winning girls from America's Next Top Model haven't been hugely success save for Adrianne Curry, who only wound up on our consciousness after two more reality series (The Surreal Life and My Fair Brady). American Idol however spawned multi-platinum, multi-Grammy winning recording artists out of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, while Clay Aiken and Elliott Yamin continue on with their surprising success.
Is the recipe really just to throw someone notable on TV and watch them rake in the dough? It certainly seems that way. So, uh, anyone got a video camera and a friend in casting at MTV?
