Let me open by saying I generally have found all reality shows to be utterly predictable and something I avoid. This is cheap "entertainment" requiring no writers or actors... just a lot of footage to try to edit into some sort of narrative.
That said, I actually thought Next Action Star would be different. Wrong! They used the standard formula but what did I really expect from network TV?
Early on, they cut a guy who had real actor training. He went to the Yale School of Drama and despite that impressive credential they bumped him for all those people who looked "right". Very Hollywood, very network, very predictable. I knew from about episode 3 that Sean had the best shot of the men. Right look, good physical ability, good personality. The women were a toss up for me depending upon the need for a blonde, brunette or sizeable chest. I knew Viviana needed medication.
Instead of showing us what it might take to make it in the action genre, we saw very little of the training, the safety precautions built into each gag, how the real stunt players "sold" each fight sequence. We got to see personal interactions reminiscent of the senior prom, murky casting decisions and the overly melodramatic callbacks set to ridiculously moody music. And now the final product turns out to be a made for TV movie. I guess Joel Silver had to cut his losses somewhere.
And it turns out I'm still right about reality TV but as long as there are bad story ideas and a few bucks to be made, it will continue.
