Network: CBS
Episodes: One (hour)
Season: One
Show dates: April 8, 2008 — April 8, 2008
Performers include: Brian McKnight, John O’Hurley, Gavin Polone, and Debbie Reynolds.
Series Description:
A talent show competition that showcases the unknown talents of sixteen “B-list” celebrities.
Each week, a group of personalities compete in a tournament-structured format to determine who has the best unknown talent. Each performer fulfills his/her secret dream by practicing with top teachers and then performing their talent live on the air. Each performance is critiqued by three judges — Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Brian McKnight, movie legend Debbie Reynolds, and outspoken producer Gavin Polone — but it’s the viewers vote that determines which celebrities move on in the competition, and who will go home.
Celebrities scheduled to compete include country singer Clint Black performing stand-up comedy; Star Trek’s George Takei crooning as a country singer; The Cosby Show’s Malcolm-Jamal Warner playing bass guitar with a Hip Hop Orchestra; model Marla Maples performing high-flying gymnastics; Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen exhibiting her agility as a contortionist; wrestling champion Ric Flair dancing the salsa; boxer Joe Frazier singing rhythm & blues; actress Bridget Marquardt soaring with the former masters of Cirque du Soleil; singer Mya demonstrating her tap-dancing prowess; and The Partridge Family’s Danny Bonaduce maneuvering a unicycle with members of The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Seinfeld’s John O’Hurley is the reality show’s host.
Episode one
Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen performed a contortionist routine with acrobats from the world-renowned New Shanghai Circus. All three judges gave her positive reviews though Polone wished that she let more of her personality show.
Star Trek actor George Takei worked with to hone his singing skills with country western duo Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry. On stage, Takei warbled through the classic “On the Road Again” song. His Trek co-star Nichelle Nichols was in the audience. McKnight and Reynolds were very kind in their comments while Polone made a Brokeback Mountain jab and essentially said that Takei’s singing “sucked.”
Affable country star Clint Black received some comedy help from Garry Shandling (The Larry Sanders Show). His stand-up routine went pretty well and he received good reviews by all of the judges.
Pop star Mya tackled her secret passion and performed a tap dance number with the help of a group of professionals. She received great praise from all three judges and Polone felt it was the best performance of the night.
By the end of the episode, Takei and Mya were eliminated and sent home. Viewers had decided to vote Black and Cohen through to the semi-finals and they were set to return to compete in two weeks.
First aired: April 8, 2008.
There’s been no news of a return or a revival.
Behind the Scenes
• | Seven episodes were planned but the series was cancelled after a single episode aired. The only episode attracted just 4.6 million viewers. |
• | There were four performers scheduled to perform for episode two. Country singer-songwriter Jo Dee Messina planned to try a hip hop/step-dancing routine. Young & the Restless actor Joshua Morrow was scheduled to try a rock-n-roll juggling routine. Model Bridget Marquardt would perform a trapeze act with the former masters of Cirque du Soleil. And finally, boxer Roy Jones, Jr. was going to try his hand at rapping. |
• | There were several celebrities that were scheduled for later episodes and had been practicing their secret talents. Unfortunately, because the show was cancelled, they didn’t have an opportunity to perform. Nor did Black and Cohen get to compete in the semifinals. |