Re: Don’t Call It A Comeback
Critics of popular culture often suggest that reality programs are the end of western civilization as we know it or at least the end of quality television as we know it. While Kimora’s life in the “fab” lane and Giuliana and Bill’s adventures in long distance marriage (both shown on E!) may not be educating the masses (unless the masses want a lesson in conspicuous consumption), reality shows do provide an important service. They are the last stop for second chances.
Just ask former Poison lead singer Bret Michaels. Before his career in reality television, the only time he sang hit single Every Rose Has Its Thorn was in the shower. On this season’s American Idol finale, he sang it for an audience of millions.
Bret’s second chance started with his first reality TV show, Rock of Love. Bret’s version of The Bachelor capitalized on his sex, drugs and rock-n-roll persona. Less about rose ceremonies and visits to meet mom and dad and more about shots of tequila and how to pass the time on a tour bus, the show featured 25 women who competed to be Bret’s girlfriend. Sadly, the 24 year-old winner told Bret and the audience at the reunion show that she just wasn’t that into him.
Not one to give up on love or another reality TV contract, Bret starred in Rock of Love, season two, in 2008. This time his relationship with the winner lasted past the reunion show but only just. They parted ways several months after the end of the series. In January 2009, Bret gave it one last try with a third season. The finale of Rock of Love 3 was watched by 3.2 million viewers on VH1.
Reality TV producers were suddenly interested. If three million people watched Bret party his way to short term love, they might just watch him battle it out with other B-list celebrities on Celebrity Apprentice. Turns out, Bret is a decent project manager. On the show, he leads, he delegates and he gets the job done. He also shows his sensitive side. While the ever-present bandanna suggests that he is fiercely protective of his image/receding hairline, he is less guarded when it comes to his emotions. On one episode, he learns that his daughter may have diabetes. Having suffered from the disease since he was a child, he takes the news hard. The result is Bret Michaels: Rocker, Corporate Team Player and Sensitive Parent. The combination was enough to impress Donald Trump and Bret never heard the words: “You’re fired.”
But something else happened on the way to the Celebrity Apprentice win. In April, Michaels had an appendectomy and later that month, a brain hemorrhage. The hemorrhage put him in critical condition and his unexpected recovery has lead him to reassess his life. In an interview, Bret says he was given a second chance and he plans to continue to ” rock the world.”
The real second chance however, started with reality TV. Without it, Bret’s health troubles and his role in Poison would be the only (small) newsworthy thing about him. His participation in the ‘dumbing down’ of popular culture revived his career, his bank account and his zest for life. His new show: Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It will premiere on VH1 in fall 2010. (A preview episode aired on May 31st). There are also rumors that he is a candidate for Simon Cowell’s vacant seat.
So the next time you’re tempted to turn the channel when faced with yet another reality television show, remember what the genre has done for Bret and what it could do for all the future Bret’s out there. Think of it as charitable giving through viewership.
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