We all know the rule – the good reality television shows are the ones which attract lots of viewers, but the truly memorable reality shows are the ones which inspire countless clones. Think how Bad Lads’ Army inspired Brat Camp, and how Celebrity Love Island emulated I’m a Celebrity. And it’s by that logic that we can now count ITV’s compelling Ladette to Lady as firmly among the reality greats.
For just after a few weeks after the acclaimed series due to a hilarious close, along comes another show based on exactly the same premise. While the rest of us were devouring the final treats of Ladette, Channel 5 had their lawyers at their desks working out how to dodge trademarks and sidestep copyrights.
And here’s their finished product: ASBO Teen to Beauty Queen follows nine mutinous Mancunians minxes as they swap their hoodies for high heels and their tracksuits for tiaras in an attempt to woo the judges at an American beauty pageant. From its rhyming title to the weekly expulsions, the show is an unashamed clone of Ladette. But as we witness the outspoken brats’ transformation into elegant belles, the real question is whether it will prove to be as hellaciously engaging.
The first episode follows the sneering rebels as they head for a makeover – it’s time to ditch New Look and go for a new look. This is the show’s first fault: whereas in Ladette etiquette was enforced, the mentors in ASBO only seem concerned with how the girls look. But perhaps we can take as a reflection on the sickeningly superficial pageant veteran in charge of the girls – botox battleaxe Michelle Fryatt.
So while there’s plenty of hair curling, blow drying and manicuring the mentors make little attempt to curb the girls’ behaviour. The anti-social behaviour is left to flow freely; viewers witness bitching, bellowing and blasphemy in abundance – but nothing particularly entertaining.
Indeed most of the entertainment seems to come from the struggle of peroxide pest Michelle Fryatt herself. Painfully vain and depressingly vacant; imagine Miss Havisham with a splash of Mean Girls and you’re almost there.
Oh, and then there’s the witticism of the teenage tearaways. ‘I look like a bloody drag queen; not a beauty queen!’ one girl retorts after a few hours attention from a beautician; even Fryatt herself would have chuckled, if it weren’t for the layers of make-up clamping her face. One episode in and there’s been nothing remarkable. But of course the real fun will come when the Manchester mob reach the Chicago based pageant.
Watching this flock collide with the world of pushy parents and plastic preppies should provide riotous viewing. Beauty pageants are notorious for being vicious – but these bitches have the bite as well as the bark.
For just after a few weeks after the acclaimed series due to a hilarious close, along comes another show based on exactly the same premise. While the rest of us were devouring the final treats of Ladette, Channel 5 had their lawyers at their desks working out how to dodge trademarks and sidestep copyrights.
And here’s their finished product: ASBO Teen to Beauty Queen follows nine mutinous Mancunians minxes as they swap their hoodies for high heels and their tracksuits for tiaras in an attempt to woo the judges at an American beauty pageant. From its rhyming title to the weekly expulsions, the show is an unashamed clone of Ladette. But as we witness the outspoken brats’ transformation into elegant belles, the real question is whether it will prove to be as hellaciously engaging.
The first episode follows the sneering rebels as they head for a makeover – it’s time to ditch New Look and go for a new look. This is the show’s first fault: whereas in Ladette etiquette was enforced, the mentors in ASBO only seem concerned with how the girls look. But perhaps we can take as a reflection on the sickeningly superficial pageant veteran in charge of the girls – botox battleaxe Michelle Fryatt.
So while there’s plenty of hair curling, blow drying and manicuring the mentors make little attempt to curb the girls’ behaviour. The anti-social behaviour is left to flow freely; viewers witness bitching, bellowing and blasphemy in abundance – but nothing particularly entertaining.
Indeed most of the entertainment seems to come from the struggle of peroxide pest Michelle Fryatt herself. Painfully vain and depressingly vacant; imagine Miss Havisham with a splash of Mean Girls and you’re almost there.
Oh, and then there’s the witticism of the teenage tearaways. ‘I look like a bloody drag queen; not a beauty queen!’ one girl retorts after a few hours attention from a beautician; even Fryatt herself would have chuckled, if it weren’t for the layers of make-up clamping her face. One episode in and there’s been nothing remarkable. But of course the real fun will come when the Manchester mob reach the Chicago based pageant.
Watching this flock collide with the world of pushy parents and plastic preppies should provide riotous viewing. Beauty pageants are notorious for being vicious – but these bitches have the bite as well as the bark.
Robert Jackman
1 comments:
I don't understand why channels feel the need to recycle such gargage tv shows. They can't even claim that they are appealing to a niche audience - only people looking for hollow laughter. They should actually try and do something proactive about the yob and asbo culture rather than gloss it around a beauty pagent - one of the most superficial things around.
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