TRUTH OR DARE: Now that it’s an unexpected ratings sensation, expect to see some Moment Of Truth attract even more vaguely unsettling bits of stunt casting, such as the one reported this week on TMZ.com, when it was announced that representatives of Drew Peterson had contacted the show saying Peterson would be willing to hook himself up to a lie detector and answer questions.
Peterson, for the majority of us unable to retain the churn of the news cycle, is the Illinois police sergeant suspected in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, and the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, his fourth wife, last October. After Stacy’s disappearance, the body of Savio was exhumed and an Illinois state attorney told the press that they had found that it was a murder staged to look accidental. Peterson has ignored pleas by his wife’s family to take a lie detector test, until now.
If Moment Of Truth’s moment stretches on into a second season, the show’s producers will probably be unable to contain hopes that another, more famous, murder suspect will want to roll the dice and try to clear his name on primetime. I won’t say it out loud; just two letters will suffice.
WHEN DOES AN APPRENTICESHIP END? While I think it’s an ever bigger drag that they aren’t forcing the contestants on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice to room together in an overdesigned dorm room in the Trump Tower, I’m even more curious why no one has taken exception to the show’s title. I mean, it’s not as if Marilu Henner or Stephen Baldwin will be offered an office down the hall from Donald Trump after the first season ends, even if only to make their address books available when Trump is throwing a party.
We’ll get a chance to ponder this question and many more again next year, as NBC has renewed Celebrity Apprentice for another season, according to a press release from the network released earlier this week.
“This revved up installment of “The Apprentice” has been a game changer for the series,” said Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment. “There were times when I was screaming at the TV set, literally, and the live finale will leave you on the edge of your seat.” I’m thinking Mr. Plestis probably couldn’t take a Die Hard movie, or the last 10 minutes of a Super Bowl game.
“We are blown away by the casts (sic) drive, energy, and passion to not only play the game but also to raise a lot of money and awareness for important causes. There’s no other show like it to prove your business brain and we are already getting calls from high-profile celebrities who want to challenge themselves in Season 2.” I won’t say any names out loud; two letters will suffice.
Rick McGinnis
