This week’s Fan Popularity Rankings are interesting for three major reasons. The first is that the top six shows are the same as last week, only with the fifth and sixth place shows inverted, which means BuddyTV readers clearly have their set favorites. The second is that the bottom four shows are all new, with two making their first ever FPR top 10 appearances thanks to hugely popular premieres, which says that BuddyTV readers are willing to accept new shows. The third is that eight of the top 10 shows are reality programming, which says that scripted television is so ten years ago.

The top four spots on this week’s FPR are the same four shows in the same order as last week. Rock of Love once again scores the top spot, thanks to an explosive reunion show which saw Jes turn down Bret Michaels, which caused controversy, chaos, and an opening for Bret Michaels to star in Rock of Love 2. America’s Next Top Model closes the gap but still stays strong at number two. Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor keep their stranglehold on the three and four spots, creating a tight ABC Monday night barrier that few other shows can get past.
Prison Break sits in the fifth spot, thanks in large part to the highly controversial decision to kill off the beloved Dr, Sara Tancredi, and the gruesome manner in which the show did it. High School Musical stays strong at six, thanks to rumors about Zac Efron’s possible departure from the third film.
And then, thing get really interesting on the FPR. The seven through nine spots are devoted to shows about trashy or attractive people (sometimes both) behaving badly on either VH1 or MTV. America’s Most Smartest Model is a brilliant combination that hopes to find a model who can strut the runway, but also chew gum at the same time, Given BuddyTV readers’ obsession with models, it’s no surprise this show is doing so well. Next is I Love New York, which returned with its second season last week. Fans eager to watch a mentally unstable woman wander in a pharmaceutical-enabled haze around a stable of men (and one Midget Mac) need look no further. The final surprise entry this week is A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. The bisexual MySpace queen’s MTV dating show is the talk of the Internet, with it’s sociologically interesting twist in which 16 straight men and 16 lesbians all compete for the heart of the same woman.
Rounding out this week’s FPR top 10 is yet another sociological reality show, Beauty and the Geek. This often heartwarming show is, without a doubt, the least exploitative reality show on this list, and the sweetness of the geeks helps to make it fond in the hearts of BuddyTV readers. Well, that and their glee over Will’s departure from the show.
Over the summer Rock of Love came onto the FPR top 10 list and has stuck around ever since. Will this new crop of cable reality shows do the same? Check back next week to find out.
-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
January 10, 2008
Sorry, no comments yet.