December 25, 2024
Column

Dance fever has networks stepping up reality show fare

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to tap your feet with Bravo’s new series, “Step It Up & Dance.”

What started with “Dancing With the Stars” has expanded to MTV with “Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew,” and Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” which is wrapping up auditions this month for a fourth season.

And now, Bravo has entered the world of dancing fools with its latest that’s set to premiere at 11 p.m. Thursday, April 3, before settling into its regular time slot at 10 p.m. Thursdays.

Of all the toe-tapping reality TV out there right now, I’m not sure how this will fit into the mix, but I see average ratings in the future.

The show will feature 12 dancers who will perform various dance styles each week in hopes of getting the final call-back and the $100,000 prize.

“Step It Up & Dance” is hosted by actress and dancer Elizabeth Berkley. In my mind, I immediately associate her with her years on “Saved By the Bell” and it’s hard for me to picture her as a dance show host, but she did all right in the preview.

We also can expect to see more of “America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV, which has been renewed for a second season that’s set to premiere this summer.

Lifetime didn’t want to be left out of the mix, either, and is showing new episodes of “Your Mama Don’t Dance” at 9 p.m. Fridays.

I haven’t seen it, but I can’t imagine this one doing very well.

The show takes 10 unsuspecting contestants – five men and five women – and pairs them up with their mother or father, respectively. The young dancers thought they were auditioning for a reality show called “Dance Nation,” not a mother-son and father-daughter dance-off. The duos are trying not to step on each other’s toes as they compete for the title and $100,000 in cash and prizes.

If you’re curious, check it out and let me know what you think.

If dancing’s not your cup of tea, don’t worry. Things are heating up again in the kitchens of Bravo and Fox.

Season four of “Top Chef” made its debut on Bravo on Wednesday night, and it looks like an exciting season is brewing.

Next month, chef Gordon Ramsey is back and nasty as ever when “Hell’s Kitchen” premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, on Fox.

In an unrelated update, don’t miss “The Biggest Loser: Couples” next week. It’s my favorite week of all, when the remaining contestants get makeovers to go with their fit new figures. Let me know who you think has made the biggest transition by visiting the Reality Bites blog at www.bangornews.com.


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