TLC & Southwest Team Up for Reality TV Show

MSNBC: Americans seem to have an insatiable appetite for reality shows. They also seem to be endlessly fascinated with the good, the bad and the ugly about their flight experiences.

Now, it seems, the two will be mixed for the television public – again.

TLC, the television network that is part of Discovery Communications, announced Wednesday that it is starting production on a new series that will take viewers behind the scenes of the modern air travel experience.

The network has ordered 13 half-hour episodes, which will be produced by ITV Studios America and based on unprecedented access to Southwest Airlines.

“We were interested in working with Southwest,” said Dustin P. Smith, vice president of communications for TLC, “as it is one of the largest airlines in the country and is known for its exuberant corporate culture and for having refreshing and personal customer service that is regarded as unique in the industry.” Those qualities, combined with an in-depth look at the hurdles of traveling, would create a dynamic show, he said.

Ashley Dillon, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, said the airline was chosen also because of its tradition of transparency, which relies heavily on the use of social media, blogs and other media.

“We’re always telling people what we’re doing behind the scenes. Why not put that on TV?” she said “That makes us an attractive airline for a TV show.”

Southwest’s daily operations were previously the subject of a television series in 2004-2005 when “Airline” ran for three seasons on A&E.

“Customers loved that show,” Dillon said. “Airline”aired on Monday nights, and on Tuesday mornings there would be a surge of people applying for jobs, as the show reflected the important role that employees played at the airline, Dillon said. And even six and seven years later, employees featured on the show are stopped at airports by travelers seeking autographs.

“We found people loved behind-the-scenes views.” Most travelers, she said, do not know about all the challenges of flight – from getting all the bags boarded to landing safely.

The new series “will be fresh and new and different,” Dillon said. The earlier show focused on customer service at the airport, but the current production will be broader and will include many more employees: maintenance workers, providers of drink and food, pilots as well as attendants.

“Employees will be the storytellers,” she said.

The series will also feature stories of real travelers – beginning with the purchase of tickets at their homes and continuing for the duration of their journeys.

What’s the appeal of a show based on such a mundane occurrence?

“Airlines are a fascinating business,” said Henry H. Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and co-founder of the Atmosphere Research Group, a market research company. “It's an industry known for attracting 'characters' in certain roles, especially like pilots and flight attendants. Non-airline employees see the industry as somewhat 'glamorous' thanks to the ability to see so much of the U.S. (and abroad) either for free or on deep discounts. Some mistakenly believe that there is a lot of hanky-panky on crew layovers, though that couldn't be further from the truth.”

Harteveldt said other recent shows to profile the industry include "Fly Girls", a series that “capitalized on the popularity of reality shows, presented against the background of a fun, young, hip airline like Virgin,” and “Pan Am,” “a scripted show that is trying to capitalize on the popularity of the 'go-go' time frame of the 1960s when the economy was stronger and so much was new and possible. It's a clear rip-off of 'Mad Men,' and a bad one at that.”

Harteveldt said he was not surprised that Southwest was chosen as the focus of the TLC series.

“Southwest is a well-known national airline with a reputation for friendly, and a bit off-beat, customer service,” he said. In addition, Southwest is careful about the people it hires, and has a distinct corporate culture which adds to the appeal. “Its employees are generally happy to work there, so you're less likely to hear negative comments from employees.”

A title for the series and a firm date for the premiere have not yet been set, but it is expected to debut sometime in the spring of 2012, Dillon said.

Production is scheduled to begin this coming weekend at Baltimore Washington International Airport and Denver International Airport, with additional airports to be added in coming weeks.

'X Factor' Contestants Report Bed Bug Infestation

TMZ: Several "X Factor" finalists claim they were nearly eaten alive at their L.A. hotel this week, TMZ has learned -- after a swarm of bloodthirsty bed bugs feasted on their flesh ... while they slept.

Sources close to the contestants tell TMZ, the unidentified singers in question were staying at the Grafton Hotel ... and when four of them woke up in the morning, they were covered in bites.

We're told the contestants did a little digging and claim they discovered the hotel had a massive bed bug infestation -- so they bailed asap, and notified "X Factor" producers ... who then dealt with the hotel and found new digs for the singers.

Sources connected to production say the hotel acknowledged the bed bug problem. A rep for the Grafton had no comment when we called.

Sleep tight.

Attack of the Trip Advisors

Tripadvisor – some people love it and others hate it. But there’s no doubt the world’s biggest travel review website is making a huge impact on the travel and hospitality industry – so much so that Channel 4 in Britain has dedicated an entire show to it.

Producers of ‘Attack of the Trip Advisors’ have found some of the most petty, vindictive and bitter individuals to feature on the show. Take Ricky. He was disgusted that his bed linen at a B&B wasn't changed after just one night's sleep. He knew this because he marked one of the sheets. Apparently Ricky has a scaly skin condition that requires him to sleep on fresh bed linen every night.

In quick succession come other critics complaining about a stained carpet and about the food. In another episode, guests Sean and John visited a B&B and didn’t even take time to unpack before running through a checklist of potential complaints, including water left in the kettle and a mucky toilet brush.

Property owners in turn bemoan the power nit-picking and vindictive guests have by posting negative and, in many cases, false reviews . And they are beginning to fight back.  

Does all of this make good TV? Apparently so. The show it very popular in the UK. The only question is how soon 'Attack of the Trip Advisors' will make its debut in the U.S.

Click here to watch a clip from the show.

'Divorce Hotel' Extends Offer to Demi and Ashton

NY Post: For obvious reasons, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are the first couple being invited to appear on a new reality series, “Divorce Hotel.”

“We execute clean, cost-effective divorces in as few as 2 1/2 days by streamlining the process with an on-site team of attorneys, counselors and mediators,” creator Jim Halfens wrote in a letter to the actors yesterday.

“I am confident we can help you best navigate this turbulent time and move on to the next step in each of your lives.”

The new series -- a sort of “Millionaire Matchmaker” but in reverse -- is based on a real service available for splitting couples in The Netherlands. For about $3,500, guests check in to a five-star resort on Friday as husband and wife and head home Monday morning prepared -- legally, at least -- for the single life.

“Ashton and Demi have all the issues that the ideal couple for this situation would have,” producer Mickey Stern tells The Post. “They came in to the marriage, each with their own assets. There were no children. And, clearly, they want to remain amicable on some level and to do this in as efficient a manner as possible.”

The “Divorce Hotel” staff -- which includes everything from notaries to psychologists -- will begin offering its services at different luxury resorts around the US this spring.

“We will have license mediators and attorneys in whichever state this takes place or whichever state has jurisdiction over the marriage,” Stern says.

“Divorce Hotel” is still in the development stages but has already caught the eyes of several broadcast and cable networks, Stern says. He hopes to have the first episode on the air within a year.