There’s a new televised reality competition premiering today.
WAIT! Don’t stop reading. This one’s pretty cool. And very, very sweet.
Ditching the glitz, glamour and high production value of network TV’s biggest talent searches, Showville is purposefully thinking small. As in small town.
Each week, judges Alec Mapa and Lisette Bustamante (above) land in a tiny burg and audition local talent. From there, they choose four finalists and their roles transition into mentors for the acts, which are then voted upon by a live audience comprised of the town’s citizens.
For many of these tiny places, it could be their first brush with Hollywood, small fortune ($10,000) and a flamboyant gay man (yes, Mapa, we’re talkin’ to you).
In the premiere episode, set in Holland, Michigan, acts vary from sideshows and magic acts to puppeteers and Renaissance Faire singers. It’s got a definite Waiting for Guffman vibe of good old-fashioned Americana. The town folk definitely appear thrilled to have this opportunity thrust upon them.
Future episodes feature the citizens of Kingston, Rhode Island; Walla Walla, Washington; Athens, Ohio; San Marcos, Texas; Fairfield, Iowa; Hugo, Oklahoma and Mt. Airy, North Carolina. So it’s quite possible a long-lost cousin or long-distance booty caller might just pop up on your TV screen.
Singing the national anthem while unicycling through hoops of fire.
Showville
Premieres tonight on AMC
9:00/8:00 p.m. Central
www.amctv.com/shows/showville
