CBS Mocks ABC by "Developing" Fake Dancing on the Stars Series
After a judge denied CBS' request to prevent the airing of ABC's new reality program The Glass House -- which CBS believes to be a direct rip-off of its long-running hit Big Brother -- the network fired back Wednesday with a mock press release announcing the development of a new show called Dancing on the Stars, a blatant play on ABC's hit competition series Dancing with the Stars.
Judge denies CBS' restraining order request against Glass House
"Subsequent to recent developments in the creative and legal community, CBS Television today felt it was appropriate to reveal the upcoming launch of an exciting, ground-breaking and completely original new reality program for the CBS Television Network," reads the press release. In the faux series, "moderately famous and sort of well-known people you almost recognize competing for big prizes by dancing on the graves of some of Hollywood's most iconic and well-beloved stars of stage and screen."
In the statement, an unidentified CBS spokesperson adds, "This very creative enterprise will bring a new sense of energy and fun that's totally unlike anything anywhere else, honest." Said spokesperson goes on to reveal that the company has been working with a secret team on the creation of the series, which is independent of any other programming on the air. "Given the current creative and legal environment in the reality programming business, we're sure nobody will have any problem with this title or our upcoming half-hour comedy for prime time, Postmodern Family," the spokesperson says, taking a poke at yet another hit ABC series, Modern Family. "After all, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
Ratings: The Glass House has low debut
The Glass House, which premiered on Monday to 4.18 million viewers, follows 14 contestants as they live together and compete for $250,000. Similar to Big Brother, contestants will go head-to-head in competitions and will be eliminated weekly. Unlike Big Brother, America will have the chance to vote, manipulating different outcomes within the house.
Do you think CBS has taken things too far with the fake press release?