View Full Version : Why did CBS fail with the Tommy Hilfiger reality show The Cut?


Hawkee
10-19-2025, 03:31 AM
In 2005 fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger hosted his lone reality show The Cut that aired on CBS and when it debuted I became an instant fan of The Cut and I cannot understand why The Cut only lasted one season? Because it was a monster hit and CBS had mega promotion of The Cut. And The Cut was supposed to be the new reality show of Summer 2005 for CBS. My guess is that CBS didn't want to pay Tommy Hilfiger a lot of money for hosting The Cut and The Cut was gonna have a second season but was shelved at the last minute. The Cut also had an awesome theme song of The Rolling Stones hit You Can't Always Get What You Want and inspired me to wear Tommy Hilfiger clothing too. I also think The Cut was cancelled because Bravo developed Project Runway. What caused The Cut to fail for CBS?

icecream
10-19-2025, 08:14 PM
Something that only lasts one season is not a hit (especially a monster hit), unless it is one of the many hammock comedies on NBC's Must See Thursdays or Bridget Loves Bernie. The Cut was destined to be cut from CBS, living up to its name. ;)

Also, thousands of shows have gotten mega promotion to start. But if they under-perform or outright flop, the promos get vastly reduced.

Hawkee
10-20-2025, 02:56 AM
I think Tommy Hilfiger dreamed of someday having his own reality show as a way to hire new employees to work for him and so when Tommy was looking to hire new designers to work for him The Cut was born. When I saw the first episode of The Cut I think they copied The Apprentice but with a fashion theme. But I can see where Tommy Hilfiger mainly used The Cut as a way to market his home decor and clothing line and Tommy thought that with a reality show The Cut would lead him to do other reality shows. But Tommy Hilfiger really showed his stuff during each episode when he would tell players "You Are Out Of Style Please Take The Runway" at the elimination at the end of each episode of The Cut. But why CBS didn't give The Cut a second chance is a mystery

Hawkee
10-22-2025, 03:29 AM
What I think Tommy Hilfiger needs is another reality show that is just as good as The Cut was. Because I think the main problem with The Cut was that it was simply a Tommy Hilfiger commercial to help market the clothing line and the home decor line. Because when you put famous fashion designers into the reality show genre sometimes the idea works while for some fashion designers the reality show genre fails. Look at Kimora Lee Simmons who created Baby Phat and when she had her reality show it only lasted one season and it was just meant to market Baby Phat's clothing line like a commercial. But I think CBS was wishing that Tommy Hilfiger's reality show would be a stepping stone for other CBS reality shows created by Tommy Hilfiger and with The Cut it just wasn't meant to be