TLC Cancels the Miss America Pageant....is this show a thing of the past? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-02-2010, 01:00 AM

There she is, Miss Homeless America.

TLC has announced that it won't renew its deal to run the Miss America Pageant, the one-time major TV event that fell on hard times over the past decade.

"We are happy that TLC was part of the modernization and revitalization of the Miss America pageant," the cabler said in a statement. "This year we delivered record ratings, besting any of it's prior performances on cable. However, our three year deal has concluded and we have chosen not to renew. We wish the Miss America Organization well."

Miss America has been struggling to find its relevance ever since NBC dumped the pageant after 30 years in 1997 -- embarking instead on a relationship with Donald Trump and Miss USA.

ABC picked up Miss America in 1997, but watched it continually decline -- and finally dropped the pageant in 2005. After that, CMT stepped up to save the event, running it in 2006 and 2007. TLC then took it over for the last three years.

The Miss America Organization has taken several steps in trying to revive the event -- moving it from its longtime Atlantic City base to Las Vegas in 2006, for example. The TLC run was also tied to a reality competition last year, but that reality spinoff didn't continue this year.

Like most recent televised events, Miss America has indeed seen a ratings uptick: The 2010 edition averaged 4.5 million viewers in January, up from 3.5 million in 2009 and 3.6 millionin 2008. The pageant averaged 2.4 million on CMT in 2007.

Insiders noted that Miss America was brought in by former TLC topper Angela Shapiro, who's no longer at the network. Also, the special is not cheap -- and the cabler may have decided that it wasn't worth the pricetag, even with improved ratings. (It's also believed that advertisers haven't made an effort to be a part of the pageant, given its older demographics.)

TLC is also in the midst of a brand readjustment, aging down its audience -- and Miss America was probably seen as a property that no longer completely fit with the channel's direction.

The latest Miss America, Caressa Cameron from Virginia, was crowned on January 30. Didn't hear about it? Exactly.

http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_ai...nce-again.html

Marvo301 · 03-02-2010, 02:22 AM

Here she isn't (not on TLC anyway) Miss America! Aren't beauty pageants passe anyways?

catlover79 · 03-02-2010, 03:21 AM

Tell the truth, I think they have been since the day Bert Parks got canned. Really, how many Miss Americas got famous in the long run besides Vanessa Williams, Mary Ann Mobley and a couple of others?

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-02-2010, 04:17 AM

...but Mario Lopez is not my personal choice for a beauty contest emcee {he didn't add anything to the proceedings}, and something was lacking at this year's pagent. The ratings, even though they were somewhat better than previous years, apparently just weren't enough for TLC to renew its agreement with the Miss America Organization for another telecast next year.

It would be a shame if the pagent, which celebrates its 90th anniversary next year, was discontinued simply because a cable or broadcast network decided it didn't fit their "key demographics". The Miss America pagent is more than research and "bean counting"- it's a tradition!!

03-02-2010, 01:00 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	TLC Cancels the Miss America Pageant....is this show a thing of the past? There she is, Miss Homeless America. TLC has announced that it won't renew its deal to run the Miss America Pageant, the one-time major TV event that fell on hard times over the past decade. "We are happy that TLC was part of the modernization and revitalization of the Miss America pageant," the cabler said in a statement. "This year we delivered record ratings, besting any of it's prior performances on cable. However, our three year deal has concluded and we have chosen not to renew. We wish the Miss America Organization well." Miss America has been struggling to find its relevance ever since NBC dumped the pageant after 30 years in 1997 -- embarking instead on a relationship with Donald Trump and Miss USA. ABC picked up Miss America in 1997, but watched it continually decline -- and finally dropped the pageant in 2005. After that, CMT stepped up to save the event, running it in 2006 and 2007. TLC then took it over for the last three years. The Miss America Organization has taken several steps in trying to revive the event -- moving it from its longtime Atlantic City base to Las Vegas in 2006, for example. The TLC run was also tied to a reality competition last year, but that reality spinoff didn't continue this year. Like most recent televised events, Miss America has indeed seen a ratings uptick: The 2010 edition averaged 4.5 million viewers in January, up from 3.5 million in 2009 and 3.6 millionin 2008. The pageant averaged 2.4 million on CMT in 2007. Insiders noted that Miss America was brought in by former TLC topper Angela Shapiro, who's no longer at the network. Also, the special is not cheap -- and the cabler may have decided that it wasn't worth the pricetag, even with improved ratings. (It's also believed that advertisers haven't made an effort to be a part of the pageant, given its older demographics.) TLC is also in the midst of a brand readjustment, aging down its audience -- and Miss America was probably seen as a property that no longer completely fit with the channel's direction. The latest Miss America, Caressa Cameron from Virginia, was crowned on January 30. Didn't hear about it? Exactly. http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_ai...nce-again.html
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-02-2010, 02:22 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Here she isn't (not on TLC anyway) Miss America! Aren't beauty pageants passe anyways?
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-02-2010, 03:21 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Tell the truth, I think they have been since the day Bert Parks got canned. Really, how many Miss Americas got famous in the long run besides Vanessa Williams, Mary Ann Mobley and a couple of others?
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

03-02-2010, 04:17 AM	#4
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	They tried. They really tried... ...but Mario Lopez is not my personal choice for a beauty contest emcee {he didn't add anything to the proceedings}, and something was lacking at this year's pagent. The ratings, even though they were somewhat better than previous years, apparently just weren't enough for TLC to renew its agreement with the Miss America Organization for another telecast next year. It would be a shame if the pagent, which celebrates its 90th anniversary next year, was discontinued simply because a cable or broadcast network decided it didn't fit their "key demographics". The Miss America pagent is more than research and "bean counting"- it's a tradition!!