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Miss America Taking Reality Route Again

Apr 3, 2006  •  Post A Comment

Miss America is going to be a reality show — again.

CMT announced last weekend a seven-episode reality series following the 52 Miss America finalists through their preliminary competitions. The series will lead up to the two-hour pageant, which will air live in January. For the first time, viewers will help determine the pageant’s outcome via phone and online voting to help determine the contest finalists.

“With the creation of this documentary series, viewers are now introduced to these contestants like never before, and are able to vote for seven of their favorites to make the finals,” said Paul Villadolid, VP of programming and development for CMT. “Now, in addition to their talent and smarts, personality will play a huge role in determining these finalists.”

TelevisionWeek originally reported early last year that Miss America would be recast as a reality series. In January 2006, CMT announced that this year’s pageant, held that month, would eschew reality conventions and return to its roots with a traditional single live event.