Variety reports Fox is developing a trio of way-out-there reality specials -- including a doggie beauty pageant some are dubbing "Miss Bitch" and a multi-species athletic competition boasting, among other things, a team of little people squaring off against an 8,000 lb. elephant.
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While the networks prepare to unleash a torrent of new unscripted series over the next three months, Fox reality chief Mike Darnell said one-off specials like the threesome being produced by LMNO Prods. remain a key part of his programming strategy. Both Darnell and LMNO chief Eric Schotz have high hopes for the three greenlit LMNO specials, all of which are seen as potential franchises.
The first one, "Man vs. Beast," the multispecies competition airing Wednesday, January 15th at 9 p.m., will feature humans and animals going head-to-head in a series of competitions. Steve Santagati from Bachelorettes in Alaska" will host (something tells us this guy was better off in the tundra.)
In addition to the midgets vs. elephant battle -- in which the two teams will compete to see who can pull a DC-10 across a desert field fastest -- highlights of the hour include 132-lb. hot dog-eating champ Takeru Kobayashi trying to outswallow a 1,000 lb. Kodiak bear, world-class sprinter Shawn Crawford racing against a giraffe and a zebra, a sumo wrestler vs. orangutan tug of war, and a chimp vs. soldier obstacle course race. Celebrity commentators will be on hand to offer play-by-play, including Carl Lewis and Michael Buffer ("Let's get ready to rumble!")
Representatives from the Humane Society monitored all the action, and producers were careful not to ask the animals to perform any task deemed unnatural for their species.
The doggie beauty pageant -- pegged "Miss Bitch" by some industry insiders, but officially known as the "Miss American Dog Pageant"-- will essentially be "'Best in Show' meets Miss America," Schotz said. Casting has already begun on the special, which will seek contestants from all 50 states. Femme canines will compete in talent and evening wear competition; they'll even don sashes and be evaluated by celeb judges.
The last program, "101 Things Removed from the Human Body" features amazing-but-true tales of people who have either ingested or been impaled by foreign objects -- and survived. The special will also focus on weird things growing inside people. Wow, who can pass on that...