I pitched this to a sup the other day and she thought it was crazy, but I think it would be interesting. So, what do you think:

What if a network (a Viacom owned one to be sure) came to the park and did a reality series about what goes on inside the park.

I've heard many different opinions on what started out as a bit of a joke, but I'd like to hear what you think.

well just a behind the scenes show might not appeal to very many people. however if they did a game show like SFMM did that would rock!! they could easily integrate information about how the park operates throughout the show.

They used to broadcast that Micheal Flannery show out of the Paramount Theatre several years ago.

Oh, and for your theory, not a bad idea at all... the only problem is, we'd like it because we particularly like parks, non-enthusiasts might think that life in amusement park is uneventful. Maybe a day in the life of Craig Ross or Siebert during opening week... now THAT's interesting.

I agree with SFM, BTS shows are always interesting. I'm remembering the one they did on BGT and it was pretty interesting. You do have to be kinda a big fan of the park though.

They have a similar show about what happens behind the scenes at an airline. There are actually two, Airline featuring Southwest Airlines and Airline UK featuring Easyjet.

Those are very very popular shows, however the aviation community is very much larger than the coaster community so I really don't think you'd get too many viewers beyong the coaster enthusiasts.

The only real problem is that with a reality series about PKI, there really is no plot unless there are some generic soap opera type of situations going on with the employees. Now I'm sure that those situations actaully exist within theh system, but if you make a reality series about relationships of ride operators, you will lose the audience of the coaster enthusiasts but not necessarily the audience of reality drama enthusiasts (and if you don't belive me, just look at some of these half-assed shows that are on right now.) The BGT thing that I saw on the Travel Channel was good because it was only like a one-day thing. If they do that kind of thing for PKI, I think they might have something and they could do one a month or so and of course one for FearFest.

The way the Airline shows work is they show what happens at the job. Lets say there's a drunk trying to get on board and they won't let him, a new pushback tug operator is being taught how to push a brand new 20 million dollar jet out of a gate with little clearance and no room for error. There's even sad stories when they have to kick a homeless man off a flight because he smells so bad other passengers are complaining so they buy him lunch, get him new clothes and put him on the next flight. Also an alzheimers patient soiled himself and his wife is crying because she's had so much and is embarassed but they fixed him up real nice.

To tell you the truth I don't believe PKI could have situations like this that would interest the viewer.

I do. I've been working for two days and have already had a lot of good moments and bad moments.

Personally, I think a reality series about the inner workings of a theme park is a good idea. I'd watch it... (Of course, I watch every TV show I come across that has anything remotely to do with theme parks anyway <g>.) But, come on, if they can make a show about the opening of a hair salon I'd think that a theme park would hold at least as much interest.

Regarding the show "Airline"...I was coming back from Chicago at the end of May and they were filming it at our gate in the Southwest terminal at Midway. A lot of the flights were delayed due to weather, and there was this guy there who was throwing a major fit about the delays and acting like a real jerk. Of course, the cameras were right there filming it. A little while later a man who was obviously very drunk (or at least pretending to be) was stumbling through the gate area with cameras following him the whole time.

Call me a cynic but I find the whole situation rather odd. I've flown a LOT in my life, and never once saw people acting like this (although, I have to admit I've seen some other weird stuff). I've never seen someone cause such a vocal scene with a gate agent, and it just seems odd that the first time I do see it a camera crew just "happens" to be there as well. Also of note, I was siting at that gate for over four hours that day...I had not seen the "disgruntled man" before, and did not see him again after his "scene."

Joel

i like the idea, like show the operation and repairing of coasters. Kind of like what they did with CP, i'd like that.