The Real Thing
Seattle’s television producers get in on the reality TV craze with a growing roster of unscripted shows
By Christopher Zara
On the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid this past July, Robbie Knievel, son of legendary daredevil Evel, prepared to launch his motorcycle over a row of fighter jets to mark the 30th anniversary of his dad’s famous Snake River Canyon jump. Among those cheering for a safe landing was producer Dave Severson of Screaming Flea Productions, a Seattle-based television production company looking to capture the stunt for its new A&E reality show, Kaptain Knievel. Screaming Flea, easily the largest producer of non-fiction television in the Northwest, has nearly 20 series under its belt and more in the pipeline, leading a growing trend for locally produced programs in the white-hot genre of reality television.
Ironically, the folks at Flea aren’t comfortable with the whole "reality TV" label. "That doesn’t always have a great connotation," laughs Severson, who helped start the company in 1999. "It gets into that whole Survivor-type feeling, which is really heavily produced and not reality anyway."
Still, Severson admits, most of Flea’s programming fits the genre at least by definition. The company’s current slate includes home improvement offerings like Sell This House on A&E, the female-friendly Toolbelt Diva on Discovery Home & Leisure, and the more cerebral Tech Effect for the History Channel, which examines history from a technological standpoint.
But it’s Kaptain Knievel, offering a fast-paced glimpse into the everyday adventures of the Sequim-based Knievel, that Severson thinks best meets and feeds the insatiable appetite for shock value reality TV. He notes, though, that chronicling a professional thrill-seeker doesn’t call for the contrived drama that’s become the norm on network reality shows. "Kaptain Knievel already has a built-in climax. Probably every other episode will have some sort of jump or stunt in it, which is a good payoff."
Also dabbling in the reality genre are some of Seattle’s network affiliates. In case you missed KONG-TV's Gimme the Mike and KIRO 7’s Star Search Seattle and Casino Night, produced jointly by KIRO and the Tulalip Casino, all of which debuted their short runs over the summer (an effort to boost ratings during traditional slump months). Coincidentally, two of these shows touted themselves as potential springboards for undiscovered Northwest singers—a premise that could easily evoke images of American Idol-style verbal assaults on budding performers. But what are we in Seattle if not polite? Star Search, in particular, had a rigorous audition process, which avoided the need for on-air, tough love tactics. "The performers were thoroughly screened," says host Andrew Savage, who landed the Star Search gig after his 2003 stint as the Armani-suited lawyer on Survivor’s Pearl Islands season. Though Savage hasn’t quit his day job just yet (he recently left Chicago for Pasadena and a comfy position with search giant Yahoo), the 41-year-old says he would return to Seattle, if asked. That’s a real possibility, since overwhelming interest in these shows has both KIRO 7 and KONG-TV considering future installments.
Reality’s inexpensive budget has always made it a savory prospect for producers looking for a low-cost hit. Because of this, Jeff Erwin, veteran producer with Queen Anne’s Digital Production Services, says the genre is likely to continue to attract Seattle’s TV-show makers. Indeed, our local production scene has seen some modest growth in the last few years, but it hasn't matched the success of the '90s boom-era. Erwin is among those remaining hopeful that this new wave of economically sound programming can help Seattle revitalize its TV mojo.
Erwin, incidentally, is wrapping up post with his own reality pilot (a first for Digital Production Services, which usually works with clients like Microsoft and the Port of Seattle). In the tradition of cable hits like American Chopper, Erwin's show will feature local artisan Rod "Hot Rod" MacKenzie and the inner workings of his Everett-based custom auto shop, Brushfire. "I love industry on parade," Erwin says. "I love to see things being built. It’s just fun to photograph."
Erwin hopes one of the niche cable outlets his company works with will buy the show. The Emmy Award winner, who has no qualms with the "reality show" tag, thinks the label will make for an easier sell. "Every show ultimately has a formula," he adds. "That’s how TV is made. You gotta have a formula."