Geeks from Space: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Another company is making an effort at developing a reality TV show with a space theme and prize. Isthmus, a paper in Madison, Wisconsin, reports that a pair of Univ. of Wisconsin alums are promoting a proposed reality TV series: “Geeks in Space” (featuring a trailer produced by Bo Ryan, the men’s basketball coach at UW). The concept: put a bunch of, well, geeks, in, um, space. Actually, a simulated spaceship here on Earth, where the contestants, in a bizarre array of costumes, would live together while competing in challenges. (Losing competitors are, humanely, not ejected out the airlock but instead put into a “freeze chamber” for the remainder of the show.)

The space tie-in comes from an agreement the producers have with Space Adventures. “They are willing to partner with us when the show sells and will provide many challenges and the ultimate prize,” said Megan Kaiser, one of the show’s creators, “a trip to the edge of space.” Since Space Adventures is not actively pushing suborbital spaceflight, one wonders how this would work if some network gives the show a green light.

Right now, though, the show is still a concept, despite pitches to some of the major broadcast networks and cable networks like, logically, the Sci-Fi Channel. “So far, every network has loved our show, but for one reason or another, has yet to make us an offer,” said Kaiser. However, if that writers’ strike drags on, you never know…

4 comments to Geeks from Space: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

  • […] a great idea: a space exploration reality show, with a group of potential explorers cooped up together on a mock spaceship here on Earth. Okay, […]

  • […] about the Tunguska research I reported on today. And so does Bad Astronomy. Here’s a great idea: a space exploration reality show, with a group of potential explorers cooped up together on a mock spaceship here on Earth. Okay, […]

  • Earl

    And people wonder why the alternative space community has the “space wacko” label. If this isn’t enough proof, google “space fashion show”. As long as this kind of stuff competes with serious attempts to get us off this planet we will continue to have a serious image problem.

  • Alphonso Richardson

    Wasn’t there something similar done on UK television (Channel 5 or Channel 4? Space Cadets, I think). However, the twist was they never actually went into space. They were in a studio on a former airforce base doubling as a
    russian cosmonaut training centre.
    Not QUITE the same, but maybe they could think of a similar thing (legalites permitting….)

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