Stay Doomed 267: Who Wants to Be A Princess?

·1 hr·5 clips

Hosts Laura and Noah investigate 'Who Wants to Be a Princess?', a 2001 reality special filmed in Las Vegas.

Laura Crane and Noah Houlihan, hosts of Stay Doomed, examine the one-episode reality show 'Who Wants to Be a Princess?' from 2001. The episode opens with the hosts introducing the show's premise: a look at short-lived TV series. They note the special was filmed at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and hosted by Pat Bullard. The hosts place the show in historical context, airing on September 24, 2001, just weeks after 9/11, during a period of disrupted television schedules. They discuss how reality TV was still emerging, predating shows like 'The Bachelor'. The analysis covers the show's structure, which involves 30 women introducing themselves in a lengthy segment, followed by a top 10 selection based on audience scores for beauty, poise, and personality. The hosts critique the awkward interview questions, such as asking about sex with celebrities or handling unwanted advances. They describe the fashion show segments with cocktail dresses and swimwear, noting the cheap production values and lack of model training. The hosts highlight contestant Elizabeth Smith, later revealed to have uploaded the episode and authored a book after an ALS diagnosis. The finale involves a 'prince' awarding a diamond necklace to winner Tavanya Gullah, with anti-climactic pacing. The hosts conclude the show failed due to poor execution, boring content, and its timing, deeming it 'doomed'.

As heard by us

A Las Vegas pageant special gets a sharp, uneasy reality-TV autopsy.

Stay Doomed treats Who Wants to Be a Princess? like a bit of television archaeology, with Laura Crane and Noah Houlihan tracing a 2001 Las Vegas reality special at the MGM Grand through Pat Bullard's very odd framing.

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Why you'd press play

A 2001 Las Vegas pageant special gets the TV Graveyard treatment.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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