The animated reality show
Total Drama Island's currently running on
Cartoon Network on Thursdays at 18h30.
It premiered with a double bill on 4 September and then started running weekly - Episode 7's coming up this week (9 October).
The show's a 26-episode scripted story about a gaggle of teens who go into a Survivor-type reality show and the drama they go through as they battle each other out.
With it all being about the buzz and commentary on Reality TV I caught up with the people who created it to find out more about the ins and outs behind it. It's made by Tom McGillis - writer and co-founder of the production company Fresh TV - and his partner Jennifer Pertsch.
I chatted to Tom:
Tashi: Apparently yourself and Jennifer studied what teens like and dislike about reality TV during your writing of the show. What discoveries were most surprising?
Tom: We did a cross-Canada online survey of teens and tweens. The internet really helped us get a big sampling of kids from across the country. Since Canada is about 8,000 kilometres wide, that saved us a lot of driving! We also did home and classroom visits to make sure we heard from our audience about their world.
We asked tweens and teens what reality shows they watch, which ones they like and which ones they hate - stuff like that.
We found out that
tons of teens love to watch Survivor, Fear Factor and The Amazing Race because they push people to their limits. No surprise there. What did surprise us was that most teens loathe shows like The Bachelor and Big Brother because the contestants are such backstabbing liars.
We figured that an animated reality show could pump up the physical challenges and really make fun of those conniving backstabbers!
Tashi: What inspired you to create the show?
Tom: Jennifer and I first came up with a show called Escape from Summer Camp about a bunch of kids trapped at a cheesy camp in Northern Canada. From there, it morphed into a reality show.
We were worried at first that the show idea had become too high concept, but it was so funny that we just went for it. Luckily our broadcaster Teletoon Canada was behind us all the way.
Tashi: Do you think it would have worked well if the show were for adults instead? - so that it explored some of the more unsavoury elements of reality TV, which you can’t do for tween viewers?
Tom: There is already an animated reality show called Drawn Together that aired in the US on Comedy Central. That show is very very raunchy and
hilarious. Our goal was to make a slightly different animated reality show - one that featured characters that were so compelling that you would cheer for them even though they were only animated. That’s why we included a weekly elimination ceremony - something that Drawn Together didn’t do.
Tashi: What intrigues you most about reality TV?
Tom: Good reality shows push people to their limits. When they are jumping off cliffs or racing around the planet with their best friend - reality contestants are at their best. That’s just good television.
Tashi: Which reality show would you most like to be on?
Tom: I recently participated in the Toronto version of City chase. It’s an urban adventure that’s part scavenger hunt, part obstacle course. My best friend and I had to eat worms, pose nude for a drawing class and scale a 50-foot wall.
I know it sounds like a nightmare but I actually had a fantastic time. There is something really exciting about facing your fears. I would definitely sign-up for The Amazing Race after that experience.
Tashi: Which would you rather die than be on?
Tom: America’s Next Top Model. YUCK!!!
Tashi: Are the characters on TDI based on real-life contestants we’ve seen on past reality shows?
Tom: Jennifer and I created the characters based on the archetypes you see on most reality shows. There is a real pattern to the way those shows choose contestants.
There is always a big fat guy, a clueless pretty girl, a serious sporty girl, a troubled delinquent guy and the list goes on and on. We took those archetypes and turned them into the teenagers we all know at school. We really wanted our audience to relate to these animated characters as if they were real people from school.
Tashi: Who’s your worst reality contestant of all time?
Tom: Oooh! So many to choose from. I think Kimmi from Survivor Australian Outback was the worst. Her vegetarian whinging got on my last nerve.
Tashi: Who’s you fave TDI contestant and why?
Tom: My favourite by far is Owen. I just love the guy. He doesn’t really care if he wins or not. I think he sometimes forgets that he’s even in a competition.
Tashi: For years critics have been saying that reality TV’s on it’s way out but it never happens - what do you think the future of the genre is?
Tom: Reality is a genre that’s here to stay. Is that a good thing? Yes and no. Sure there are some embarrassingly nasty TV moments like catfights on The Bachelor, backstabbing on Big Brother and cheating on Temptation Island. On the other hand, I was blown away by the Cho brothers from The Amazing Race 10. Those two guys would rather stick to their principles than win a wad of cash. Now that’s good television.
EndsFor more about the show check out
TVSA's Mini-Site. If you've missed episodes and want to catch up you'll find Episode Synposis too:
Episode Synposis.Beware of
spoilers: only read 'til Episode 7 otherwise you'll see who leaves next.
PS: Related links:Hott! The Amazing Race SABig Brother Zombi Fest Premieres In The UK. Looks hysterical!