Ask the Answer B!tch

She's here to help

A-List Secrets: Why Stars Need Reality Shows

Jamie Foxx Denise Truscello/WireImage.com

What's with celebs needing to do all these reality shows? Are these people so obsessed with themselves, or do they just need the money?
—D.D.

The answer is as varied as the colors of the diamonds that Jennifer Lopez sees dancing in her dreams. Jamie Foxx has a new MTV reality show debuting July 15, but he won't be appearing at all, leaving money as the most likely motivation.

In producing a reality show, big celebs typically get "a 5 or 10 percent takeback from everything made through the show," explains marketer Richard Laermer, who steered über-producer Peter Guber into a reality-show career. "And if the show goes overseas, you can make a fortune on that thing."

So where does that leave, like, Tori Spelling? Well...

With a drama-turned-reality star like Tori, a flagging career is the likely motivation. She was on Beverly Hills, 90210 in the early 1990s. Then people forgot about her for a while. The Earth rested and everyone was at peace.

Except for Tori, of course. Back she came. She hyped herself and her life through a couple of seasons of Tori and Dean: Something Something Something, and behold, the comeback. She landed an endorsement deal with NutriSystem. She has enough of a fan base for people to care about the birth of her second baby. She's front and center in a Sketchers ad campaign. Even the death of her dog is news.

"Just like the stock market, celebrities have to aggressively maintain and refreshen those brands, or they will go stale and grow old," says James Lee, president of the Lee Strategy Group, a marketing consultancy that has pitched celebrities for reality shows.

Speaking of stale and old, gotta go. I think my editor needs something.

Got a question about Hollywood? ASK IT!

Oh, and be my fan on Facebook, 'kay?

2 Comments

Now loading...

Add Your Comment!

Guests

E! Online members

Register | Forgot password?

Play nice and have fun. And please, no HTML tags or special characters including [&*#()!@$].
You've got 1000 characters left.

Post Comment

VIDEO

  • Rosie Revives Classic TV

    Rosie O'Donnell is bringing back the variety show with "Rosie Live." Sneak a behind-the-scenes peek at her new show.

  • Alessandra's Slimdown Secrets

    Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio is back to a size two only three months after giving birth! How'd she do it?

  • Tyra's "Twilight" Love Bite

    Tyra Banks goes batty over hunky vampire player Robert Pattinson and gives him something to sink his teeth into: her.

  • Oprah's Favorite Cheap Things

    This year the Big O is sharing some of her favorite frugal things. Find out what you can buy for next to nothing!

Podcasts

Which stars are invited to the inauguration?

  • Who'll be partying with Barack Obama in January? I know, and I tell.

Answer B!tch: Do stars visit their fan sites?

  • The skinny on A-listers trolling the net for photos of themselves. Plus: Why isn't Dubai a freakin' celeb hot spot yet?

Is Joaquin Really Retiring?

  • Do celebs ever really "retire"? Did stars go to the polls to vote? Plus, Miley, Rachel Zoe, Paris and more.

How to Send Miley Cyrus a Teddy Bear

  • How can I send a Jonas Bro a gift? How can I meet Joel Madden, or write to Angelina? All right here!
Got a query about how Hollywood works? Ask it!

Get Your E! News Now

Text ENEWS to 4INFO (44636) for daily celeb news alerts

Standard messaging rates apply.

Did you know you can grab smokin' hot E! Online news, review and gossip through our RSS service?

New to RSS feeds? Learn more >>

Birthdate:

Enter your full birthdate:

has been subscribed to the E! News Now Newsletter.

To change your settings, go to your preferences.

VIDEO

  • Rosie Revives Classic TV

    Rosie O'Donnell is bringing back the variety show with "Rosie Live." Sneak a behind-the-scenes peek at her new show.

  • Alessandra's Slimdown Secrets

    Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio is back to a size two only three months after giving birth! How'd she do it?

  • Tyra's "Twilight" Love Bite

    Tyra Banks goes batty over hunky vampire player Robert Pattinson and gives him something to sink his teeth into: her.

  • Oprah's Favorite Cheap Things

    This year the Big O is sharing some of her favorite frugal things. Find out what you can buy for next to nothing!