Desperate gubernatorial
candidates are staking their campaigns on the influence of a new
political reality show in which the winner earns money —
and publicity.
By George Wolfe
CATALINA ISLAND — With lieutenant governor Cruz Bustamante
pulling ahead in recall election polls, other contenders have
signed on to participate in a "Survivor"-like contest
that will air on NBC beginning in September and ending on election
night.
Participants will be divided into teams, but will also be pitted
against one another until only one candidate remains. The winner
will receive a $1 million contribution to their election campaign.
"[It's like] Survivor meets Temptation
Island meets Fantasy Island meets Willy Wonka And The Chocolate
Factory."
— Andy Langman, producer of "Governor
Survivor"
With the large number of candidates for governor, many of the contestants
in "Governor Suvivor" have either had difficulty getting
their message across to voters or they've been lagging in the polls.
The first team, called The Terminators, will be lead by Arnold Schwarzeneggar,
and will include columnist Ariana Huffington, high-tech entrepreneur
Garrett Gruener, Green Party candidate Peter Camejo, satelllite
engineer Michael Jackson and tribal chairman David Laughing Horse
Robinson.
The second team, called Different Folks, will be lead by Gary Coleman,
and will include publisher Larry Flynt, comedian Leo Gallagher,
adult film actress Mary Carey, sumo wrestler "Tachikaze,"
entertainer Angelyne and rocker Ozzy Osbourne.
TRIBAL POWER: Arnold
and his team, The Terminators, will get a chance to even the score
in the eyes of California voters.
The show's producer, Andy Langman, describes the show as,
"Survivor meets Temptation Island meets Fantasy Island
meets Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory."
According to Langman, team memebers will participate in
competitions where they'll be expected to "eat crow"
and "fried buffalo testicles," submit to extreme
liposuction injections and steroid ingestion, or face elimination.
All the while, they'll be "shadowed by an army of studly
hunks and bodacious babes" who will tempt them with "physical
fantasies and monetary bribes." At the evening campfire
each night, those remaining will eliminate one candidate.
LOTS OF GALL: All
manner of fruits and nuts are coming out of the gubernatorial
woodwork.
DIFFERENT FOLKS:
Gary Coleman (left) will be team leader of an eclectic tribe
which includes adult film actress Mary Carey (right).
NBC argues that the show is not merely opportunistic, but that it
will reveal which candidate is most qualified to deal with the real
pressures of the job in Sacramento.
A final secret will be revealed in the final episode that will air
on election night .
HUFFING
AND PUFFING?: Arianna Huffington's ability to alter
her politcal allegiences could bode well for this popular columnist-turned-candidate
and her tribe members.