Let Me Address Your Questions and Concerns about the Pageant

January 09, 2009

I thought it might be a good idea to “officially” address some of the questions that have been coming through from some of you in the comment section (thanks for commenting!  I love hearing everyone’s thoughts). 

I also wanted to touch upon concerns that I know many people still have with the reality show concept. I’m certainly not the “powers that be”, but the “powers that be” do read the blog, so why not talk about the elephants in the room so that they are all out in the open? Seriously, I’d much prefer my elephants out stomping around where I can see them instead of lurking in the shadows, as I’m sure you all do as well. Ok – no, I don’t really know where I was going with that… but let’s chat, shall we??

First of all – question: The gold sashes. How do they work? Are there four, or 15? And so on.  Let’s walk through the process of the gold sashes and see if that doesn’t clear everything up for everyone.

I think perhaps the confusing part is that while we know that there are going to be 15 gold sash holders that the public will be voting on, the reality series keeps alluding to the four sashes that the contestants can win. Well, what we have to remember is that, at this point in the series, WE know more than the contestants do. They are competing under the impression that there are only four sashes to be won, but in the end the total number of contestants with gold sashes will be 15. The public will then vote, and out of those 15 girls the four with the highest number of votes will automatically move on to the semifinals at the Miss America pageant, along with the 11 contestants who scored the highest in the preliminary nights of competition.

Another question about how the sashes work is: What will happen if one of the contestants who the public has selected to move on to the semifinals ALSO has one of the 11 highest preliminary scores? Will the next highest vote-getter get a gold sash in her place, or will the next highest preliminary score winner move up into the top 11? The answer there is the latter – once the public selects the gold sash winners, those contestants will be in the semifinals as the gold sash holders. The remaining 11 semifinalists will be the contestants who had the highest preliminary scores aside from those who hold the gold sashes.  So if one of the gold sash holder also has one of the top 11 preliminary scores, the next highest score would move on to the semifinals.

I think that should cover all the gold sash “business” – now let’s talk about that elephant, yes?

I know this whole reality show concept is a little crazy for some people, and I get that. I can completely understand why a long-time pageant fan might be up in arms a bit over the idea that a titleholder works really hard to get her title, and then is asked to compete in a bunch of crazy competitions on TV to possibly get into the semifinals, when shouldn’t the semifinals just be the top scorers like always? Well the good news here is, the top scorers ARE still advancing to the semifinals –the top 11 scores to be exact, which is more than the ten that were historically allowed to move on to the semifinal competition until the early 2000s  So in that sense, the integrity of the pageant is still there, and is still intact. I think what folks may be worried about is that the reality series is somehow demeaning to the contestants, and that it doesn’t show them in the best light as the intelligent, driven women that they are. I know I cannot speak for all of the contestants, but I do believe that the general consensus was that they had a great time filming the reality show. It was a way to spend some time with each other outside of full-on competition “mode”, and to really let their hair down, so to speak. And we, as the viewing audience, have the opportunity to watch them for an hour every Friday prior to the Miss America pageant. We have the opportunity to get to know about their personalities, their humor and their warmth towards each other. I love that we are able to see this truly “human” side of them, and to witness their camaraderie and their competitiveness. It is touching to really feel with them just how badly they want this job. It makes me feel better knowing that the crown will really be safe on one of their heads, y’know?

I know that no situation is ideal, and that everything could use a tweak or two. But when you look at the fact that this IS a different era of the Miss America pageant – that this is a different era of the world, for that matter, you must see that the pageant needs to change with the times or we run the risk of losing it forever.

For the time being, I am enjoying this new angle and the opportunity it affords me to get to know these ladies – and I am waiting anxiously on the edge of my seat to see where the next “era” takes us on this journey.

Comments

[michael thomas]

I see the final shwow of miss america not too many years away! whata shame!

[lorri]

How unfair the reality show was.What if Miss Rhode Island got a sash and Miss California got a sash. Who do you think would win to be in the top 15. Not fair. I would rather see 10 contestants in the top, instead of 15 becaust the top ten would only have 9 others to be up against instead of 14. Truly a mess. This reality show was a mess. The so called judges were so unfair it was just a mess.
The blond judge was for the gray team because she liked Miss Indiana and the other judge was a mess himself he was not fit to judge. It was plain he wanted the green teem to win because he wanted that tall contestant to win. The other contestants were hardly seen. so unfair. How about next year you have each girl tell us about herself and her platform. Show us what she looks like in her gown and bathing suit. Ask her a question and let us hear her answer. Now the girls are on a even playing field. NOW america can vote on their favorite contestant.

better still let the Pagent Judges pick the top 10. Think hard because you dropped the ball this year.

[Marcia Aronowitz]

It's over and the powder has settled. I must say, the Countdown show was a disaster... More like "Beat The Clock". WE didn't get to know the women involved and the "consultants" were a mess! She has multi colored hair, no fashion and he is in sport shirts and hats indoors? I think not! Clinton was the ONLY one who knew ANYTHING there. He seemed to grasp what "Miss America" stands for.
TLC is a far cry from Network and I am not surprised Network isn't interested in what was a GREAT AMERICAN institution.. You have allowed it to become a cheap game show at these women's expense. Please, aim higher!

[rhonda]

To tell you the truth I dindn't like the count down to the crown. I knew some of the girls that where going to win just by watching that and also the things the girls had to do had nothing to do with Miss America. Out of the 52 girls you maybe spot lighted 10 to 15 at the most girls. The other girls wanted to be able to show case themselves but because maybe they weren't your favorite got little to no time at all in the spot light.I know for a fact that Miss Washington didn't make the top 15 because she was to nice in the polls she was in the top 4 in swimsuit and in the top 15 in the other photos and I seen her on the show and she acted so nice but I forgot nice doesn't win It takes someone who's not afraid to put their claws out at anyone or step on anyones toes to do it. For Ms. Washington and all the other truely nice girls great job and you know your winners inside unlike some others(Ms. Indiana)Thanks!

[miss indianalover]

.... im so so so so so happy katie won i live in home town!! at our school we wore green because its her favorite color and we ate choclate cake because its her favorite food!! we made (paper)crowns and saches and it was so fun!!!! but the higher grades got to wear plastic crowns oh well it was still fun!!!! we all love you katie!!! you make the perfect miss america!!!

[Leeanne McCoy]

This show was a confusing mess! For those of us who like to play along at home - you've got people just disappearing from the top ten, six girls waiting to perform (but three won't get to?) and then you just start pulling the fifth runner up out of line before I even catch up to what's going on... There at the end I wasn't sure who was still in it. Man, I watch and play (try to predict) every year, and this year was a jumbled, impossible mess. People everywhere! I hope you get these kinks ironed out for next year. For us at home: we'd like to clearly know which girls are still competing. And why (and when) did we lose our favorite?? **Miss Hawaii vanished after an awesome representive dance. What happened there???

[Lisa]

Although I don't necessarily like each individual aspect of the reality show (such as the challenges or judges' picks), I do appreciate that we are being given a chance to see the contestants outside of the traditional pageant format.

When I was growing up, I looked up to Miss America. Watching the pageant was the big event of the year for me. I recorded the pageant every year and watched it over and over again - so much that I could tell you EVERYTHING about the broadcast... which girls performed what, where they placed, what commercials aired... EVERYTHING. After some time, I lost interest... not because I got older and was distracted by other activities, but because the pageant just lost something. It seemed plastic somehow - almost as if it was trying to be something it wasn't, perhaps just to meet ratings expectations. This year, for the first time in a long time, I'm starting to feel that old "wow" factor.

The Miss America pageant needs to evolve with the times, and the woman that is chosen to represent America needs to have the whole package. We don't need any more Paris Hiltons or Lindsay Lohans influencing our youth, nor do we need a plastic Barbie doll-type pageant winner. I believe the winner needs to be someone who exemplifies what is truly important in life... someone who is confident yet humble, well-spoken and talented, and can inspire the young girls of our nation to be the best they can be in every way. Someone who sets the example that it's not so much about being beautiful on the outside, but that it's about being beautiful on the inside. That is when the outer beauty really comes out. This reality show has given us an opportunity to see that in some of the contestants. We need more of it! It must be difficult to showcase every single contestant, but maybe each contestant can have an opportunity to do a small clip right before or right after commercial break. With 52 contestants over 4 shows, it could be done. The interviews could also be distributed more equally, allowing each contestant to respond to a question about a challenge or event in the show. I felt like I kept seeing the same group of girls cycled through the interview clips.

Overall, the pageant is making great strides in retaking its place at the top as an inspiration for our youth, so keep up the great work! I've picked two favorites based on what I've seen on the show, and I hope they win, because I think they'll do an exemplary job!

[Ann]

Okay...I have major problems with the reality show. First of all, I don't like the idea of America having to chose between contestants that were chosen by the judges. I only agreed with them like once. I also have problems with the judges. When the girls were told to follow the rules the judges didn't like it. When the girls were told to "stand out" the judges said it was "inappropriate". I just don't understand! Even when the consultants said "well they followed the rules" or "she made herself stand out" the judges were harsh! Also is it really fair to automatically put 4 people in the top 15? That kind of takes away from the 4 people the judges for the pageant might have originally chosen.

[rochelle]

this time the reality show seems fun, like the girls are judged only on the positive, unless they say something or do something ou of line. then it is their own fault. but the show is so much more focused on having a good time and getting to the personalities, as well as actually concentrating on things relevant to being a title-holder. it is a wonderful improvement from last year. i am actually enjoying watching. last year i hated it and felt sorry for the girls. i have even picked 2 faves outside of my home state.

[Ashley]

I do agree that the reality show is a great idea. It makes Miss America more personable and makes the girls more real for America. However, I am extremely disappointed with the amount of airtime that each of the girls are receiving. The show seems to give certain girls more airtime than others. Miss Georgia and Miss Minnesota are two examples. So far, the show is not giving each girl a fair chance. I don't know how I'm supposed to be able to vote accurately. It doesn't seem right.

[Amy]

I think these blog entries are well-written and informative. Kudos to a job well-done in terms of communicating and the discipline of writing.

However, my complaint is similar to the one from Ohio, above. How is that only certain contestants get more coverage than any of the others? I'm sure that the editing room of any reality show has to be a smorg of images and clips that opens a door to opinions and speculation of certain contestants, projected winners, stronger personalities, but for something as old a tradition as Miss America is, NONE of the smaller-populated or less popular states get coverage or representation on television. How can the editors of this show decide who gets what coverage? Why can it not be all equal? Why are there girls NOT getting coverage? Why do we keep seeing and hearing from the same seven or eight girls? Where is Miss Ohio? Miss Wyoming? Miss Montana? The New England states? The Plains states? Wyoming has NEVER gotten coverage, even when the show was in its old form. Can't beautiful, intelligent, physically fit women come from these states?

Come on, guys. Get more, fair coverage of ALL the contestants. Otherwise, this is just more prejudice and propoganda assigned by the entertainment industry wheel. It's insulting.

[Kthompson]

I was upset with myself for wasting time watching this last year when I never even saw the contestant from my state (Ohio). I gave it two weeks this year and guess what? I've never even seen the Ohio contestant. I will not be watching any more this year or any other year. If you want the whole country to watch this, then let us see the people from our state.

[Paula]

Now the question is, what happens after the top 15 are named? Will those 4 contestants that America has chosen fall out of the next round of competition? Will the top 10 contestants be the obvious "judge's pick"?
I am just afraid of what the 4 girls America chooses will look like up against the rest of the girls that the judges scored.
Not to put the American public down, but will they really vote in the right girls for the job of Miss America or will they pick them based on hometown pride and popularity?