• reality shows
  • reality TV reviews
  • about
  • contact
  • reality TV schedule
  • best reality TV
  • send tips or feedback
  • support
  • subscribe
Next Great Champ

after losing bid for The Contender, FOX orders Oscar De La Hoya boxing series.

by Andy Dehnart 20 Apr. 2004 | 6:30 am

after losing bid for The Contender, FOX orders Oscar De La Hoya boxing series.
Because the world needs at least two, if not three, reality TV boxing series, and because networks don’t fail for plagiarism, FOX has ordered a boxing reality TV series with Oscar De La Hoya. Mark Burnett and Jeffrey Katzenberg aren’t happy, and not just because the series sounds familiar to their planned NBC series The Contender. They’re pissed “because the executives pitched their ambitious plans for ‘Contender,’ both to the network and to De La Hoya’s camp a few months ago,” according to The Hollywood Reporter; FOX bid on it, but NBC won. Katzenberg says, “I’m very concerned about (the Fox series) and I hope that whatever it is that they’re doing is original and their own.” Produced by Endemol, FOX’s series The Next Great Champ may debut before NBC’s. Contestants “will work with current WBC super-welterweight boxing champ de la Hoya” and will “compete for an existing boxing title … and a contract with de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions company,” E! reports.

discuss this story

more great reality blurred stories

  • The 20 Survivor winners who will compete on Survivor season 40
  • How Antiques Roadshow works
  • Scare Tactics: The surprising way the show was cast
  • Behind the scenes of the Guy’s Grocery Games grocery store
  • The Survivor rule book and Survivor cast contract
  • How Big Brother’s house is designed

Reality TV in your inbox

Hand-crafted reality TV news and recommendations sent most Fridays. Unsubscribe any time!

most-popular stories on reality blurred

Dan Spilo on Survivor Island of the Idols episode 6

Dan Spilo, asked about what happened on Survivor, says he's "not allowed to comment"

Dan Spilo was asked about what happened on Survivor: Island of the Idols in a brief, filmed encounter on the street.

Dan Spilo during Survivor: Island of the Idols episode 7

Survivor removed Dan after an off-camera 'incident': more evidence of its abject failure

Jeff Probst continues to not provide details about what happened or what will change. Meanwhile, Survivor won't have a live finale and reunion; it'll be pre-taped instead.

Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine on Survivor: Island of the Idols

Survivor 40's cast of 20 Survivor winners

Survivor season 40's all-winner cast has been revealed. Original winner Richard Hatch is not competing, but nearly every winner from seasons 22 to 37 is returning.

Survivor: Island of the Idols logo

Jeff Probst's insufficient apology and response, and more on Survivor's failures from Kellee, Jamal, and Josh Wigler

In this story, two Jeff Probst responses, exit interviews with Kellee and Jamal, Josh Wigler's exit from Survivor, but no recap. I'm done covering this season as entertainment, but will continue reporting on it.

Jeff Probst on the premiere of Survivor Island of the Idols, standing next to a sign that reminds everyone what Survivor used to focus on.

Survivor season 40 will start earlier than usual

Survivor: Winners at War will premiere in February, and have a two-hour premiere.

The central cast of MTV's Ex On the Beach: Peak of Love

Ex on the Beach: Peak of Love cast includes Adore Delano and Temptation Island singles

MTV announced the cast and air date for Ex On the Beach season 4, which has relocated to the mountains of New Zealand and now has the nonsensical name of Ex On the Beach: Peak of Love.

Ian Ziering, host of the new Food Network Challenge

Food Network Challenge is being revived

An early Food Network competition is returning, with its original host as a judge, and a Sharknado star as its new host.

Whale Wars

Whale Wars: Watson's Last Stand is not new. It's from 2012.

Animal Planet has bizarrely repackaged old episodes as a new "season" of Whale Wars. But there is a new Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd-focused documentary coming soon.

America's Got Talent 14 winner Kodi Lee, center, with host Terry Crews and guest Leona Lewis

How America's Got Talent auditions work, from open calls to recruiting acts

An interview with America's Got Talent producer Adam Davis about how the audition process works, why he recruits acts online, and more.

Some of the marks on Prank Encounters, perhaps when they get surprised that they're on such a terrible show.

Netflix's Prank Encounters is neither scary nor funny, just embarrassing and boring

The Gaten Matarazzo-hosted prank show is scary for all the wrong reasons, and far more tedious than terrifying.

behind the scenes of reality TV

Michael Johnson, Daytona Beach, American Ninja Warrior

Behind the Scenes of American Ninja Warrior

Behind-the-scenes details about American Ninja Warrior’s city qualifiers and city finals production: How it’s filmed, how locations are chosen, and more.

Eric Reynolds, reality TV story editor

How I went from reality TV fan to reality TV story editor

What does a reality TV story producer do? How do you find work in reality show post-production? In this edition of The Confessional, Eric Reynolds shares his story.

Survivor

Behind the scenes of Survivor Gabon’s first episode

From the immunity challenge to Tribal Council, what happens behind the scenes on an episode of Survivor.

newer >

De La Hoya rejected The Contender because it’s a “tough-man contest.”

more stories about Next Great Champ

about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Vulture, Pacific Standard, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association who serves on its board of directors, Andy, 41, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. Learn more about reality blurred and Andy.

stay connected with reality TV

Get advice about what to watch and keep up with the latest in reality television with reality blurred's e-mail newsletter. Just enter your e-mail address:

about reality blurred

reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.

explore

  • recent news
  • reviews of reality TV shows
  • behind the scenes reports
  • interviews with producers and reality stars
  • archives
  • send tips
  • search
  • advertise on reality blurred
  • about reality blurred
  • newsletter
  • RSS and social media
  • contact reality blurred
  • send tips & contribute
  • privacy policy
  • terms of service
Copyright © 2000 to 2019 Andy Dehnart and individual contributors.