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Miss America

Countdown to the Crown ends tonight with viewers four joining Miss America pageant

by Andy Dehnart 23 Jan. 2009 | 7:16 am

The Miss America pageant airs tomorrow night on TLC, and four of the finalists will be selected by viewers after tonight’s conclusion of Countdown to the Crown, which airs at 10 p.m. ET. That’s the reality series that “follows 52 state title holders as they live together on the Queen Mary luxury ocean liner and face a series of team and individual competitions to help them prepare for the pageant,” as TLC says on its web site. (The whole series repeats Saturday starting at 9 a.m.)

Last year, the pageant’s ratings increased thanks to the reality show that preceded it, Miss America: Reality Check, which allowed viewers to select one finalist.

Miss America President Art McMaster said that they’re dealing with objections from pageant purists by arguing that nothing has changed except the addition of additional contestants. “With pageant people, we just explained to them that rather than having a top 10, we’re going to have a top 15. It’s a win-win for both sides,” he told the AP.

Miss America: Countdown to the Crown [TLC]
For first time, viewers will help choose Miss America [AP]

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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.

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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.

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