Manipulative stunts and mean-spirited practical jokes have become almost honored practice in the "reality" TV game.

But now a new series from Mike Fleiss, producer of ABC's "The Bachelor," may be setting a new standard for the genre.

At a taping last month for the WB Network's "Superstar USA" (9 tonight on WCWB) -- a bogus talent contest with the motto "Only the bad survive" -- one of the producers told audience members that the hapless contestants were terminally ill beneficiaries of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The producers were apparently worried that audience members would otherwise laugh or boo during the taping, and that might have spoiled the climax of the series, a spoof of "American Idol" in which the very worst singer is crowned "winner."

Fleiss' Next Entertainment, which produces "Superstar" with Warner Bros.' Telepictures Productions, was contrite about the Make-A-Wish whopper earlier this month.

"One of the producers ad-libbed something to the audience -- who had been paid to be there -- that may have offended someone in the audience and for that we sincerely apologize," the company said in a statement. "The remark is not in the show and was never intended to be in the show."

A spokesman for The WB said, "It was an unfortunate incident, but we stand by the show and the producers." Shelley Ginsburg, a spokeswoman for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, confirmed that the group had no connection to "Superstar," adding: "Obviously, we would not want our name used in any manner that would be misleading or deceiving to anyone."

Then again, there may be no need for an apology: Viewers have proved that they are not necessarily bothered by deceit on reality TV shows.

"Superstar" features 12 contestants, all chosen to make "American Idol" song butcher William Hung sound like Placido Domingo.

Clearly "Superstar" was inspired at least in part by the high ratings Fox earned for the preliminary rounds of "Idol," which featured a succession of inept singers.

The producers evidently worked hard to make sure the singers sounded as awful as possible. One former show staffer who asked not to be identified said that when some of the talent-challenged contestants actually improved their performances over time, the crew tried to confuse them by lowering the volume of prerecorded accompanying music or suddenly shifting tempos.

"From the day I walked in there, I pretty much knew the show was morally reprehensible," said the ex-employee.

But not everyone fell for the ruse. One audience member, who requested anonymity, said the singers were so consistently horrible that he gradually realized the show was a put-on. "I said to myself, 'There should be some cancer patients who could actually hold a note,'" he said.

Fleiss is no stranger to controversy. He was also the producer of "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire," a Fox reality show that was clouded by notoriety in 2000. Rick Rockwell, the program's prospective bridegroom, was revealed to have been under a restraining order for threatening his ex-fiance.

As for "Superstar," the people who have the most riding on the hoax may be WB executives. The network has had a difficult season, partly because it mostly missed out on the "reality" craze sweeping TV.

WB reality shows such as "Surreal Life" and "High School Reunion" have generated respectable ratings but have not broken out as major hits. The network hopes "Superstar" can connect with the same young viewers who turned "Idol" into a pop-culture sensation.

(Scott Collins, Los Angeles Times)

CNN hires former POW

CNN has hired a former Iraq prisoner of war, Ron Young, as a special contributor to help add a troop's eye perspective to its war coverage.

Young, from the Atlanta area where CNN is based, was shot down over Iraq in an Apache helicopter in March 2003 and taken prisoner. He and his co-pilot, David Williams of Orlando, Fla., were released three weeks later.

Young has become a motivational speaker and is writing a book. He said since leaving the Army, he's "looking for new ways of showing support" for the troops.

"I've lost quite a few friends over there, and it's my duty to make sure that support for the military doesn't waver and people understand the day-to-day sacrifices that people over there make," he said.

Most television news networks have former military commanders working as consultants to help explain troop maneuvers, but Young's hiring is something different.

"He's just a great communicator when it comes to explaining his experiences," said Sue Bunda, CNN senior vice president. "He helps people understand what the troops that are deployed are going through."

Bunda said she isn't concerned about Young being a cheerleader for the military because CNN isn't hiring him as an impartial journalist.

Young keeps in e-mail contact with several of his former colleagues still in Iraq and can provide a troop's perspective of what's going on there, she said. With fewer journalists embedded now with the military, that on-the-ground viewpoint is harder to get, she said.

CNN wouldn't say what Young is being paid.

He's been hired only from Memorial Day weekend through July 4, something of a tryout period.

(David Bauder, Associated Press)

'Billion' jumps to ABC

ABC, already mired in a dismal fourth-place season, is picking up the leftovers from its fifth-place competition. The network will partner with Pepsi on a September "Play for a Billion" special.

Last September, airing on The WB, "Play for a Billion," drew 4.3 million viewers and nobody actually won a billion dollars. ABC's installment will air Sept. 12 at 8 p.m., and Damon Wayans will replace Drew Carey as host.

Once again, 200 people will take part in the final showdown for a billion dollars, with the winner taking home a guaranteed million. Last year's winner was Richard Bay, a 42-year-old high school teacher from Princeton, W.Va., who missed out on the billion but still seemed happy enough to have become an instant pre-tax millionaire.

ABC will tie the Pepsi promotion into its "Summer of a Billion Laughs." During a seven week period, ABC will run a series of sweepstakes to offer seven viewers the chance to be part of that pool of 200. Thus, Coke drinkers will have to watch "My Wife and Kids" if they want to win the big bucks.

(Zap2it.com)