In “America’s Just Gonna Keep America-ing” news, O.J. Simpson may be getting his own really show.
Simpson is currently serving a prison sentence for something that isn’t brutally murdering two innocent people in the middle of the night while his children slept upstairs. He could possibly be released as early as October and TMZ is reporting that reality TV producers are already knocking on his cell bars.
We’ve contacted a number of reality TV production companies, TV agents and platforms where such a show could run, and the reactions range from recoiling in disgust to pouncing on the opportunity.
None of the people to whom we spoke wanted to be quoted by name, but they all say the most likely formats are documentary or interview show.
Simpson actually co-wrote a book and then in 2006 shot a TV special, ‘If I Did It.’ O.J.’s co-author has said O.J. confessed to the double murder in the book and we know he read that passage for the TV special. There was a public outcry and Fox killed the show and our sources say it will never air.
The producers and agents with whom we spoke say they’re certain someone will try to recreate the TV special that was never broadcast for several reasons … years have passed, O.J. has done time for unrelated crimes, and ‘People vs. O.J. Simpson’ was a big hit.
Simpson certainly wouldn’t be averse to such an offer. The civil judgement against him in his infamous murder case have rendered him nearly penniless and he’s not allowed to reap any profit from anything related to the murders, which is almost everything he does considering Simpson is now more famous for being a murderer than being an award-winning athlete. He’s even mentioned hoping to score a date with Kris Kardashian – or Caitlyn Jenner – upon his release.
If that doesn’t scream, “I’m desperate and thirsty for attention” like throwing yourself upon the mercy of the reality gods currently residing in the form of the Kardashian klan.
There certainly has been quite a bit of interest in the Simpson case in recent years – from the critically acclaimed documentary series O.J.: Made in America to the FX special The People Vs. O.J. Simpson the fascination with one of the most gripping celebrity crimes in history has been experiencing quite a revival. It is certainly no secret that Americans love their reality television. However, the there is some skepticism that a traditional reality tv model might not work out for Simpson, despite the public’s morbid fascination.
Here’s the problem. Almost to a person, producers and agents said broadcast and cable networks would never air a show featuring O.J. They say the public wouldn’t tolerate it and no one would advertise on it.
That said, producers say there would be a home on Pay-Per-View because, as one person put it, “people could pay without being judged.”
As for O.J. making money off a show … he’s still on the hook for a $33 million wrongful death judgment, and any money he makes could be attached to satisfy the judgment
Personally I hope he can pull it off. I would love to see Simpson presented in the public eye once again front and center to be mercilessly ridiculed and shamed in perpetuity by the only people he’s ever derived any value from – the fans.
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