Posted on 10/02/2005 9:15:01 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
Graduation will take place on Wednesday for "Knight School," but commencement won't occur for another couple of months for the reality show that is wrapping up taping this week at Texas Tech.
Six film crews have followed around 16 candidates for the past several weeks, and show officials said they couldn't be happier with what's progressed thus far.
"Unequivocally, we're thrilled with what's gone on," said Rob Lundgren, chief operating officer of RIVR Media and one of the executive producers of the show. "Coach (Bob) Knight and his coaches have done an extraordinary job. We've got some good kids and some great stories. These guys have really been busting it because it's important to them. They really want the chance to be the walk-on for next year's team."
Once filming concludes on Wednesday, Lundgren said the crew will go into post-production, where some 400-500 hours of footage will be scaled down to fit six one-hour segments.
"We've had six cameras going on these guys non-stop," Lundgren said.
The footage includes time spent away from basketball, as the participants have been living together in a house since the final 16 were selected. Lundgren said the players also have been filmed participating in a number of challenges that test their skills but also bring out personalities.
"We've put these kids through some things the last 10 to 12 days that when you're looking through the camera on the other side, (you're amazed)," Lundgren said. "These aren't corny things they're doing. They really test their perseverance and the American public is going to get a sense of that."
The show has narrowed its participants down, but Lundgren didn't want to say where the number was at in order to preserve the show's mystique. He said reactions of players who have been cut have been mixed.
"You've got 16 kids so you're probably going to get 16 different reactions," he said. "We've had a couple of surprises, both by kids that were cut and by kids that weren't cut. A lot of cases, though, they weren't surprised because they're out there and they know what's going on."
Lundgren said his experience thus far has cemented his desire to do another season next year, but he said that decision will be made up by how the show is perceived by the public.
"I would absolutely want to do this again next year, but ultimately, it's how the American public reacts to it," Lundgren said. "If the American public likes it, you know, this business is driven by ratings, so if the numbers are good, we'll know the people watched. I feel, though, that we have a very compelling show and a very good show. At the end of the day, though, it's up to the public."
The first show is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. on Feb. 19 on ESPN.
I imagine the show tested perseverence via methods such as chair and vase throwing contests, screaming at reporters, secretaries and assorted other players, and in general embarrassing yourself and your school...
I haven't heard anything - I just hope they don't look like hicks - the media always seems to highlight the less than sophisticated types.
I haven't heard anything, or seen any taping either. The media and the sensitive bedwetters tend to hate The General, so we'll see, but I don't have a good feeling.
Those same bedwetters seem to think the football team should pick a magic number and quit scoring - unless you are the u of Texas or USC......
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