I Thought ALL TV Shows Were Rip-Offs of Other Shows

ABC reality show survives legal challenge that it is imitation of Survivor:

Nervous ABC execs breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after CBS failed to prevent its rival from screening “I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!” – the show the House of Mouse hopes will lead a ratings revival during the February sweeps.

Judge Loretta Preska found a series of critical differences between the two reality shows – down to the fact the worms are black on “Survivor” and white on “Celebrity.”

Preska said the mood on “Survivor,” with its host Jeff Probst, was “tense and competitive” as its contestants performed physically demanding tasks, while “Celebrity” was light-hearted and relied on “gross” challenges, such as wrestling pigs.

“I find the work to be substantially different in concept and feel,” she said.

Preska also noted that dramatic tribal music accompanied “Survivor” contestants when they were booted off the show, while on “Celebrity” the vanquished got to jump onto a “silly looking barge” and drink champagne. [NY Post]

If all TV shows have to prove that they are “original” the screen will go blank.