Desperate gubernatorial candidates are staking their campaigns on the influence of a new political reality show in which the winner earns money — and publicity.
CATALINA ISLAND — With lieutenant governor Cruz Bustamante pulling ahead in recall election polls, other contenders have signed on to participate in a "Survivor"-like contest that will air on NBC beginning in September and ending on election night.
Participants will be divided into teams, but will also be pitted against one another until only one candidate remains. The winner will receive a $1 million contribution to their election campaign.
"[It's like] Survivor meets Temptation Island meets Fantasy Island meets Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory." —
Andru Langmann, producer of "Governor Survivor"
With the large number of candidates for governor, many of the contestants in "Governor Suvivor" have either had difficulty getting their message across to voters or they've been lagging in the polls.
LOTS OF GALL: All manner of fruits and nuts are coming out of the gubernatorial woodwork. The first team, called The Terminators, will be lead by Arnold Schwarzeneggar, and will include columnist Ariana Huffington, high-tech entrepreneur Garrett Gruener, Green Party candidate Peter Camejo, satelllite engineer Michael Jackson and tribal chairman David Laughing Horse Robinson.
The second team, called Different Folks, will be lead by Gary Coleman, and will include publisher Larry Flynt, comedian Leo Gallagher, adult film actress Mary Carey, sumo wrestler "Tachikaze," entertainer Angelyne and rocker Ozzy Osbourne.
DIFFERENT FOLKS: Gary Coleman (left) will be team leader of an eclectic tribe which includes adult film actress Mary Carey (right). The show's producer, Andru Langmann, describes the show as, "Survivor meets Temptation Island meets Fantasy Island meets Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory."
According to Langmann, team memebers will participate in competitions where they'll be expected to "eat crow" and "fried buffalo testicles," submit to extreme liposuction injections and steroid ingestion, or face elimination. All the while, they'll be "shadowed by an army of studly hunks and bodacious babes" who will tempt them with "physical fantasies and monetary bribes." At the evening campfire each night, those remaining will eliminate one candidate.
TRIBAL POWER: Arnold and his team, The Terminators, will get a chance to even the score in the eyes of California voters.NBC argues that the show is not merely opportunistic, but that it will reveal which candidate is most qualified to deal with the real pressures of the job in Sacramento.
A final secret will be revealed in the final episode that will air on election night .
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