A Dose of Reality, Literally...

I got a large serving of reality yesterday, power lunching at the Beverly Hilton Hotel enjoying a pre-prepared cold plate of salmon, chicken and beef over salad while listening to a panel of “The Hitmakers of Reality TV” at a newsmaker lunch series.

At the VIP reception prior to the luncheon I caught up with "Survivor" host Jeff Probst (yes, finally) who, I was happy to hear, said the name of his proposed new show granting wishes to people with terminally illnesses has been changed from “Live Like You Were Dying” to “Live in the Moment.” Props for making the title sound more positive. If Jeff were to spend a day living like it were his last, he told me he would “Wear Yankee pinstripes, play catch with Derek Jeter and A-Rod and try to hit one in Yankee Stadium.”

When I challenged the veteran reality show host to tell me how he thinks he’d fare on a host of reality shows including “Dancing with the Stars,” “Top Chef” “The Apprentice” and “Amazing Race,” he immediately and predictably answered he’d do best on “Amazing Race.” Taking the physical competition out of the mix he humbling said,  “I would suck” on DWTS and even admitted, “I've tried it. I've imagined while watching an episode if I could do that. I was in my living room and put on some salsa music and I just can't do it. I would not do well.” But, he does think he’d do well with The Donald. He said, “I'd actually like to do The Apprentice, the idea of The Apprentice appeals to me, that you have a group of people, one of you is in charge and you have to get the other people. I think I could get into Donald's sweet spot and get him to keep me around a while.” Do I forecast a future Celebrity Apprentice contestant? By the way, he also made clear that there will not be a Celebrity Survivor. Ever.

Other highlights of the afternoon included former “America’s Next Top Model” winner Caridee English sharing with me that Tyra Banks told her she recently lost a lot of weight by doing a Fit Challenge with her friends – and winning, of course, Tyra claiming, “I feel like I know what a young woman wants, I'm like Mel Gibson in a black woman's body" and that "As a girl who used to walk a runway in a bra and panties, it's an honor to be up her on this panel as a producer.” Cheers ;) xo