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For ABC's 'Superstars,'
modest wattage

The celebs are obscure, and the ratings not much better

By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Jun 30, 2009

At this point, there are so few D-list celebrities who have not already taken part in a reality series that networks are resorting to enlisting F-list stars, as in foreign, forgotten or far from mainstream.

The new series “The Superstars,” which premiered last week on ABC, really stretches the definition of the word “celebrity.” The show pairs celebs with athletes to compete in various sporting events. Tonight at 8 p.m. they’ll run the 100-yard dash.

“Superstar’s” list of celebrities includes Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Paige Hemmis and Joanna Krupa. In case you’re wondering, Chmerkovskiy is one of the professionals on “Dancing with the Stars,” Hemmis is a carpenter/designer on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” and Krupa is a model.

Apparently viewers didn’t really know who the contestants were, either, or care.

Last week’s 90-minute debut of “Superstars” scored a so-so 1.5 adults 18-49 rating. That was ahead of the only other original competition in the 8 p.m. timeslot, NBC’s “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here,” which averaged a 1.4.

But it was well behind the timeslot winner, a repeat of CBS’s “NCIS.” And the show managed just half the rating of the victor in the 9 p.m. slot, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” which averaged a 3.2.

If “Superstars” can hold that 1.5 rating, ABC may be satisfied with it. The show is cheap to produce, and so far no new shows have averaged above a 2.0 this summer.

Still, it’s reasonable to wonder if the debut might have done better if the most famous person competing was someone other than former “Veronica’s Closet” star Dan Cortese.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
TUESDAY, JUNE 30
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	ABC	“The Superstars” (G)	The remaining seven squads compete in 100-yard races.
9 p.m.	NBC	“America’s Got Talent” (R)	Another round of auditions from across the country.
9 p.m.	CW	“Hitched or Ditched” (R)	A 10-year couple ponders their relationship.
9 p.m.	TNT	“Hawthorne” (D)	A son won’t come to terms with the fact that his mother is dying.
9 p.m.	A&E	“The Cleaner” (D)	William’s weekend with Ben is shortened by calls from two alcoholics.
10 p.m.	BET	“Tiny & Toya” (R)	Series premiere. New show following hip-hop mamas.
10 p.m.	TNT	“Saving Grace” (D)	A bomb explodes at Grace’s brother’s church.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The final 14 endure another round of competition.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Wipeout” (G)	Spiked Fenders and Spinning Triangles make appearances tonight.
8 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Giants face the Cards in St. Louis.
9 p.m.	NBC	“America’s Got Talent” (R)	Another round of early auditions.
9 p.m.	BBC America	“Gordon Ramsay’s F Word” (R)	Ramsay takes on comedian Ben Miller in a bake-off.
9 p.m.	Showtime	“Nurse Jackie” (C)	A repeat from Monday: Jackie’s daughter might need anti-anxiety medication.
10 p.m.	Bravo	“Fashion Show” (R)	The designers make robes and loungewear.
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	ABC	“Samantha Who?” (C)	Sam thinks she may have cost Todd his career as a photographer. Less worrisome now that they’ve both lost their careers, the show being canceled and all.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The field is trimmed to 12 after tonight’s elimination.
9 p.m.	TV Land	“She’s Got the Look” (R)	After assessing their wardrobes, the women go on a shopping trip.
10 p.m.	NBC	“The Listener” (D)	Toby helps a woman find her brother’s killer.
10 p.m.	MTV	“16 and Pregnant” (R)	A teen who wants to join the Air Force instead becomes pregnant.
10 p.m.	Showtime	“Penn & Teller: Bull!” (C)	The duo looks at the idea of destiny.
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Musician Rob Thomas performs.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (G)	Eating champion Joey Chestnut is a contestant.
9 p.m.	Travel Channel	“Ghost Adventures” (R)	The crew looks for ghosts at the Bird Cage Theater in Arizona.
9 p.m.	TV Land	“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (M)	The 1983 comedy classic starring Chevy Chase.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (M)	Remember when these special effects were cutting edge and Ah-nold was an actor, not a governator?
10 p.m.	WE	“Bridezillas” (R)	A woman has a panic attack when she tries on her gown.
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Time	Network	Program	Description
9 a.m.	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	The women’s final at Wimbledon.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Coverage of the third round of the AT&T National.
4 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	Another weekend of regional interleague games.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Florida take part in a high-speed chase that results in injuries.
8 p.m.	Cartoon Network	“Brainrush” (G)	Contestants answer trivia questions while riding amusement park rides.
9 p.m.	Fox Soccer Channel, Telefutura	“Soccer” (S)	The U.S. takes on Grenada in Gold Cup group play.
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Time	Network	Program	Description
9 a.m.	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	More coverage from Wimbledon, this time the men’s final.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final round of the AT&T National, won last year by Anthony Kim.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Merlin” (D)	Lancelot shows up to save Merlin from a winged creature. (Bird? Dragon? Time-traveling airplane?)
8 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Rays head to Arlington, Texas, to take on the Rangers.
9 p.m.	Univision	“Premios Deportes 2009” (A)	Sports awards show featuring tributes to Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez.
10 p.m.	E!	“Kendra” (R)	Kendra poses for a lingerie shoot while Hank’s home cleaning.
10 p.m.	Lifetime	“Army Wives” (D)	Roxy unsuccessfully tries to plan a reopening party for the bar.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.