A very emotional 45-year-old Griffin resident is one of 15 people willing to live apart from civilization for up to a year for a Fox TV show/social experiment called "Utopia," which premieres Sept. 7.
They entered the isolated Southern California five-acre locale August 29, given some shelter, a few animals, a watering hole, a few tools and not much else. Unlike "Survivor," there is no prize, no tribal council, no challenges. They aren't interviewed in a separate room in "confessional" form. But like "Big Brother," there are cameras everywhere, 130 in total.
Fox will air episodes a couple of times a week for the time being, hoping viewers enjoy the character conflict without much - if any - structure. They will replace one "pioneer," as they call them, once a month, to keep things fresh. They are given $5,000 to start with but will have to find ways to make money otherwise if they choose to "interact" with the outside world.
The show has a narrator for viewers, but there is no Jeff Probst-like host who talks to the pioneers.
UPDATE, Monday, Sept. 8: Opening night against 'Big Brother" had a soft opening of 4.6 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating but we'll see if it can grow audience. No doubt Fox invested a lot into this.
UPDATE: Monday, November 3: The show as unceremoniously cancelled after nine weeks. Ratings were anemic. A colleague of mine who stuck with it said the producers made it too easy on them.
Already, one person was booted before the show had even really started for sneaking a smartphone into a hotel to learn about her fellow members ahead of time. That was a big no no. (TMZ reported this.)
Fox executive producer Jon Kroll (who worked at "Survivor" and "Big Brother" in their early days) said in an interview this past Wednesday that people can leave at any time voluntarily and there are thousands of people willing to take their place.
After I talked to him, the first member who made it to Utopia departed after just eight days and before the debut of the show on TV Sunday. (You can track live streams and news breaks of what's going on Utopia here but I won't spoil who leaves here.)
Here's the first five minutes:
"We've had so many things happen already in the first six days that we don't know if we'll survive this year," Kroll said. "They've been shockingly volatile. We brought people in who said they were tolerant of alternative ideas. We have a Libertarian and a yogi. People come from different sides of political society. I think we were sold a bill of goods. At the same time, we've had some marvelous connecting points. We have an unusual bromance between a toothless Kentucky hillbilly and an ex con from Queens. They became best of friends and have discussed secession from Utopia already."
He isn't surprised the "society" might splinter but he expects it would be more a 50/50 deal, not two people separated from the other 13.
Bella Chartrand, from Griffin, is a 45-year-old single woman who is a real estate marketer by day, doomsday prepper by night.
Apparently, being naked is hot on TV nowadays ("Naked and Afraid," "Dating Naked") and many of the participants have taken it upon themselves to shed clothing. "Our online editor is using his blur tool a lot," Kroll said. "People are naked and not afraid."
He said Bella "is a fascinating personality. She's a Southern belle who did pageants but today, she is now considered the 'Doomsday Diva.' She's probably the most polarizing person on the cast. She has very eccentric ideas."
For instance, she supports using human waste as fertilizer. And she thinks chickens can help soil by eating bugs out of the yard. "Others are skeptical," Krolls said. (She isn't a big fan of even killing bugs.)
Bella left for the show August 29 and I was unable to interview her before her departure. "I'm the peppy prepper with a purpose," she said in a promo video.
So far, she has been a polarizing figure in Utopia. She is quite emotional as well, complaining how she doesn't feel safe around some of the other members of the society.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Kroll said the producers keep a purposeful hands-off approach. Amusingly, cast members have approached the producers to intercede at times. "We tell them, 'This is your society. You figure it out.' "
They have interceded when there are medical issues."We've had emergency responders three times already," Kroll said after six days. "We will step in if there's anything that requires our attention but we try not to change the social dynamics."
They purposely picked people with opposite viewpoints. There's a Tennessee pastor, a Libertarian and a woman who has two boyfriends and a girlfriend.
Fox, for now, plans to air the shows a couple of times a week. I'm sure how often Fox will air it down the road will depend on how successful it is. If it bombs? They can certainly cut the experiment short.
"We're going to make the best shows we can," Kroll said. "We're trying to integrate the digital experience with the broadcast experience. You can look forward to the TV show but dip into the livestream, too. Of course, we want ratings. I don't know the threshold numbers Fox would like us to hit. I have a feeling it's something that has growth potential given the concept is so unusual."
UPDATE// RECAP OF EPISODE ONE
Dave, the ex convict, creates tension early on. Everyone brings a small box of belongings but the producers said they can only keep collectively what can fit in only a slightly larger communal crate . Dave complains about too many Bibles, then throws a hissy fit about not being able to put all his stuff in there, like he's five years old and questioning other choices.
The producers left the pioneers some wine, flour and pickles to start with. They figure out the electricity does not run beyond the front gate. They get one basic cel phone to contact the outside world. Georgia's Bella starts arguing immediately with general contractor Josh over the human waste fertilizer idea.
Pastor Jonathan gets some fish on day one. Chef Aaron cooks. Dave calms down and apologizes for his outburst. At meal one, Josh gets annoyed when Red says grace. Aaron wants to conserve food and suggests for now, they eat twice a day. Amanda, the pregnant woman, says she's a "city gal" and two meals isn't enough. Nikki tries to do some yoga to defuse the tension. Again, Josh is disrespectful again. He does apologize when others complain about it.
Hunter Hex holds the first Utopia party with alcohol. Josh gets way drunk and peeves Hex. "Just walk away," says Aaron. Hex does not listen. She tries to calm him. But then Dave tussles with Josh, who finally sleeps the alcohol off.
Jonathan tries to discuss religion with Dave but Dave starts cussing up a storm and Jonathan leaves.
Chris and Bri quickly hook up on night one.
Day two features Hex being sent away in the first medical emergency due to alcohol poisoning, Josh blamed the whiskey for blacking out and apologizes profusely for his behavior. Mike, the lawyer, holds the first "trial." Rob is so outraged, he just leaves because he thinks Josh is fine. Aaron agrees and leaves. Hex finds him "self serving" and "rude." She also admits to having an alcohol problem. "I've been there and often times, worse," she said. She asks him to treat the women there like his daughter.
Before a vote is in, Aaron says they need to establish some form of government. He stays, 7 to 6, and stays off alcohol from three months. He will also have to treat women respectfully. Rob, Aaron and Jonathan are angry about the vote, already feeling resentful toward some of the pioneers not doing work but gabbing so much. Josh accepts the punishment.
"I can't take another day of this," Bella says, all overwrought on day two. "This is not utopia."
Amanda announces on day two that she's pregnant. She is a behavioral specialist who grew up in the projects and whose dad was murdered.
On day three, Red goes nuts when Aaron refuses to cook a dead chicken. He is not happy with "democracy." So he cooks the chicken and eats it. Aaron demands respect from Red and yells quite a bit. Red walks away, still angry. Six of the women do yoga and gaze at deer.
The night of day three, Red opens the gate and is ready to leave. Dave brings him back. Red feels physically threatened by Aaron.
Ultimately, Aaron apologizes and at the end of day three, everyone hugs it out.
This is not the first time "Utopia" is being tried.
A Netherlands version of "Utopia" is in its ninth month. So far, half the people have stayed and the others have been subbed out. He said it's done well but is more a soap opera since they air episodes five days a week. "We have more time to package and feel like it exists in the same space as 'Surivor' and 'Hell's Kitchen,' " he said. Plus, the Netherlands started in the middle of winter. "Everyone was freezing and seeking heat," he said. "We're launching in Southern California in the summer. People seem not to want to wear clothes. A pastor is put off by that."
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
TV preview
"Utopia," 8 p.m. Sundays, starting Sept. 7, Fox
The regular airings will occur Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. for the time being.
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