The Premier of Miss America - Reality Check

Underneath the mist of hairspray, French manicures, stage make-up and perfect smiling faces reside 52 personalities that don't always come across in the once-a-year two hour show that is Miss America.

TLC has parlayed Miss America--long accused of not advancing with the times--into a new reality series entitled, Miss America - Reality Check, which premiered on January 4th 2008 and will air for three more weeks preceding the actual pageant.

The host of Miss America - Reality Check is Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) and the panel of judges consists of celebrity photographer Mark Liddell, US Weekly correspondent Dina Sansing, and celebrity stylist Jeannie Mai (a stunning beauty).

The 52 contestants are shown living in a mansion and sharing 7 bathrooms and the show claims that the living arrangements will last for four weeks; drama anyone?

So far, the contestants have been separated into groups, each group representing something they all have in common, such as: The winning combination of brown hair and eyes, the most winners, no winners ever, etc.

One of the highlights on the first episode was hosting a dinner party for a "special guest." That guest turned out to be controversy and the girls were asked to discuss among themselves a particular political or social issue found in an envelope on their tables. Some of the topics were: sex before marriage, gay marriage, gun control, etc.

At first I felt uncomfortable as I could just imagine how such controversial views would be handled but I must say that TLC did a neutral job and allowed footage of varying opinions - one not shown in a more positive light than another.

I was impressed with many of the contestants and how genuine they came across when not rehearsed.

When the judges gathered to discuss the standouts - either the top three or the bottom three, or those not noticed at all, I felt they were fair.