Tweet This Page

"Killer Karaoke" review by Suzanne

Premieres Friday, November 23 at 9 pm on truTV

This is a very silly show, but fun. I guess it's supposed to be kind of a combination of "Fear Factor" and "American Idol", but it comes out a little bit more like the Gong Show or, what's that kids show where people get gloppy stuff dumped on them? Contestants sing karaoke songs while enduring various things are done to them. On the first show, a girl sings "Take on Me" by A-Ha on a swing while they dip her into ice-cold water, and then they add some snakes and baby alligators. Then a guy sings "Ramblin' Man" by the Allman Brothers while he serves Mexican food to the host, Steve-O (while being shocked by electrical devices attached to his body). Another guy sings "You Are So Beautiful" while blindfolded and walking through a field of cactus and snakes (he has balloons attached to his body to both protect him a little and scare him when they pop), and he can also grab money off the cactus. And finally, a woman sings "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" while attached to this dance instructor (VERY closely attached), who swings her around, hits her in the face with fish and other things, puts helium into her mouth, and so forth.

It's more about the silly things they have to endure than the singing. However, they are supposed to keep on singing no matter what, and that's how they're judged. Most of them do a lot of screaming instead of singing. Don't expect this to be about the singing at all. And while they do call it "Killer Karaoke", there are no screens with words - they have to have the songs memorized (and, no surprise here, no one gets killed, either).

It's actually kind of funny to watch. Watching "reality shows" always makes me wonder how much of it is real and how much of it is fake. For instance, are these people screaming from pain, or from pain and excitment (in front of a live audience)? or did they prompt them to scream more? Or did they pick the people who screamed the most? And were the songs picked randomly, or did the contestant get to choose them? I have no idea. I know one thing - I would rather there were less screaming and the people tried to endure their pain and not scream. They certainly do choose people who are fun and have outgoing personalities.

Audience members choose who wins until a finalist is standing, and that person wins $5,000. I love karaoke, and I would love to sing on TV, but still...I wouldn't do any of this for that little amount of money. Some people will do anything to get on TV, I guess. I would maybe do it for $50,000 or more. I will say one thing: the singers all sound like they're pretty good, at least until they start screaming or losing their way due to pain and fright. They must choose pretty good singers ahead of time from karaoke bars.

It's very entertaining, if you don't mind watching people scream in pain and fright...

More Info:

KILLER KARAOKE sneak peek: http://www.trutv.com/shows/killer-karaoke-singing-competition/index.html

truTV Takes Singing Competition to Hilarious Extremes in

All-New Series Killer Karaoke, Hosted by Steve-O

truTV is about to take singing competitions to an extreme level with the all-new series Killer Karaoke, hosted by Jackass star Steve-O. Inspired in part by the popular Zodiak Media international television hit Sing If You Can, truTV's Killer Karaoke challenges contestants to sing a hit song while Steve-O puts them through hilarious and unexpected physical challenges imaginable. It’s the game show that hits all the wrong notes in the best possible way.

Killer Karaoke is slated to premiere Friday, Nov. 23, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on truTV. Serving as the show's "twisted" announcer is none other than legendary rocker and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider.

Fans can stay up to speed on the latest Killer Karaoke news through the show’s website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

·        Website: http://www.trutv.com/shows/killer-karaoke-singing-competition

·        Twitter: @truTV and #KillerKaraoke

·        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/truTVKillerKaraoke

Each week on truTV's hilarious new competition show Killer Karaoke, six contestants will attempt to sing songs while facing extreme and sometimes skin-crawling situations. These folks will put their vocal chords to the test while braving their worst fears. Challenges include trying to sing while fending off attack dogs, being dunked in a tank with hundreds of snakes, or while sticking bare hands, feet and sometimes even a head into containers containing wild animals.

When all is "sung and done," the contestants who made it past the first round will face-off on an enormous record player. They must sing their hearts out as the turntable beneath their feet begins to spin faster, and centrifugal force hurtles them one by one off to the side. The audience then helps to decide who will take home the weekly cash prize of up to $10,000.

Killer Karaoke host Steve-O (a.k.a. Stephen Glover) became a household name thanks to his antics on the hit MTV series Jackass, as well as the franchise’s three blockbuster movies and the spinoff series, Wildboyz. Born in London, Steve-O has tri-national citizenship in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. He graduated from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.

In the wake of his success on Jackass and Wildboyz, Steve-O embarked on the Steve-O Don't Try This At Home Tour, establishing himself as an accomplished stage performer. He later added standup comedy to his performing inventory, with appearances at venues like Laugh Factory in Los Angeles and Comedy Cellar in New York. That success led to his current national and international tour, Entirely Too Much Information Tour, featuring standup, stunts and bar tricks. Earlier this year, Steve-O published his autobiography, Professional Idiot: A Memoir.

Killer Karaoke comes to truTV from Zodiak USA, producer of the network’s popular series Hardcore Pawn and Lizard Lick Towing.

About Zodiak USA

Zodiak USA is the North American operations for Zodiak Media, one of the world’s leading creators, producers and distributors of content for TV, film and new media.  Zodiak USA’s credits include Secret Millionaire (ABC), Wife Swap (ABC), Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC), Being Human (SyFy) and truTV’s most watched series, Hardcore Pawn and Lizard Lick Towing.  Zodiak Media consists of 45 production companies with a presence in 20 countries including the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Russia.  Zodiak Rights, the international rights business of Zodiak Media, boasts a growing catalog of around 15,000 hours of content.

About truTV

truTV, one of cable’s fastest growing brands, offers a wildly entertaining look at the real world through outrageous characters, unpredictable situations and irreverent storytelling. Currently seen in 92 million U.S. households, truTV features such popular original series as Hardcore Pawn, Full Throttle Saloon, Lizard Lick Towing, Storage Hunters, Impractical Jokers, Operation Repo, South Beach Tow, Black Gold and World's Dumbest…, as well as the acquired hit Wipeout. In addition, truTV is a partner in airing the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Connect with truTV

Website: www.truTV.com/KillerKaraoke

Pressroom: http://news.turner.com/trutv

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trutv

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/trutv | http://www.twitter.com/trutvpr

The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The TV MegaSite or its other volunteers.

We need more episode guide recap writers, article writers, MS FrontPage and Web Expression users, graphics designers, and more, so please email us if you can help out!  More volunteers always needed!  Thanks!

Back to the Main Reviews Page

Page updated 11/20/12